Worldwide, 150 million people suffer from asthma. This book explains what happens to the airways when you have an asthma attack. It looks at the allergies and other triggers that cause asthma in a susceptible person. It also studies why asthma is more common in developed countries and why the number of asthma sufferers is increasing. It goes on to describe treatments and self-help. Throughout, case-studies are used to show how this illness affects real people.