Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The Respiratory System and Asthma -- THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM -- WHAT IS ASTHMA? -- SYMPTOMS AND PHYSICAL SIGNS -- DIAGNOSIS -- RECORDING YOUR SYMPTOMS -- WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF I HAVE ASTHMA? -- REVIEW: THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND ASTHMA -- 3 The Triggering Factors -- ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS -- PERSONAL FACTORS -- REVIEW: THE TRIGGERING FACTORS -- 4 Medication -- USING MEDICATION -- PRINCIPLES FOR USE -- MAIN TYPES OF MEDICATION -- USING INHALERS -- BRONCHODILATORS -- INHALED BRONCHODILATORS -- BRONCHODILATORS IN TABLET FORM -- BRONCHIAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS -- STEROIDS (CORTICOSTEROIDS, CORTISONE DERIVATIVES) -- NON-STEROIDAL BRONCHIAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (CHROMONE DERIVATIVES) -- OTHER DRUGS -- ANTIBIOTICS -- ANTIHISTAMINES -- ZADITEN® -- CONTROLLING YOUR ASTHMA -- LEVELS OF ASTHMA TREATMENT -- CRITERIA FOR SATISFACTORY ASTHMA CONTROL -- WHEN SHOULD THE TREATMENT BE CHANGED? -- ACTION PLAN -- REVIEW: MEDICATION AND MANAGING ASTHMA -- 5 A Healthy Lifestyle and Asthma -- DIET -- FLUIDS -- SLEEP -- CAN I STILL EXERCISE? -- RELAXATION -- REVIEW: A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND ASTHMA -- Appendices -- APPENDIX 1 - MYTHS AND CONTROVERSIES -- APPENDIX 2 - EMPHYSEMA AND CHRONIC BRONCHITIS -- APPENDIX 3 - ASPIRIN INTOLERANCE -- APPENDIX 4 - ASTHMA AND DIABETES -- APPENDIX 5 - ASTHMA AND SURGERY -- APPENDIX 6 - ASTHMA DURING PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING -- APPENDIX 7 - OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA -- APPENDIX 8 - ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND CONJUCTIVITIS -- APPENDIX 9 - TRAVELLING -- APPENDIX 10 - ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE -- APPENDIX 11 - RESOURCES -- APPENDIX 12 - ANSWERS TO REVIEW QUESTIONS -- DIARY FORMS -- Glossary -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- H -- I -- L -- M -- P -- R -- S -- T -- Suggested Reading.