The incidence of asthma is rising in industrialized nations, and while there is no cure, several medications are available to manage the disease, which can range from mild to severe. Ahmed Shawkat, MD, an assistant professor of pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine at Upstate, explains that asthma is a breathing disorder that may cause shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing when airways in the lungs become inflamed. The disease can run in families, and it may be exacerbated by allergies. He talks about long-term medications and the rescue medications that are used to treat asthma.