I gasp for air as I rummage through my bag. Where can it be?! Why now?? Those plus many other thought went through my mind as I try to find my inhaler. At last, it finally emerged, and I quickly began to shake it, letting out a deep breath before I press down to release the medication from the cold, metal container. I begin to relax as the medication was making its way into my lungs, opening my airways once more. I sigh in relief, realizing that it is over for now, until the next one hits.
I never wanted to be a person who has asthma. It just happened. Sometimes I wonder, out of all people, why me? There isn’t a correct response to the question, but it can happen to anyone.
If you are unaware what asthma is, asthma is a chronic respiratory disease which causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways and results in one not being able to breathe due to shortness of breath. These episodes of lack of air are known as asthma attacks. Most asthma attacks can range from mild, to severe asthma attacks that are potentially fatal. Asthma can affect people of all ages, from young children to the elderly. There is no cure for asthma, but there are treatments and medications that help reduce the effects of asthma and help to stop an asthma attack. Asthma can be caused due to heredity issues or issues involving the environment or allergens.
When I discovered that I was suffering from asthma, it was truly terrifying. When I first began high school, I noticed that I was beginning to wheeze when I would run in P.E, but i always chose to ignore it. Then there was the day that we had to run the mile. Everything seemed normal at first, nothing strange. I was a little bit more faster than friends when it came to running, so I would always have to wait a couple of minutes or so until they have completed it. As I began to walk away from where we stopped running, towards the field where everyone who was done would wait, I began to feel my chest becoming tighter and tighter. My long, deep pants quickly changed into rapid, short gasps that you could hear squeal every time I inhaled in. My friends finally began to approach me, and as they drew closer, they were just as terrified as I was in the situation. The worst part was, I was unable to talk and tell them what happen because I was vigorously gasping for air. Slowly, my attack began to die down, allowing me to fully breathe again. I never ended up telling my mom what happened until the next time it happened again, except this time it was so severe my mom almost had to dial 911. After those scares, I went to the doctor to confirm that what I have is asthma, and to receive treatment to help prevent my attacks.
Asthma also limits me on what I can and can’t do. I can’t run as fast a I use to, and it has been preventing me to play from being able to participate in sports such as soccer and track. Wherever I go, I always have to carry around my inhaler. It gets annoying the first time around to carry it, but afterwards I’ve realized  how important it is and how it can potentially save my life. Especially when things such as allergens and the cold weather can trigger one.
In the end, I just think of it as one of the obstacles in life that you have to overcome or cooperate with.Not everybody had asthma, but you never know, they probably something big on there plate. It also helps me value life more because I become aware that  our time is precious and we will never know if we'll ever see tomorrow.