Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disorder characterized by variable levels of dyspnea, chest tightness, wheezing, and cough that can disrupt sleep, work, and school. Asthma is a major public health problem that affects 235 million people worldwide, including 25 million people in the United States alone. Uncontrolled asthma contributes to 10.5 million days of missed school, 14.2 million days of missed work, and more than 3600 premature deaths in the United States each year.1,2