Asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that affects the airways in the lungs.Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease. It affects your airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs.Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning.With asthma, the airways in your lungs are often swollen or inflamed. This makes them extra sensitive to things that you are exposed to in the ...