What is Asthma Asthma is an ancient Greek word that means panting, gasping or short-drawn breath. It is one of the most discomforting of respiratory ailments, known to affect around 5% of the worlds adult population and 10% of children. Asthmatics suffer from periodic attacks of breathlessness interspersed with bouts of complete normalcy. When normal people inhale, their air sacs fill up with air like small balloons. In exhalation they deflate expelling air. Airways are clear and open in healthy people.