Asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that affects the airways in the lungs. The airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the airways can become inflamed and narrowed at times. This makes it harder for air to flow out of your airways when you breathe out upper airways comprising the nasal cavity and sinuses; the middle airway comprising the pharynx and larynx; and the lower airways, including the trachea, primary bronchi and small airways