CHARLESTON -- Asthma testing, equipment demonstrations and educational information will be available on Thursday, February 19th at the West Virginia Capitol in recognition of Asthma Awareness Day.

The event will be held from 9am-2pm in the lower Rotunda area. Testing and information is free to the public.

Asthma is a chronic and potentially life threatening lung disease in which airways become inflamed and swollen, making it hard to breathe. More than 170,000 West Virginians have been diagnosed with asthma. There is no cure for asthma; however, proper management skills may help reduce asthma-related symptoms.

Asthma Awareness Day is sponsored by the West Virginia Society for Respiratory Care, the West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program, American Lung Association of West Virginia and the WV Asthma Coalition.