<p>ASTHMA AFFECTS approximately 3.4 million people in the UK (NAC 2000a) and has a substantial impact not only on the individuals who live with it but also on other members of the family, the NHS and the UK economy as a whole. The National Asthma Campaign believes that people who have asthma should be able to make informed decisions about how to manage the condition, but for many this is not currently the case. In an effort to change this situation, the charity is working in partnership with professional bodies and organisations, including the Royal College of Nursing and the National Asthma and Respiratory Training Centre, on a new asthma self-management initiative called 'Be in control'</p>