How do you explain your asthma to others?

Usually I don't have to explain- most people around me know what asthma is. Sometimes I have to explain it's harder for me to breathe in the winter and when exercising, so I use an inhaler regularly and that's it. I find it easier that my friends don't make a big deal out of it.

My husband and twin sister understands but other family and friends don't have a clue. I have severe asthma so I have to use my nebulizer every day and on bad weather days I stay home. I watch what I eat. I have had two family members who have died from asthma but I still get "its only asthma it's not like cancer" How do you respond to that.?

My family have an idea of what asthma it but they don't understant the severity at all. On october 2016 i get admitted on hospital because os my uncontrolled asthma. It was an emergency i i think that they get concious since that emergency. When they saw that i was unable to brathe properly an gasping for air, they move on fast and thank God, my dad get me on the car and we were able to reach the hospital fast enought. But i think that nobody really understand at all; with the exeption of those who also have asthma severe enought to know what is try to breath and no been able to do so beacause of an inflamation in the airways on bronchocostriction and mucus.