HOUSTON -- Asthma is the No. 1 cause of admission into Texas Children's Hospital. The condition impacts the lives of one out of every eight children in Houston. Next month, the American Lung Association will try to "blow the whistle" on the rapidly growing disease through an annual walk to raise awareness and money for research, Local 2 reported Wednesday.

A Houston family says a cure cannot come soon enough. Karen Coney has seven children, and six have asthma.

"It's been a very rough road with them -- having to administer their medication, going back and forth to the hospital," she said.

After having asthma in her family for so long, Coney recognizes the warning signs well.

"I can tell by the cough or the breathing," she said.

She said the scary part is you never know when an attack is going to strike.

"It's just a touch-and-go situation because you never know if this day is going to be it," Coney said.

Dr. Stuart Abramson, an allergy and asthma specialist at Texas Children's Hospital, said the Coneys' situation is not unique.

"The prevalence of asthma has almost doubled in the past decade," Abramson said.

About 300,000 Houstonians battle the disorder every day.

"We don't actually understand entirely what causes it to begin with," the doctor said.

Doctors know there are several triggers -- ozone, pollutants, cigarette smoke and different allergens, such as dust mites and pets.

"A lot of people with asthma, in particular, are very sensitive to irritants in the environment," Abramson said.

Those triggers cause inflammation and mucus to build up in the airway.

Because it can trigger at a moment's notice, medicine can be a lifesaver.

"I keep medicine everywhere I go. I keep medicine at my house, my mom's house, in the car," Coney said. "I'm hoping we can find a cure for asthma. I just feel so sorry for my children who have to suffer."

Houston's Third Annual Asthma Walk will take place Saturday, April 2, at Tom Bass Regional Park. Eighty percent of the money raised by the walk will go to asthma researchers in Houston.

For more information on the walk, call (713) 629-5864 or visit www.mrsnv.com/evt/home.jsp?id=492.