This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Asthma is a long-term condition in which the airways are sensitive and narrow easily, causing wheezing, cough and breathlessness in episodes. Dust, pollen, cold air, smoke and exercise are common triggers. With the right inhalers and a clear action plan, most people live fully active lives.
Symptoms
Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing out)
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Cough, often worse at night or early morning
Symptoms triggered by dust, smoke, cold air or exercise
Waking at night breathless
Causes & risk factors
Inherited tendency (often runs in families with allergies)
Triggers: dust, smoke, pollen, strong smells, cold air
Respiratory infections
Exercise or emotional stress in sensitive airways
Treatment & self-care
Treatment centres on inhalers — a daily preventer to calm the airways and a reliever for attacks — prescribed and reviewed by a doctor. Identify and avoid your triggers, and learn correct inhaler technique. A written action plan tells you exactly what to do when symptoms flare.
See a doctor urgently if
Reliever inhaler is needed more than twice a week
An attack that does not respond to the usual reliever
Difficulty speaking, walking or sleeping due to breathlessness
Lips or fingertips turning bluish
Night-time symptoms occurring frequently
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Asthma?
Early signs often include wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing out), shortness of breath, chest tightness. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Asthma be treated?
Treatment centres on inhalers — a daily preventer to calm the airways and a reliever for attacks — prescribed and reviewed by a doctor. Identify and avoid your triggers, and learn correct inhaler technique. A written action plan tells you exactly what to do when symptoms flare.
When should I see a doctor about Asthma?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: reliever inhaler is needed more than twice a week; an attack that does not respond to the usual reliever; difficulty speaking, walking or sleeping due to breathlessness; lips or fingertips turning bluish; night-time symptoms occurring frequently.