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Asthma: What you
need to know

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways, making it harder to breathe. In people with asthma, the airways become sensitive and inflamed, often narrowing when exposed to triggers such as allergens, cold air, or exercise.

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Cause of Asthma

While the precise cause of asthma isn't fully understood, you may be at higher risk if you have other allergic conditions like hay fever or eczema, or a family history of asthma. Other risk factors include:

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A family history of asthma or allergies

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Having bronchiolitis (a lung infection) as a child

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Being exposed to tobacco smoke when you were in the womb or when you were a baby or child

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Being born prematurely

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Certain work environments

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Asthma in children

Asthma is more common in children; however, you can also develop it as an adult. If you develop it in adulthood, it’s more likely to be a long-term condition. If you have it in childhood, there’s a chance that your condition will improve or even disappear altogether as you get older.

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Asthma symptoms

Asthma symptoms often include wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms are more likely to indicate asthma if they occur regularly, worsen at night, or are triggered by exercise or dust.

Severe symptoms (Asthma Attack)

In severe cases, symptoms escalate into an asthma attack.
The symptoms of a severe asthma attack include:

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Severe and constant wheezing and coughing

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Needing to breathe faster
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Breathlessness that prevents you from eating, speaking, or sleeping
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Severe tightness in the chest
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A quick heartbeat
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Drowsiness and exhaustion
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Confusion and dizziness
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Falling unconscious
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In such cases, emergency medical attention is crucial—dial 999 immediately.

Asthma treatment

Most people with asthma manage their condition with a combination of a reliever inhaler (blue) and a preventer inhaler. The reliever treats symptoms during an attack, while the preventer helps prevent symptoms from occurring. If your asthma is more severe, additional treatments such as tablets or injections may be necessary.

It might be that your asthma is mild, and you only need a reliever inhaler. However, it’s normally recommended that you start using a preventer if you’re using your reliever three or more times a week. With the correct preventer medication, you should rarely need your reliever.

If you use a preventer, you should use it every single day, exactly as directed by your doctor. If you stop using it, the preventative effect will wear off and symptoms will return.

It may be helpful to see a nurse or a doctor to check how you are using your inhalers. Incorrect or poor technique can lead to the medicines not reaching the airways and not being fully effective.

If your asthma is more severe you may need to take tablets or receive injections from an asthma specialist.

Managing Asthma

Keeping your asthma under control requires lifestyle changes as well as the use of your prescription medications.

Once you’ve received a diagnosis, you’ll need to make an asthma action plan with your doctor or asthma nurse. This is a paper record listing your medicines, asthma triggers, giving guidance on how to notice if your asthma is getting worse and what to do in the event of an asthma attack.

Lifestyle changes recommended for people with asthma include:

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Quitting smoking

This can significantly reduce severe symptoms

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Exercising regularly

With the right medication you should be able to exercise without getting symptoms

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Getting vaccinated

Certain vaccines, e.g. the flu jab, are more vital for asthma sufferers

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You should also try to reduce exposure to your asthma triggers. Common triggers include:

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Allergies e.g. to pollen, dust, animal dander

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Infections e.g. colds and the flu
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Smoke and fumes

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Mould and damp

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Exercise

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Certain medicines e.g. ibuprofen and aspirin

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Strong emotions e.g. feeling very stressed, laughing a lot

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Weather conditions e.g. wind, humidity, cold air, sudden temperature changes