What should you know about br asthma?

Asthma can make the airways swell and tighten, while mucus may make the passage narrower. Symptoms can come and go and may be triggered by allergens, exercise, cold air, smoke or respiratory infections. Wheezing is a whistling sound, but asthma can also cause a cough or a feeling of pressure across the chest. Allergic rhinitis and house dust mite allergy can occur alongside airway symptoms. A cough lasting beyond an expected illness may need a separate assessment for chronic cough.

Use your reliever or preventer inhaler exactly as prescribed, and check that your inhaler technique is correct. Keep a written action plan if your clinician has provided one. Reduce exposure to a known trigger, sit upright during symptoms and record when symptoms occur, what brought them on and how treatment helped. Do not borrow another person’s inhaler. A clinician may review breathing tests and treatment; a nebuliser treatment may be considered in an acute setting when inhaled medicine needs supervised delivery.

Seek emergency help if breathing is severe or rapidly worsening, you cannot speak comfortably, your lips look blue or grey, you feel faint or confused, or your prescribed reliever is not helping. Arrange prompt medical review for repeated night symptoms, increasing reliever use, reduced activity or symptoms after a new exposure. Chest pain, fever or a cough with blood also warrants urgent assessment.

Could these symptoms be asthma, an allergy or another airway problem? Which inhaler is for daily control and which is for sudden symptoms? How can I check my technique, and what signs mean I should seek urgent help?