Cold and asthma: what should you know?

Cold viruses may increase swelling and mucus inside already sensitive airways. You may notice more coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath while the infection is active. A runny nose, sore throat and tiredness can occur at the same time. A cold does not prove that asthma is the cause of every breathing symptom, and similar symptoms can occur with other airway problems or allergies.

Keep track of whether symptoms are appearing at rest, interrupting sleep, or limiting ordinary activity. If your usual reliever is needed more often than directed in your personal plan, contact a clinician for advice.

Follow your written asthma action plan, including your prescribed preventer and reliever instructions. Rest, drink fluids, and avoid smoke, strong scents and other triggers that make breathing harder. Wash hands and dispose of tissues carefully to reduce spread to others. Do not start antibiotics simply because a cold has made your asthma worse; antibiotics do not treat viral colds unless a clinician identifies a bacterial infection. A nebuliser treatment may be considered by a healthcare professional when inhaled treatment needs clinical supervision.

Seek urgent medical help for severe breathlessness, difficulty speaking in full sentences, blue or grey lips, confusion, fainting, or rapidly worsening wheeze. Arrange prompt clinical advice if your reliever is not helping as your plan predicts, symptoms keep waking you, or you develop chest pain or a high fever. Children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with poorly controlled asthma may need earlier assessment.

Ask whether your asthma action plan needs updating, how to adjust prescribed inhalers during respiratory infections, and how to check your inhaler technique. You can also ask which symptoms should prompt same-day care and whether allergies such as allergic rhinitis or house dust mite allergy may be adding to your airway irritation.