What should you know about effects of asthma?

Tightened airway muscles, swelling and mucus make it harder for air to move. This may cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. Symptoms can be triggered by exercise, viral infections, smoke, dust, pollen, cold air or other irritants, and may be worse at night or early in the morning. Some people also have allergic rhinitis or sensitivity to house dust mites. Frequent symptoms can limit sleep and physical activity and may signal that treatment needs review.

Use your prescribed reliever and preventer medicines as directed, and learn the correct inhaler technique. Keep a written action plan, notice your personal triggers and avoid smoke. Track night waking, exercise limitation and how often you need a reliever. Regular review helps a clinician assess control and adjust treatment; a nebuliser may be used in some healthcare settings when breathing symptoms are severe or inhaled medicine cannot be taken effectively.

Get emergency help for severe breathlessness, difficulty speaking in full sentences, blue or grey lips, exhaustion, confusion, or symptoms that do not improve with your reliever according to your action plan. Sit upright while waiting and do not drive yourself if breathing is seriously impaired. Contact a clinician promptly when cough, wheeze, chest tightness or night symptoms are recurring.

Ask how to distinguish your reliever from your preventer, when to step up treatment, and how to check inhaler technique. Discuss trigger control, exercise, an asthma action plan and whether persistent cough needs another explanation.