What should you know about extrinsic asthma?

Extrinsic asthma is an older term for asthma associated with an allergic response. Triggers may include house dust mites, pollen, mould, animal dander or other inhaled substances. The airway lining becomes inflamed and the surrounding muscle tightens, which can make breathing feel difficult. Symptoms may vary between episodes and can include wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Allergic rhinitis can coexist and may worsen airway symptoms. A trigger pattern can be useful, but symptoms can also occur without an obvious exposure.

Use your prescribed preventer and reliever inhalers according to your written asthma plan, and ask for an inhaler-technique check if control is poor. Note when symptoms occur, including after cleaning, exercise, workplace exposure or contact with pets. Reduce avoidable triggers by improving ventilation, controlling damp and following personalised advice about dust-mite or pollen exposure. Keep reliever medicine accessible. A clinician may review allergy symptoms, breathing tests and treatment needs. Nebuliser treatment is sometimes used in a healthcare setting for significant breathing difficulty, but it is not a substitute for an agreed action plan.

Follow your asthma action plan during a flare. Seek emergency help if breathing is rapidly worsening, speaking is difficult, lips look blue or grey, you feel exhausted or confused, or your reliever is not helping as expected. Arrange prompt review after a night-time episode, repeated reliever use, or symptoms that limit normal activity. Sudden chest tightness can have causes other than asthma and should be assessed if it feels unusual or severe.

Ask whether allergy testing or breathing tests would help, which triggers are most relevant, how to adjust treatment during a flare, and when to seek emergency care. Ask for a written action plan and a demonstration of inhaler technique.