What should you know about asthma symptoms?

Asthma commonly presents with wheezing, cough, chest tightness or breathlessness that may vary over time. Symptoms can worsen at night, during exercise or after exposure to a trigger, but similar symptoms have other causes.

Asthma involves sensitive, narrowed airways that make breathing harder. Allergic rhinitis or house dust mite allergy may accompany symptoms, while a persistent cough may need separate assessment. Note whether symptoms follow pollen, dust, smoke, cold air, infection or activity, and whether they improve with prescribed treatment.

Arrange an assessment if wheezing, cough or chest tightness recurs, wakes you, limits activity or needs repeated relief. Keep a record of triggers and medicines, and use inhalers exactly as prescribed. Ask for a written asthma action plan and have your inhaler technique checked. A nebuliser treatment may be used in some acute situations, but it is not a substitute for urgent help when breathing is severely affected.

Seek emergency care for severe breathlessness, difficulty speaking in full sentences, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse or rapidly worsening symptoms. Use your prescribed reliever plan while seeking help. Do not drive yourself if breathing is dangerously difficult.

Ask whether your pattern fits asthma, which triggers matter, how to use each inhaler, and what warning signs should prompt emergency care.