World Asthma Day 2022: what to know

Awareness days can prompt a useful reset even after the calendar date has passed. Asthma symptoms may change with seasons, infections, home or workplace exposures, activity, and how regularly treatment is taken. A cough, wheeze, chest tightness, or breathlessness can be part of asthma; the condition commonly presents with these airway symptoms.

A review also checks whether a person is relying on a quick-relief inhaler more often, avoiding activities, or waking at night. These changes are practical signs to discuss because they can indicate that the current plan needs adjustment.

Bring your inhalers to a GP, asthma nurse, or pharmacist appointment. Correct technique depends on the device, and a demonstration can reveal issues such as poor timing, an inadequate seal, or forgetting to breathe in as instructed. Ask for a written plan that explains your usual medicines and the actions to take when symptoms increase.

Identify patterns instead of guessing at triggers. Note where symptoms happen, whether they follow a cold, and whether dust, smoke, pollen, animals, exercise, or strong smells seem relevant. Keep prescribed preventer treatment consistent unless a clinician changes it.

Call emergency services or seek urgent medical help for severe breathlessness, difficulty speaking in full sentences, worsening symptoms despite your reliever inhaler, blue or grey lips, marked exhaustion, or confusion. Request a timely review for repeated nighttime symptoms, exercise limitation, or any change that is becoming more frequent.

Ask if your current symptoms show adequate asthma control, whether your device suits you, how to use your written plan, and whether nasal allergy symptoms could be contributing to upper-airway irritation.