World Asthma Day: what to know

Asthma involves sensitive airways that can narrow and become inflamed. People with asthma may notice wheezing, cough, chest tightness, breathlessness, or symptoms that wake them at night. These symptoms are common presentations of asthma, but they also have other causes and need clinical assessment when new or persistent.

Good control is more than getting through an episode. It means considering how symptoms affect sleep, work, exercise, reliever use, and confidence in leaving home. Seasonal allergens, respiratory infections, smoke, fragrances, dust, and exercise can be relevant triggers for different people.

Book an asthma review if you have not discussed your plan recently. Bring every inhaler so a clinician or pharmacist can watch your technique, check the device, and confirm which inhaler is for regular prevention and which is for quick symptom relief. Do not change or stop prescribed treatment without advice.

Write down recent symptoms, nighttime waking, activity limits, likely triggers, and any missed doses. Keep a current written action plan somewhere you and the people close to you can find it.

Seek urgent medical help if breathing is becoming difficult, you cannot speak comfortably in full sentences, reliever treatment is not helping as expected, lips or face look blue or grey, or you feel drowsy or confused. Arrange prompt review when cough, wheeze, chest tightness, or breathlessness is newly frequent or limits normal activity.

Ask whether your symptoms suggest good control, whether your inhaler technique is effective, how to reduce exposure to your own triggers, and exactly what steps your action plan says to take when symptoms worsen.