What it is
Symptoms often come and go and can be set off by triggers such as colds, allergies (pollen, dust mites, animals), smoke, cold air, exercise or some medicines. A sudden worsening is called an asthma attack.
Treatment is usually through inhalers: some are taken every day to calm the inflammation, others only when symptoms appear. An asthma action plan, written with your doctor, says what to do as symptoms change.
Common signs
- Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)
- Shortness of breath
- A tight chest
- Coughing, often at night or early in the morning
How it is usually diagnosed
- Spirometry: blowing into a machine that measures how much and how fast you can breathe out, often before and after an inhaler
- Peak flow readings over a few weeks
- Sometimes a FeNO breath test, which measures inflammation in the airways, and allergy tests
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Spirometry and other lung function reports
- Your peak flow diary
- Your written asthma action plan
- Allergy test results
- Notes from every attack: emergency visits, hospital stays and courses of steroid tablets
Questions to ask your doctor
- Am I using my inhalers correctly?
- What are my triggers, and how can I avoid them?
- Can we write or update my asthma action plan?
- How do I know when my asthma is getting worse?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Your reliever inhaler is not helping, or you need it more than every four hours
- You are too breathless to speak, eat or sleep
- Lips or fingers turning blue or grey, or feeling drowsy or confused
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.