Asthma
Asthma is a common condition that causes coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and/or feeling breathless. Most people with asthma who take appropriate treatment can live normal lives. Left untreated, asthma can cause permanent damage to the airways.
Symptoms of asthma
The usual symptoms of asthma are
- coughing
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- tightness in the chest.
Not everyone will get all these symptoms. Some people experience them from time to time. A few people may experience these symptoms all the time.
Treatment of asthma
There isn’t a cure for asthma but we have treatment to help manage your symptoms. You’ll have a personal treatment plan which combines medicines and asthma management in a way that works best for you
Living with asthma
Medicines are only part of your treatment for asthma. You will also need to deal with the things that make it worse. Keep a diary to record anything that triggers your asthma. This can help you to discover a pattern.
Using a peak flow meter to check your lung function can also help. Certain things can trigger your asthma and make it worse. Working out any patterns when your breathing gets bad can help find the trigger. Examples could be feeling breathless at the end of a working day, after exercise or after contact with an animal.
Useful Links
Asthma UK
Thousands of people with asthma visit the site each day. It’s designed to help you find important information about asthma and how to control it.
NHS – Asthma
Further information about symptoms, treatment, causes and prevention of Asthma.
These links all come from trusted sources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact us.