Asthma is a long-term condition that affects the airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. In people with asthma, the airways are inflamed and more sensitive than usual. At times, the muscles around them tighten, the lining becomes more swollen, and extra mucus may be produced. This narrows the airways and makes breathing more difficult.
Asthma affects people differently. Some have occasional symptoms, while others experience symptoms more often or have flare-ups that interfere with daily activities. Although there is currently no cure, appropriate treatment can help control symptoms, maintain normal activity, and reduce the risk of asthma attacks.
Recognising the Symptoms of Asthma
Asthma symptoms can vary in frequency and severity. They may come and go, become worse at certain times, or be triggered by particular situations. Common symptoms include:
- Wheezing: A high-pitched or whistling sound when breathing, often more noticeable when breathing out
- Shortness of breath: Feeling breathless or unable to get enough air
- Chest tightness: A feeling of pressure, tightness, or constriction in the chest
- Coughing: A cough that may be worse at night, early in the morning, during exercise, or after exposure to a trigger
Not everyone with asthma experiences all of these symptoms, and similar symptoms can occur with other health conditions. Speak with a doctor if symptoms keep returning, disturb your sleep, affect your usual activities, or seem to be getting worse.
What Causes Asthma Symptoms?
The exact cause of asthma is not fully understood. Genetic and environmental factors are thought to influence who develops the condition. Once asthma develops, certain triggers can irritate sensitive airways and bring on symptoms or make existing symptoms worse.
Triggers vary from person to person and may include:
- Allergens such as pollen, house dust mites, mould, or animal dander
- Tobacco smoke, air pollution, strong fumes, or chemical irritants
- Respiratory infections, including colds and flu
- Exercise, particularly in cold or dry air
- Changes in weather or exposure to cold air
- Strong emotions or stress
- Certain medicines in some people
Identifying your triggers can help you understand patterns in your symptoms. However, avoiding every possible trigger is neither practical nor necessary. Physical activity, for example, remains an important part of a healthy lifestyle. If exercise brings on symptoms, speak with your doctor about whether your treatment needs to be reviewed.
How Asthma Is Diagnosed
There is no single test that diagnoses asthma in every person. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, when they occur, possible triggers, family history, and any history of allergies or other respiratory conditions. They may also listen to your chest and arrange tests to assess how well your lungs are working.
Spirometry is a breathing test that measures how much air you can breathe out and how quickly you can exhale it. You may be asked to repeat the test after using a bronchodilator medicine to see whether your lung function improves.
Other assessments may include peak expiratory flow monitoring, tests that measure airway inflammation, or tests to determine whether your airways respond to certain stimuli. Because asthma symptoms can vary over time, more than one assessment may be needed before a diagnosis is confirmed.
Once asthma is diagnosed, your doctor may help you develop a written asthma action plan. This explains how to use your medicines, monitor your symptoms, recognise worsening asthma, and know what to do during a flare-up.
How Asthma Is Treated
Asthma treatment is tailored to the individual. The medicines prescribed depend on factors such as your age, symptoms, risk of asthma attacks, lung function, and response to previous treatment.
Most asthma medicines are inhaled so that they reach the airways directly. Current guidance recommends that asthma treatment include an inhaled corticosteroid because these medicines treat the underlying airway inflammation and reduce the risk of asthma attacks.
Inhaled Corticosteroid Treatment
Inhaled corticosteroids help reduce swelling and inflammation in the airways. When used as prescribed, they can reduce symptoms and lower the risk of asthma flare-ups. They are preventive medicines and do not provide immediate relief during an acute asthma attack.
Budecort Respules contain budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid. The medicine is delivered through a nebuliser and may be prescribed as maintenance treatment to help control asthma. Use it regularly and exactly as directed, even when you feel well. Do not use Budecort Respules for immediate relief from sudden breathing difficulty unless your doctor has specifically instructed you to do so.
After using an inhaled corticosteroid, rinse your mouth with water and spit it out. This can help reduce the risk of local side effects such as oral thrush and a hoarse voice.
Combination Inhaler Treatment
Some people need an inhaler that contains both an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting bronchodilator. The corticosteroid reduces airway inflammation, while the bronchodilator relaxes the muscles around the airways and helps keep them open.
Foracort 200 contains budesonide and formoterol. Depending on your prescribed treatment plan, it may be used regularly as maintenance treatment. In some treatment regimens, a budesonide–formoterol inhaler may also be used when symptoms occur, but you should use Foracort only in the way your doctor has instructed.
Correct inhaler technique is important because it affects how much medicine reaches your lungs. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to check your technique regularly. Do not stop using a preventer or combination inhaler because you feel better unless your doctor advises you to do so.
Living Well With Asthma
Good asthma management involves more than taking medicine. A few practical habits can help you stay in control of your symptoms:
- Follow your asthma action plan: Keep it accessible and make sure you understand what to do if your symptoms worsen.
- Use your medicines as prescribed: Take maintenance treatment regularly and use your reliever according to your treatment plan.
- Check your inhaler technique: Ask a healthcare professional to review it, particularly if your symptoms are not well controlled.
- Monitor your symptoms: Notice changes such as more frequent coughing, night-time symptoms, reduced activity, or needing reliever treatment more often.
- Attend regular reviews: Asthma treatment may need to be adjusted as your symptoms and health needs change.
- Manage relevant triggers: Reduce avoidable exposure to triggers such as tobacco smoke while continuing healthy activities where possible.
Some people are advised to monitor their peak flow at home. A lower-than-usual reading may indicate that the airways are narrowing, sometimes before symptoms become obvious. Your healthcare team can explain whether peak-flow monitoring is useful for you and how to interpret your readings.
When to Get Urgent Medical Help
An asthma attack can develop quickly or worsen over several hours or days. Warning signs may include increasing breathlessness, worsening wheezing or chest tightness, difficulty speaking or walking because of breathlessness, or symptoms that are not improving after using your prescribed reliever treatment.
If your symptoms become severe, continue to worsen, or do not improve after following the emergency steps in your asthma action plan, call your local emergency service immediately. If you are with someone having a severe asthma attack, help them sit upright, assist them in following their action plan if possible, and stay with them while waiting for medical help.
Do not wait for severe symptoms to improve on their own.
The Bottom Line
Asthma is a long-term condition, but appropriate treatment can help keep symptoms under control and reduce the risk of asthma attacks. Understanding your symptoms, recognising your triggers, using your medicines correctly, and following a written asthma action plan are important parts of managing the condition.
If your symptoms are becoming more frequent, disturbing your sleep, limiting your activities, or requiring reliever treatment more often, speak with your doctor. Your treatment can be reviewed and adjusted as your needs change.
