Asthma

Asthma is a long-term condition in which over-sensitive airways become narrow and inflamed, making it difficult to breathe normally. It has no particular cause, but asthma is one of a group of allergic conditions, including eczema and hay fever, which often occur together.

Symptoms

• coughing
• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• chest tightness

Asthma symptoms are often variable and unpredictable in how severe they are and how long they last and often get worse during the night. Symptoms are often provoked by pollen, dust, animals, exercise, viruses, chemicals and smoke. Each episode of asthma may last an hour or so, or may persist for days or weeks unless treated.

Treatment

The aim of treating chronic asthma is to achieve control of your symptoms, to maintain this control and to prevent asthma. The treatments available for asthma are effective in most people, and should enable you to be free from symptoms, and to get on with your life. Once you’ve been diagnosed treatment could include:

• Reliever medications
• Weight reduction advice for obese patients with asthma to improve asthma control.
• Advice to smokers about the risks to themselves and their children with asthma.
• Vaccinations to reduce respiratory infection, such as flu.
• Preventive drugs