WHAT IS ASTHMA?

Brought to you by Asthma Australia

Asthma is a long-term lung condition of the airways (the passage that transports air into our lungs).

• People suffering from this condition have sensitive airways.
• These airways become inflamed (also known as a flare-up) when they are exposed to triggers.
• When the airways become inflamed, the narrowing airways cause significant, persistent, and troublesome symptoms.
• This often causes breathing difficulties, as it is equivalent to breathing through a very thin tube.

A flare-up can come on slowly over hours, days, or even weeks, or quickly over minutes. A doctor should always diagnose asthma. Diagnosis usually involves providing medical history and undertaking some lung function tests.

At the moment, there is no cure, but it can be managed.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Brought to you by Asthma Australia

People with asthma experience symptoms because of the inflammation and narrowing of their airways. Symptoms often vary from person to person. The most common symptoms are:

• Persistent cough, irrespective of sound it makes.
• Wheezing - high pitch whistling sound made by narrowing of airways
• Breathing difficulties - sometimes the signs of airways tightening do not result in any sounds (silent asthma) we are familiar with such as wheezing and coughing.
• Tightening of chest / Chest pain

If you have any of the above symptoms, visit a doctor to investigate further.

HOW TO MANAGE ASTHMA?

Brought to you by Asthma Australia

Most people with asthma can manage and control their lives so they are unaffected by symptoms.

The best way to do this is by avoiding exposure to known triggers. Below are some actions you can take around the home to help manage triggers.

It is also important to have a written Asthma Action Plan and follow its guidelines every day. In addition, understanding your medications and using them as prescribed.

THINGS YOU CAN DO AT HOME

30% of People Have Worse Asthma and Allergy Symptoms at Home

PRODUCTS TO HELP YOU AT HOME