Getting Asthma Under Control

Asthma is common and affects 1 in 11 children and 1 in 12 adults in the UK.

- Dr Sarah Jarvis

It's caused by sensitive, inflamed airways, often due to allergy. Asthma can cause serious attacks which can land you in hospital or can even be fatal, but most people with asthma can manage it well and avoid severe flare-ups with regular treatment. Regardless of what type of lung condition you have, avoiding smoking will make a world of difference - it's never too late to quit!

If you cough up blood, speak to your doctor urgently. They may want to arrange tests to rule out lung cancer.

Asthma can run in families - if others in your family have allergic conditions such as asthma, eczema or hay fever, you're more likely to get one of more of these as well. The chances are even higher if both parents have asthma. Most develop symptoms in early childhood. Although asthma isn't curable, some people with asthma have fewer, less severe symptoms as they get into their teens. If you were born prematurely or had infections called croup or bronchiolitis in childhood, you could be at higher risk.

Triggers are different to causes. If you already have sensitive airways, triggers like pollen, cold air, pollution, pet hair, cigarette smoke or cold viruses can cause the lining of your airways to get inflamed, making the airways smaller. Sticky mucus can build up in airways, partly blocking them. This combination leads to the asthma symptoms of cough, wheeze, chest tightness shortness of breath. It's worth knowing what triggers your symptoms, so you can take steps to avoid them if possible.