Asthma

What is asthma?
Asthma is a long-term condition that affects the airways - the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. There is no cure for asthma but there are effective treatments to help with symptoms.

What causes asthma?
Find out why some people are more likely to get asthma, how asthma can be hereditary, and why you’re more likely to develop asthma if you have other allergies.

Symptoms of asthma
When your asthma flares up, the most common symptoms are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.

Diagnosing asthma
Find out why it’s important to get a diagnosis so you can start treatment for asthma, how asthma is diagnosed, and how you can take positive steps to stay symptom free after a diagnosis.

Asthma treatments
Detailed information and answers to common questions about inhalers, medicines and treatments to help relieve asthma symptoms and prevent asthma attacks.

Asthma triggers
An asthma trigger is anything that irritates your airways and sets off your asthma symptoms.

Asthma attacks
If you’re having an asthma attack, or someone you know is having an asthma attack, follow this emergency advice.

Managing asthma
Managing your asthma well will significantly cut your risk of an asthma attack.

Types of asthma
People use different terms to describe the different types of asthma, because everyone with asthma experiences the condition differently.

Occupational asthma
Every year many people in the UK develop asthma because they are exposed to dangerous substances at work. This is called occupational asthma.

Asthma care in the NHS
Find out all about how to get the best from the NHS to treat your asthma.

Asthma and your child
Are you a parent of a child with asthma? Our pages are full of tips from other parents and advice from healthcare professionals based on the latest research.

Severe asthma
Do you have, or think you might have, severe asthma? One in 20 people with asthma do. These pages are packed with tips from people with severe asthma and advice from healthcare professionals.