What is asthma?
Asthma is a very common long-term lung condition. It affects the airways that carry air in and out of your lungs. In the UK, 5.4 million people have asthma – affecting one in every 12 adults and one in every 11 children.
People with asthma often have sensitive airways that can become inflamed in response to ‘triggers’. This results in symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or feeling breathless.
Asthma symptoms are variable. Sometimes people may not have symptoms for weeks or months at a time, but it is very important that a preventer inhaler is taken every day, even when well, to lower the risk of symptoms and asthma attacks.
Living with asthma
Reliable information and advice to help people manage asthma is available from the major respiratory charities:
- Asthma & Lung UK – Manage Your Asthma
- Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland – Asthma Information and Support
- My Lungs My Life – I Have Asthma
Further information
NHS Ayrshire & Arran app
You can also find information on our NHS Ayrshire & Arran Respiratory Facebook page, or download the NHS Ayrshire & Arran app and select Respiratory from the list.