Could it be asthma?
If you have:
- breathlessness,
- wheezing,
- a tight feeling in the chest, and/or
- continuing cough,
then you may have asthma. You may have all of these symptoms or only a few, and they may come and go.
When does it start?
Asthma can start at any age, and can be more of a problem when it starts in older adults, so don’t assume if you never had it as a child that it’s not possible now.
Maybe I’m just getting older...
No! Being breathless is not a normal part of getting older – it should always be checked out by a doctor.
A diagnosis of asthma is more likely if you have eczema or hayfever, or have close relatives with allergies and/or asthma, and if your symptoms:
- keep coming back, or happen at the same time each year
- are worse at night or in the early morning
- are clearly triggered by exercise, allergies or infections
- improve quickly with reliever medication
What should I do if I think I have asthma?
If you suspect you might have asthma, you should see your doctor for a professional diagnosis. Don’t ignore it – if you do have asthma, the sooner you get it under control, the faster you can get back to living a full and active life!
How is asthma diagnosed?
Click here to navigate to our diagnosis page.
What else could it be?
There are a range of conditions that have similar characteristics to asthma. Click here to get some more information.