Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory condition that is characterized by symptoms of intermittent dyspnea (shortness of breath), cough, and wheezing (Hospitals, 2026).
An asthma diagnosis is the first step to receiving appropriate care. Each person's experience with asthma is unique, with a variety of symptoms, changing triggers, and varying degrees of symptom control (2022).
It is possible to be diagnosed with asthma at any stage of life. Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled by working with a medical professional to create a strategy.
You can effectively manage your asthma if you:
- Use your quick-relief inhaler fewer than three times a week.
- Never wake up in the middle of the night with asthma.
- Engage in regular activities, such as exercise, with little to no symptoms (Association).
Asthma prevalence
Asthma is a significant global health issue, with rising prevalence rates in many nations. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 30 crore people suffer from asthma, and in 2005, asthma claimed lives of 255,000 individuals
Types of Asthma
- Allergic asthma
- Non allergic asthma
- Seasonal asthma
- Occupational asthma or work-related asthma
- Childhood onset asthma
- Adult-onset asthma
- Eosinophilic asthma
- Exercise induced asthma
Symptoms of Asthma
Common asthma signs and symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath (SOB)
- Cough
- Tightness of chest
- Decrease in peak flow meter
- Waking up at night due to a worsening of cough
Symptoms of severe asthma are often persistent, and these symptoms are observed at least once a day. Below are some of the asthma attack symptoms observed in patients:
- Breathlessness which is persistent and continuous
- Heavy feeling in the chest
- Wheezing
- Severe cough
- Difficulty in speaking
- Allergic responses to pollen and dust
- Extreme sensitivity to scents and smell
- Blue lips or fingers
- Rapid heart rate
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Dizziness (Hospitals, 2026).
How to know if you have developed Asthma???
Stage 1: Identifying the symptoms and scheduling a visit with your physician:
The main symptoms of asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough. If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or an asthma specialist, to discuss your symptoms. If you have encountered them over time, this is very crucial. To ensure that you receive the best care possible, a diagnosis is crucial, whether it is to verify your asthma or rule it out.
Stage 2: Receiving a preliminary diagnosis of asthma:
Your doctor may do a few tests to confirm a diagnosis if they believe your symptoms point to asthma, including:
- A test that shows how open your airways are is called peak expiratory flow, or peak flow.
- A test called spirometry gauges how quickly you can exhale and how much air you can hold in your lungs. A tube and a tiny device known as a spirometer are connected to a mouthpiece.
- Airway inflammation is detected by a FeNO (fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide) test. Blowing consistently and slowly into a portable device that detects nitric oxide in exhaled air is how FeNO is measured.
Stage 3: Asthma management:
Since asthma is a chronic condition that lasts for a long period, controlling it must be an ongoing process. The degree to which symptoms are reduced or eliminated by medical treatment is referred to asthma control.
Controlling asthma involves:
- Continually discussing the nature, frequency, duration, and intensity of your asthma symptoms with your physician.
- Taking steps to address them in collaboration with your physician, such as creating a documented asthma management plan.
- Evaluating the effects of asthma on your quality of life and your disease activity on a regular basis.
Different Types of Asthma Medicines and Treatments
There are four types of asthma medicines and treatments:
- Quick-relief medicines
- Controller medicines
- Combination of quick-relief and controller medicines
- Biologics
Different Types of Delivery Devices for Asthma Medicines
- Inhalers (also called puffers)- There are four types of asthma inhaler devices that deliver medicine:
- Metered dose inhalers: have medicine plus a propellant. The propellant sprays the medicine out of the inhaler in a short burst.
- Dry powder inhalers: do not have a propellant and do not spray the medicine out of the inhaler. The medicine is released from the inhaler when you breathe it in.
- Breath actuated inhalers: have dry powder or aerosol medicine. The medicine does not spray out of the inhaler. The medicine is released from the inhaler when you breathe it in.
- Soft mist inhalers: do not have propellant, but they do spray the medicine out of the inhaler. They create a cloud of medicine that sprays out softly.
- Nebulizers- A nebulizer machine, or “breathing machine,” turns liquid asthma medicine into a mist. You then breathe in the medicine through a mask or mouthpiece.
- Injectables (Biologics) – These are shots or infusions given every few weeks.
How Do Asthma Treatments Work?
- Bronchodilators:
Bronchodilators can be short- or long-acting.
Few of them are:
- Short-acting beta agonists (SABA).
Common Examples include: Albuterol (Ventolin) and levalbuterol (Xopenex).
- Short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMA).
Common Example includes Ipratropium bromide
- Long-acting beta agonists (LABA).
Common Examples include Salmeterol, Formoterol, and Arformoterol.
- Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA)
Common examples include Tiotropium (Spiriva) and Umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta)
- Anti-Inflammatories (Steroidal):
Anti-inflammatories (steroidal) come in many different forms. They are also called controllers because they help to control or prevent asthma symptoms. They reduce swelling and extra mucus inside the airways. They will not relieve sudden symptoms.
Two of them are:
- Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are corticosteroids that supplement the natural corticosteroids made by your adrenal glands. They are also called controllers because they help to control or prevent symptoms from asthma.
Common Individual Inhaled Corticosteroid Examples:
Common Combination ICS/LABA Inhalers:
- Budesonide/formoterol: Symbicort
- Fluticasone/salmeterol: Advair Diskus
- Fluticasone/vilanterol: Breo Ellipta
- Mometasone/formoterol: Dulera
- Oral corticosteroids are taken in pill or liquid form. This medicine may be prescribed as “rescue” for the treatment of asthma attacks that don’t respond to other asthma medicines. They also are used as long-term therapy for some people with severe asthma.
Common Oral Corticosteroid Examples:
People with asthma may have to use their inhaler daily. The frequency of symptoms and the kinds of inhalers that are accessible will determine how they are treated. To reduce the prejudices and misconceptions surrounding asthma in various contexts, it is also critical to increase community awareness. It is also important for people with asthma to know how to increase their treatment when their symptoms are worsening to avoid a serious attack.
REFERENCES:
- Association, A. L. (n.d.). Managing asthma. American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/managing-asthma
- Asthma treatment. Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. (2025, March 7). https://aafa.org/asthma/asthma-treatment/
- Hospitals, P. (2026, February 5). Asthma: Symptoms, causes, types, diagnosis & treatment. Pace Hospitals | Best Hospitals in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. https://www.pacehospital.com/asthma-symptoms-causes-types-diagnosis-and-treatment
- The Next Breath Editorial Team. (2022, October). THE JOURNEY TO ASTHMA CONTROL: DIAGNOSIS AND WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT. Sanofi & Regeneron. https://www.thenextbreath.com/blog/the-journey-to-asthma-control.
