If you think you have asthma, make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to get the treatment you need

Around 1 in 12 adults in the UK is being treated for asthma. People often think of asthma as something you get when you’re a child. But it’s not unusual to develop asthma as an adult. In fact asthma can develop at any age.

It’s important to get a confirmed diagnosis. If you have asthma and it’s not diagnosed or looked after properly, it can make it even harder for your lungs to work well. And over time symptoms like breathlessness, coughing and tightness in the chest will be worse. Under-treated asthma may be life threatening.

The good news is there are lots of safe and effective medicines available. And if you take them as prescribed, asthma doesn’t need to stop you doing anything you want to do.

  • What asthma symptoms should I look for?
  • What’s triggering my asthma symptoms?
  • How is asthma diagnosed?
  • What’s a ‘trial of treatment’?
  • What happens after an asthma diagnosis?

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