If you’ve ever watched someone struggle to catch their breath during an asthma attack, you understand how frightening this condition can be. Asthma affects approximately one in nine Australians, making it one of the most common chronic health conditions in the country. However, with proper understanding and management strategies, most people with asthma can lead whole, active lives with minimal symptoms.
Understanding how to manage asthma effectively involves recognising triggers, exploring treatment options, and implementing daily strategies that support better breathing. This comprehensive approach may help reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms while improving overall quality of life.
Understanding Asthma and How to Keep It Under Control
Asthma is a long-term condition characterised by inflamed airways that cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and breathlessness. While it often starts in childhood, it can develop at any age.
Poorly managed asthma can limit daily activities, disturb sleep, and lead to emergency hospital visits. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening.
With the proper treatment and lifestyle changes, most people can manage their symptoms, stay active, sleep well, and minimise the need for reliever medications.
Common Asthma Triggers to Avoid
Identifying and avoiding asthma triggers is essential for effective management. While triggers vary, many fall into common categories.
Allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and mould can cause symptoms. Pollen is seasonal, while indoor allergens may affect people year-round.
Weather changes—such as cold air, humidity, or wind—can exacerbate symptoms, particularly during seasonal transitions.
Irritants such as cigarette smoke, strong odours, cleaning products, and air pollution often trigger flare-ups.
Physical and emotional triggers include exercise (especially in cold air), stress, intense emotions, and respiratory infections like colds or the flu.
Workplace exposures—such as dust, fumes, or chemicals—can also contribute to asthma symptoms in some individuals.
Diagnostic Testing for Accurate Asthma Assessment
Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective asthma management. Comprehensive testing helps healthcare professionals assess the condition’s severity and create personalised treatment plans.
Spirometry is often the first test used to measure how much and how quickly you can exhale, identifying airway obstruction and tracking changes over time.
Bronchial provocation tests identify airway hyperresponsiveness by exposing you to substances that may narrow the airways—useful when the diagnosis is unclear.
Lung volumes, which indicate total lung capacity and the amount of air remaining after exhaling, aid in monitoring disease progression.
Gas transfer tests evaluate how efficiently oxygen moves from the lungs into the blood, which can also help detect other lung conditions.
6-minute walk tests measure how far you can walk in six minutes, tracking oxygen levels and symptoms to assess exercise tolerance.
MIPS and MEPs measure breathing muscle strength, aiding in the assessment of respiratory muscle function and treatment planning.
FeNO testing assesses the level of inflammation in your airways by measuring nitric oxide in your exhaled breath, and can be useful in asthma management.
These diagnostic tests work together to provide a detailed picture of your respiratory health, enabling us to develop personalised treatment plans that address your specific needs.
Medical Treatment Options
Modern asthma treatment focuses on controlling inflammation and preventing symptoms, not just managing attacks. Medication choices depend on your condition. For most people with asthma, a management plan will include regular use of an appropriate prescription medication.
Reliever medications, such as short-acting bronchodilators (e.g., salbutamol), provide rapid relief by relaxing the airway muscles. They are used as needed but not for daily prevention.
Preventer medications, usually inhaled corticosteroids, are taken daily to reduce airway inflammation and prevent symptoms, even when you’re feeling well.
Combination inhalers contain both a preventer and a long-acting reliever, suitable for moderate to severe asthma that requires ongoing control.
Oral medications may be added if inhalers aren’t enough. These include leukotriene receptor antagonists and corticosteroids, used short-term for flare-ups or long-term for severe cases.
Advanced treatments, such as biologic therapies, target specific immune pathways and are used for severe, treatment-resistant asthma under the care of specialists.
Correct inhaler technique is vital. Many people misuse inhalers, reducing their effectiveness. Regular technique checks help ensure medication is delivered correctly.
Lifestyle Management Strategies
Daily lifestyle choices can significantly impact asthma control and support effective medical treatment. Evidence-based strategies can reduce symptoms and boost respiratory health.
Diet plays a role in inflammation. Omega-3-rich foods, such as fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, may help reduce airway inflammation. Antioxidant-rich foods—such as berries, leafy greens, and colourful vegetables—can help protect against oxidative stress.
Exercise is encouraged with proper precautions. Gradual warm-ups and cool-downs prepare the airways. Low-impact activities, such as swimming, walking, or yoga, are often better tolerated than high-intensity workouts.
Breathing techniques such as pursed-lip breathing—inhaling through the nose and exhaling slowly through pursed lips—can ease breathlessness.
Home environment changes reduce triggers. Allergen-proof bedding cuts dust mite exposure, and keeping humidity between 30–50% prevents mould while avoiding dry air that irritates the lungs.
Asthma control is achievable for most people through a combination of appropriate medical treatment, lifestyle modifications, and regular professional support. Understanding your triggers, using medications correctly, and maintaining healthy habits all contribute to better symptom management.
Extensive diagnostic testing helps ensure accurate assessment and appropriate treatment planning. With proper management strategies, most people with asthma can maintain active, fulfilling lives with minimal limitations from their condition.
If you’re experiencing persistent asthma symptoms or feel your current treatment isn’t providing adequate control, contact us today to book your consultation. From advanced diagnostic testing, including spirometry and bronchial provocation tests, to personalised treatment plans, we’re here to help you breathe easier.
