A Basic Guide to Asthma What is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease. When exposed to certain trigger factors, the airways become swollen and narrow, making breathing difficult. Asthma cannot be cured but can be controlled. What are the symptoms of an asthma attack? The typical symptoms of asthma include: •
Coughing: It is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
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Breathlessness/Shortness of breath: It is a feeling like you cannot get air out of your lungs.
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Chest tightness: This may feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
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Wheezing/Noisy breathing: This is a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs when you breathe.
Not all people with asthma have these symptoms. Likewise, having these symptoms does not always mean that you have asthma.