Asthma is a long-term lung condition. People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs which react to triggers, causing a 'flare-up'. In a flare-up, the muscles around the airways are squeezed tight, the airways swell and become narrow with more mucus. These things make it hard to breathe.

An asthma flare-up can come on slowly (over hours, days or even weeks) or very quickly (over minutes). A sudden or severe asthma flare-up is sometimes called an asthma attack.

One in nine people in Australia has asthma. It affects people of all ages. Some people get asthma when they are young; others when they are older.

Asthma cannot be cured, but for most people it can be well controlled by following a dialy management plan.

Asthma Symptoms - Asthma Australia

What is Asthma? - Short video by Asthma Australia

• Controlling asthma - Asthma Australia
• Asthma Control Test - Asthma Australia
• Asthma Assist Information Service (free) - Asthma Australia
• Resources in other languages - Asthma Australia
• Fact Sheets - Asthma Australia
• Asthma Kids
• Kiss myAsthma - Mobile app developed by the University of Sydney for young people with asthma
• pdf Toolkit for General Practice - Diagnosis Management Referral Pathways (702 KB)
• pdf Practice Incentives Program (702 KB)
• pdf Asthma Cycle of Care Information (678 KB)
  

Community groups and links

• Patient education referral service - Asthma Australia
• 1800 ASTHMA Helpline (1800 278 462) - a free and confidential service providing information and support to anyone with questions or concerns about asthma provided by Asthma Australia.
• Asthma Training Courses - Asthma Australia
• Just Asthma Messages - free test message service designed to give you the information and skills to improve asthma management

Videos

• How to use your puffer - Asthma Australia video
• How to videos - National Asthma Council Australia
• Kiss myAsthma