Asthma is a chronic (ongoing) inflammatory disorder of the airways, which is characterised by symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing (a whistling sound in the chest), chest tightness, and cough. When a person with asthma is exposed to certain triggers, their airways react, resulting in asthma symptoms.
Common asthma triggers can be divided into roughly 2 groups: substances called allergens that set off an allergic reaction in the body, a symptom of which may be asthma; and other substances and circumstances that aggravate asthma without involving an allergic reaction. Asthma needs to be kept under control by using asthma medications and strategies recommended by a doctor. Knowing what your asthma triggers are, and then avoiding them, are important aspects in controlling your asthma.