Key Information

Asthma is a common long-term condition that affects your airways, which are the small tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs.

If you have asthma, your airways are more sensitive than other people's. They become inflamed and swollen when you come into contact with certain triggers.

The "Rush Hour" Reaction

When your lungs react to a trigger (like cold air, pollen, or a virus), it is like "rush hour" hitting your lungs. This happens in three stages:

• Narrowing Lanes: The muscles around your airways tighten, squeezing the lanes and making them narrower.
• Bumpy Road: The linings of the airways become swollen and inflamed, making the "road surface" bumpy.
• The Traffic Jam: Your body produces extra sticky mucus, which clogs up the already narrowed lanes.

This combination causes the classic symptoms of asthma: wheezing, breathlessness, a tight chest, or coughing.

How Treatment Works

Your inhalers are the service vehicles designed to clear the road. They have two specific jobs:

• Relaxing: They relax the tight muscles, effectively widening the lanes to let air move again.
• Healing: They heal the road surface, reducing the swelling and stopping the traffic jam from happening in the first place.

The MART Approach (2-in-1)

For many patients, we now use a treatment plan called MART (Maintenance and Reliever Therapy). This uses a smart "2-in-1" inhaler.

• The Combined Vehicle: Think of it as a combined service vehicle.
• Dual Action: Every time you use it to clear the traffic jam (treat the symptoms), it automatically repairs the road surface (treats the inflammation) at the same time.
• The Goal: This ensures your airways stay open and healthy, rather than just treating the panic of the traffic jam.

Is Your Traffic Jam Clearing?

If you have been diagnosed with asthma but are still experiencing symptoms regularly, it means your "traffic jam" is not being cleared effectively.

When to Contact Us:

If you notice:

• Frequent wheezing.
• Waking up at night due to breathing.
• Needing your reliever inhaler often.

Please contact us so we can review your plan.

Discuss Your Symptoms

Further Information

Asthma Inhalers

Asthma Winter Plan

Your Yearly Asthma Review

For more information about asthma, including symptoms, treatment and living with asthma, please visit the NHS website.

• Learn more about asthma

Last reviewed: 27 April 2026
Next review due: 27 April 2029