Asthma in Adults: Symptoms, Inhalers and Staying in Control
Asthma is a common long-term condition affecting the airways. With the right treatment and regular review, most adults with asthma can live normally with few or no symptoms.
Asthma treatment in the UK has changed in recent years, and many adults are still using inhalers in ways that no longer match current guidance. Some are unsure what their inhalers do, or whether their asthma is as well controlled as it could be.
This page explains what asthma is, how it is diagnosed, how it is treated today, what good control looks like and when to seek help, written from a GP perspective.
These articles are intended as educational sources, not diagnostic nor taking place of a proper medical assessment. If you need help, please book an appointment with one of our GP’s.
What is asthma?
In asthma, the airways are more sensitive than usual. When they react to a trigger, the lining becomes inflamed and swollen, the muscles around the airways tighten and extra mucus can build up. This narrows the airways and can cause:
- wheeze
- a cough, often worse at night or early in the morning
- chest tightness
- breathlessness
Symptoms often come and go, and they can vary from day to day. Asthma can start at any age, including in adults who have never had breathing problems before.
How asthma is diagnosed
There is no single test for asthma. A GP will usually start with your symptoms, when they happen and what seems to trigger them, alongside your personal and family history of asthma, eczema or hay fever.
Current UK guidance recommends objective tests to support a diagnosis where possible. These may include a blood test for eosinophils, a FeNO breath test, spirometry before and after a reliever, or peak flow readings over a couple of weeks. Some of these tests need to be arranged face to face, through your NHS practice or a specialist service.
Common asthma triggers
Knowing your triggers can help you reduce flare-ups. Common triggers include:
Colds and chest infections
Viral infections are one of the most common causes of asthma flare-ups, particularly in autumn and winter.
Allergens
Pollen, house dust mites, pet dander and mould can all trigger symptoms in people with allergic asthma.
Smoke and air pollution
Cigarette smoke, second-hand smoke, vapes and polluted air can irritate the airways and make asthma harder to control.
Cold air and weather changes
Cold, damp air, sudden temperature changes and thunderstorms can bring on symptoms.
Exercise
Exercise is good for asthma, but it can trigger symptoms in some people. Good overall control usually helps, and your plan may include advice for before exercise.
Some medicines
Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin, and beta blockers, can worsen asthma in some people. Always mention your asthma when starting a new medicine.
How asthma is treated today
Asthma treatment has changed in recent years. Under current UK guidance, most adults are treated with an inhaled corticosteroid, which reduces inflammation in the airways. Depending on your symptoms, your plan may include:
- an anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR): a combination inhaler used only when symptoms occur
- maintenance and reliever therapy (MART): the same combination inhaler used every day and when needed
- a separate daily preventer with a reliever, for some people on established treatment
- additional treatments or a specialist referral if asthma stays poorly controlled
Relying on a blue reliever inhaler alone, without an inhaled steroid, is no longer recommended for adults, because it does not treat the underlying inflammation. If this is your current treatment, it is worth asking for a review.
Brown, blue and purple inhalers: what the colours mean
Many people know their inhalers by colour. Traditionally, a blue inhaler is a reliever (usually salbutamol), and brown, orange or purple inhalers are preventers containing a steroid. However:
- colours vary between brands and are not standardised
- newer combination inhalers used for AIR or MART come in a range of colours
- the label, not the colour, tells you what your inhaler contains
If you are unsure which of your inhalers does what, ask your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist to go through them with you. Our guide to inhaler types and technique explains the devices themselves.
What good asthma control looks like
Well-controlled asthma means you can get on with daily life. Signs that your asthma is well controlled include:
- few or no daytime symptoms
- no waking at night because of asthma
- no limits on work, exercise or daily activities
- rarely needing your reliever, or using it within the limits of your plan
- no recent flare-ups needing steroid tablets or urgent care
If any of these do not describe you, your asthma may not be as well controlled as it could be, and a review is worthwhile.
Your asthma review and action plan
Adults with asthma should have a review at least once a year, and sooner after a flare-up or a change in treatment. A good review usually covers:
- your symptoms and how often you use your reliever
- your inhaler technique
- your triggers and how to reduce them
- whether your treatment is still right for you
- a written personal asthma action plan
A personal asthma action plan sets out your usual treatment, how to recognise when your asthma is getting worse and what to do in an emergency. Keep a copy somewhere easy to find, such as a photo on your phone.
Living well with asthma
Alongside medication, everyday habits make a real difference:
- stopping smoking, and avoiding second-hand smoke and vapes where you can
- having the yearly flu vaccine and any other vaccines you are offered
- keeping active, following any advice in your plan about exercise
- managing hay fever, which can make asthma harder to control
- keeping to a healthy weight
If you smoke, stopping is one of the most effective things you can do for your asthma. A GP can talk you through the support available.
When to seek help
Book a GP review soon if:
- you are using your reliever three or more times a week, or more than your plan allows
- asthma is waking you at night
- you have needed steroid tablets for a flare-up
- you are not sure your treatment is working
Call 999 or go to A&E if you are very breathless, cannot speak in full sentences, your lips or fingers look blue or grey, you feel drowsy or confused, or your reliever is not helping. These can be signs of a severe asthma attack.
When to seek urgent medical help
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if:
- your reliever inhaler is not helping
- you are too breathless to speak, eat or sleep
- your breathing is getting faster and you feel you cannot catch your breath
- your lips, tongue or fingertips look blue or grey
- you feel drowsy, confused or exhausted
These can be signs of a severe asthma attack, which needs urgent treatment. While you wait for help, follow the emergency steps in your personal asthma action plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can asthma start in adulthood?
Yes. Asthma can develop at any age, including in adults who have never had breathing problems before. Adult-onset asthma is sometimes linked to work, allergies or infections, so it is worth discussing new symptoms with a GP.
Is a blue inhaler on its own enough to treat asthma?
For most adults, no. Current UK guidance recommends treatment that includes an inhaled corticosteroid, because a reliever on its own does not treat the inflammation behind asthma. If you only use a blue inhaler, a review is worthwhile.
What is a personal asthma action plan?
It is a written plan, agreed with your clinician, that sets out your usual treatment, how to recognise when your asthma is getting worse and what to do in an emergency. Everyone with asthma should have one.
How often should I have an asthma review?
At least once a year, and sooner if you have had a flare-up, needed steroid tablets or changed treatment.
Can an online GP help with asthma?
An online GP can review your symptoms, check how your treatment is working, talk through inhaler technique and issue a private prescription where clinically appropriate. A severe asthma attack needs urgent in-person care, and some tests need to be arranged face to face.
Further Reading and Hub Links
Visit our Lung Health hub or browse more health topics in the AccessGP Knowledge Base. Our guide to inhaler types and technique may also help. For more on asthma, see the NHS guide to asthma.
If you would like a GP to review your asthma, talk through your inhalers or check whether your treatment is working as well as it could, you can book an online appointment at a time that suits you. Our GMC-registered GPs offer same-day or next-day video and telephone consultations.
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Reviewed by Dr Zamiel Hussain, GP · GMC number 7486123 (check the GMC register) · About Dr Hussain
Updated: 7 November 2026