Clinically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Najam-Ul-Arfeen, General Practitioner
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
AHPRA-registered
Last updated: 6 September 2026
If you’ve been coughing more than usual, feeling breathless during everyday activities or noticing a tight, wheezy chest, you may be wondering whether these are asthma symptoms or something else.
This guide covers what asthma is, the signs to look for, what causes it and where to go next, whether that’s getting a diagnosis, handling an attack or understanding your inhalers.
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition affecting the airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. In someone with asthma, these airways are more sensitive than usual, and when triggered, they become inflamed, narrow, and often produce extra mucus.
This combination, airway inflammation and narrowing, is what makes breathing feel difficult during a flare-up.
Asthma symptoms come and go. Many people feel completely fine for long stretches, then experience a flare triggered by an allergen, a cold, exercise, or another factor.
Types of Asthma
Asthma isn’t uniform. It shows up differently depending on what’s driving it and when it started.
- Allergic asthma: triggered by pollen, dust mites, mould, or pet dander; often linked to hay fever or eczema and tends to be seasonal.
- Non-allergic asthma: triggered by infections, cold air, pollution, smoke, stress, or medications, with no clear allergic cause, making it harder to pin down.
- Exercise-induced asthma (EIB): airway narrowing from physical activity, especially in cold or dry air; can occur alongside broader asthma or on its own. See our guide on asthma and exercise.
- Occupational asthma: triggered by workplace exposure (flour dust, chemicals, wood dust, cleaning agents); symptoms easing on days off is a key clue.
- Childhood-onset asthma: begins early in life, often linked to allergic triggers and family history; may improve with age or persist into adulthood.
While it impacts millions globally, particularly in developed countries like Australia, many people still ask a critical question: What is the main cause of asthma?
Symptoms of asthma
Common asthma symptoms include:
- Wheezing, a whistling sound, especially when breathing out
- Shortness of breath, even during activities that wouldn’t normally cause it
- Chest tightness or a feeling of pressure across the chest
- A persistent cough, particularly at night, early morning, or after exercise
- Symptoms that worsen during colds, flu, or other respiratory infections
- Fatigue linked to disrupted sleep or the extra effort of breathing
Early signs of asthma are often subtle, such as a slightly more frequent cough or feeling unusually puffed after normal activity, rather than a sudden, dramatic first episode. A pattern that continues over weeks is usually a clearer signal than a single off day.
Could It Be Something Other Than Asthma?
Several other conditions can cause a cough, breathlessness or chest tightness, including respiratory infections, hay fever, reflux, anxiety and, in people with a long smoking history, COPD. Because these symptoms overlap, it’s hard to know the cause from symptoms alone. A GP assessment is the reliable way to find out.
Asthma Causes
The exact cause of asthma isn’t fully understood. It develops from a mix of genetic and environmental factors. You’re more likely to have asthma if a close relative has it or if you have an allergic condition such as eczema or hay fever. Exposure to tobacco smoke, particularly in early childhood, and certain workplace dusts, fumes or chemicals are also linked to asthma. It can also first appear in adulthood, which is covered in our guide to adult-onset asthma.
Separate from what causes asthma are the triggers that set off symptoms in someone who already has it, such as allergens, cold air, smoke, respiratory infections and exercise. See common asthma triggers and exercise-induced asthma for how to spot and reduce them.
What Happens Next: Diagnosis, Treatment, Attacks and Inhalers
Depending on where you are with your symptoms, the sections below point you to the right next step. Each links to a full guide.
Asthma Diagnosis
Asthma diagnosis usually starts with a discussion about your symptoms, when they occur, what triggers them, and whether you have a history of allergies or respiratory conditions.
Your doctor may also arrange lung function testing, such as spirometry, to see how well air moves in and out of your lungs. In some cases, additional tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other causes of breathing problems.
Understanding Asthma Treatment
Asthma treatment depends on your symptoms, their frequency, and how well they are controlled. Treatment may involve inhaled medicines that help relieve symptoms and medicines used regularly to reduce airway inflammation.
Your doctor can also discuss ways to identify and manage your personal triggers, such as smoke, allergens, infections, or exercise.
If you’d like to talk it through with a GP, see asthma treatment online.
Knowing What to Do During an Asthma Attack
An asthma attack happens when symptoms become significantly worse, making breathing increasingly difficult. If you have an asthma action plan, follow the steps provided by your doctor. A severe attack can be life-threatening.
If someone is struggling to breathe, cannot speak normally, becomes exhausted or confused, or is not improving with their reliever, call 000 immediately. Read more:
Understanding Your Inhalers
Different asthma medications have different roles. Reliever inhalers are used to provide quick relief when symptoms occur, while preventer medicines are taken regularly to help control airway inflammation and reduce the risk of flare-ups.
Your doctor or pharmacist can explain which inhaler you have been prescribed, when to use it, and how to use the correct technique.
Read more
Having an Asthma Action Plan
An asthma action plan is a personalised written plan that explains how to manage your asthma when you’re feeling well, what to do when symptoms worsen, and when to seek urgent medical help.
Having these instructions clearly written down can make it easier to recognise changes in your symptoms and respond appropriately.
Read more: Asthma action plan: what it is and why you need one. For everyday habits that help keep asthma controlled, see how to manage asthma.
Risk Factors for Asthma
Understanding risk factors helps with early identification and prevention. Common risk factors include:
- Respiratory allergies or allergic rhinitis
- Living in areas with high air pollution
- Regular exposure to inhaled irritants (e.g. fumes, smoke)
- Obesity, which can affect lung function
- A history of viral infections during infancy
- Occupational hazards (e.g., farming, painting, cleaning)
In addition to environmental and genetic factors, certain lifestyle habits, like smoking or living in mouldy environments, can significantly increase asthma risk.
How to Get a Repeat Asthma Prescription Online
If you have an existing asthma diagnosis and need a repeat prescription for your reliever or preventer inhaler, an online GP consultation is often the fastest and most convenient option, particularly if your asthma is stable and well-controlled.
A GP can review your current symptoms and control, issue an e-Script sent directly to your phone, and flag if it’s time for an in-person review or a change to your asthma action plan.
When to See a GP
See a GP, in person or via telehealth, if:
- You’re experiencing possible asthma symptoms for the first time
- Your cough, breathlessness, or wheeze is persistent or worsening
- Symptoms are disrupting your sleep or daily activities
- Your asthma isn’t well controlled on your current treatment
- You’re unsure whether your symptoms are asthma or something else
Frequently Asked Questions
Can asthma develop later in life?
Yes. Adult-onset asthma is increasingly common and can be triggered by long-term exposure to irritants, hormonal changes, or health conditions like GERD.
Can asthma cause a cough without wheezing?
Yes. Some people may experience a persistent cough as their main symptom, sometimes called cough-variant asthma. A GP can assess whether asthma or another condition could be causing the cough.
Can asthma symptoms go away on their own?
Asthma symptoms can sometimes improve or disappear between flare-ups, but this does not necessarily mean the underlying condition has gone away. If symptoms keep returning, a GP assessment can help determine what is happening.
How do allergic and non-allergic asthma differ?
Allergic asthma is triggered by allergens and involves immune responses. Non-allergic asthma is typically triggered by irritants, infections, or stress and doesn’t involve the same immune pathways.
Can emotional stress cause asthma attacks?
Yes. Strong emotions can act as triggers by causing rapid breathing and airway constriction.
Is asthma hereditary?
Family history plays a role. Asthma is more common in people who have a close relative with asthma or who have allergic conditions such as eczema or hay fever. Having a family history doesn’t mean you will develop asthma.
Can asthma be cured?
There is currently no cure for asthma, but it can usually be well controlled with the right treatment and regular review. Many people with well-controlled asthma have few or no day-to-day symptoms.
Is asthma the same as COPD?
No. Both can cause cough, breathlessness and wheeze, but they are different conditions. Asthma often starts earlier in life and symptoms tend to come and go, while COPD usually develops later, mostly in people with a long history of smoking or exposure to lung irritants, and tends to worsen gradually. Some people have both, so a GP assessment with lung function testing helps tell them apart.
Conclusion
Recurring asthma symptoms are worth getting checked rather than putting up with. A persistent cough, wheeze, chest tightness or unexplained breathlessness can all be assessed, and an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards controlling them.
HelloGP offers online consultations for asthma with Australian-registered GPs, who can assess your symptoms and advise whether further testing, treatment or in-person care is appropriate.
HelloGP - Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice. Telehealth is not suitable for emergencies. If you have an emergency or are at immediate risk, call 000 or visit your nearest emergency department.