Five things you should know about Asthma

FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ASTHMA

* Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.

* It can't be cured, but can be controlled with asthma preventer and reliever medication, and a personal asthma action plan.

* People can get it for the first time later in life and shouldn't dismiss or confuse symptoms as simply due to `old age".

* Deaths in Australia have dropped from 964 in 1989 to 389 in 2013, but people still need to be vigilant.

* Some risk factors and triggers for adult onset asthma include obesity and environmental pollutants like active and passive tobacco smoking.

Source: National Asthma Council Australia.