Some people think they have recurrent bronchitis, since respiratory infections usually settle in the chest in a person predisposed to asthma. There are certain warning signs of an impending attack. These can occur hours or days before audible wheezing begins. Once a patient learns what their signs are they can become better at recognising an attack before it gets out of control. To prevent attacks, people with asthma should avoid their asthma triggers and take medicine appropriately.
Treatment consists of two main factors - environmental control and medication.
Medication is the mainstay of asthma treatment. Because patterns of asthma are different for different people, the specific type of drug treatment varies a lot depending on the frequency, severity, and particular triggers of each patient's episodes. For people with mild asthma, medication may only be needed before exposure to triggers or when they detect the onset of an attack. Those with more frequent symptoms may take daily medicine as well as using medicine for specific symptoms. In the case of severe, persistent asthma patients may need two or more doses of medicine each day.