Asthma affects over 260 million people globally
Tuesday 5 May is World Asthma Day and Sensitive Choice is raising awareness about asthma as a chronic lung condition. Asthma is incredibly common and affects as many as 262 million people worldwide.
Last updated 1 May 2026
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Asthma is a treatable health condition and although there is no cure, with good management people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.
Don’t let asthma get in the way of living your life to the full!
The key to living with asthma is keeping it under control. Read on to find out how.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung condition that affects the airways (the breathing tubes that carry air into our lungs).
The most common symptoms of asthma are:
- wheezing – a high-pitched sound coming from the chest while breathing
- a feeling of not being able to get enough air or being short of breath
- a feeling of tightness in the chest
- coughing.
You don’t have to have all these symptoms to have asthma.
Is asthma common?
In Australia, 2.8 million people live with asthma. Asthma affects 1 in 9 Australians. In New Zealand, 1 in 8 Kiwis have asthma. According to the New Zealand Health Survey 2022/23, over 615,000 individuals in New Zealand take medication for asthma.
What is an asthma flare-up?
Asthma flare-ups happen when the airways in the lungs become obstructed. This reduces the ability to inhale life sustaining oxygen into the body.
The airway obstruction is caused by spasm and tightening of the airway muscles, and inflammation which causes both swelling of the walls of the air passages and mucous or phlegm blocking the airways.
Some people say an asthma flare-up feels like breathing through a thin straw.
Asthma flare-ups cause great distress for people living with asthma and their families. Asthma flare-ups may result in hospital admission and, in some cases, death.
How can I manage my asthma?
For good asthma management it’s important that you:
- Know your triggers – Understand what sets off your asthma and allergies.
- Avoid asthma and allergy triggers or reduce exposure.
- See your doctor regularly and work together to keep your asthma under control.
- Asthma action plan – Have an up-to-date asthma action plan in place, developed together with your doctor or health professional.
- Take your medication as directed – Even on days when you feel well.
- Use your inhaler (puffer) correctly – The right technique makes a big difference.
Asthma guidelines have changed: Less SABA, more AIR
A ‘blue puffer’ that contains a medicine called short-acting beta2 antagonist (SABA) does not treat the underlying inflammation that causes asthma. It does not prevent symptoms or attacks. It just relieves symptoms and helps treat asthma attacks that have already started.
Relying only on a blue puffer, or needing it often, means you are at risk of severe asthma attacks.
The National Asthma Council asthma guidelines recommend that all adults and adolescents with asthma, and most children with asthma, should use inhalers that treat the underlying inflammation, not just relieve symptoms.
The guidelines now recommend anti-inflammatory relievers (AIR) (a different type of quick-relief medicine) instead of blue puffers (SABA) for adults and adolescents.
Ask your doctor today about less SABA, more AIR.
Understand what triggers your asthma
Sensitive Choice has a range of fact sheets on common asthma and allergy triggers. They include a brief overview on how the trigger influences asthma or allergies and what you can do.
Common asthma and allergy triggers are:
Create a healthy home by eliminating or reducing the presence and impact of these common asthma and allergy triggers.
Know what good asthma control looks like
Asthma control tests are a set of health questions used to help measure asthma control in children and adults.
Good asthma control means having all of the following:
- No night-time asthma symptoms.
- No asthma symptoms on waking.
- No need for reliever medication.
- No restriction of day-to-day activities.
- No days off school or work due to asthma.
- No asthma attacks or flare-ups.
Don’t let yourself get used to poor asthma control.
Regularly waking from asthma symptoms or using your reliever medication more than 2 to 3 times a week (except before exercise) should not be a ‘normal’ part of having asthma.
If this sounds familiar see your doctor for an asthma review.
What is the Sensitive Choice blue butterfly?
Sensitive Choice is dedicated to empowering people to live better with asthma and allergies.
The Sensitive Choice program was created by the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) in 2006 to better educate people on how to manage asthma and allergies and to help consumers to identify asthma and allergy-aware products and services.
Our iconic blue butterfly helps you find products that are asthma and allergy friendly.
Take a look at Sensitive Choice approved products and services .
Get involved
Help us raise awareness for World Asthma Day 2026 by liking and commenting on our World Asthma Day posts on social media or share with your friends and family!
Australia and international:
New Zealand: