If you suffer from asthma, you'll doubtless be familiar with its symptoms. These range from wheezing and periodic shortness of breath, to regular 'attacks' which involve a serious inability to breathe.

Asthma is commonly a childhood complaint and one which can necessitate live in care However, often, as an infant grows into an adult, the disorder becomes less pronounced and easier to deal with.

Most adults manage their condition on their own with the help of various medicines and strategies. Of chief importance in the asthma sufferer's arsenal is the inhaler. This small pump-action device contains one of several medications that help to stimulate the bronchioles and thus allow air to be taken into the lungs.

In addition to this, asthma sufferers also try to avoid certain situations and substances which can trigger an attack. Dust, for example, can have this effect, as can pollen and cigarette smoke. If placed so that contact with one of these is unavoidable, some people will choose to wear a dust mask or fashion a makeshift air filter using a scarf or similar.

In short, asthma is, for most people, a limiting but manageable health problem. With the right medications and some common sense, sufferers find it possible to live a completely normal life.