Term	Definition	Example
Asthma	A long-term condition where the airways become narrow and inflamed, making it harder to breathe.	"Mr. Hughes has had asthma since he was a child."
Wheeze	A whistling sound when you breathe, usually caused by narrowed airways.	"He gets a slight wheeze if he's running to catch the bus."
Shortness of breath	Finding it hard to get enough air in, or feeling breathless.	"She reported shortness of breath climbing the stairs."
Trigger	Something that sets off or worsens symptoms.	"Cold air and cats are two of his known triggers."
Inhaler	A small device that delivers medicine directly into the lungs.	"He carries his inhaler in his coat pocket."
Reliever & preventer	The reliever gives quick relief during a flare-up. The preventer is taken regularly to reduce inflammation over time. Colour conventions vary by brand and country.	"He uses the preventer daily, and the reliever only when needed."
Spacer	A plastic chamber that attaches to an inhaler and makes it easier to inhale the full dose.	"The nurse suggested a spacer to fix his timing."
Peak flow	A simple measurement of how fast you can breathe out, used to track control over time.	"His peak flow readings help confirm whether his asthma is well controlled."
Asthma attack	A sudden worsening of symptoms that needs urgent treatment.	"His action plan explains exactly what to do if he's heading toward an asthma attack."
Action plan	A personalised written plan explaining what to do as symptoms change.	"The nurse promised to help him find his old action plan today."

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