Should I use inhaler daily for asthma at 35?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 35 and was diagnosed with asthma last year, and I use an inhaler occasionally when I get breathing difficulty. Recently, I noticed that I get short of breath even with mild activity, and sometimes at night as well. I am not sure if my asthma is getting worse or if the inhaler dose needs to be changed. Please tell me,

Should I be using an inhaler daily instead of only when needed?
Can uncontrolled asthma cause permanent lung problems over time?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

From what you are describing, it does seem that your asthma is not fully under control at the moment. Getting breathless with mild activity and having symptoms at night are usually signs that things need a bit of adjustment.

Using an inhaler only when you feel breathless gives temporary relief, but it does not control the underlying problem. Asthma is more about ongoing airway irritation, and when symptoms start coming more often, we usually need to add a regular inhaler to keep things settled. Many of my patients notice a clear difference once they start using a controller inhaler daily instead of waiting for symptoms.

The exact inhaler and dose depend on your current condition, so it would be best to get this reviewed rather than continuing the same treatment. Sometimes even small adjustments make a big difference.

About your concern regarding long-term effects, if asthma remains uncontrolled for a long time, it can slowly affect the airways and reduce lung function. This does not happen suddenly, but we try to prevent it by keeping asthma well controlled.

At this stage, the important thing is to step up your treatment appropriately so that your day-to-day and night-time symptoms settle down.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.