A mother helping her young daughter use an asthma inhaler with a spacer at home

Asma (Asthma): Tanda, Pencetus & Ubat

十月 17, 2026 Drann Editorial Team

Asma (asthma, also called lelah) is a common long-term condition in which the airways become swollen and narrow, causing wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and a tight chest. Symptoms come and go and are often worse at night or early in the morning. They can be triggered by haze and air pollution, smoke, dust, cold air, exercise and infections. Asthma cannot currently be cured, but the main treatment, medicine breathed in through an inhaler, works well for most people when used correctly. An asthma attack can be life-threatening: call 999 if your reliever inhaler is not helping or you get worse.

What is penyakit asma (lelah)?

According to the NHS, asthma is a common condition that affects your breathing. Symptoms happen when your airways become swollen, which makes them narrower. The WHO describes it as inflammation and muscle tightening around the airways, and notes that asthma affected an estimated 363 million people worldwide in 2023 and is the most common chronic disease among children.

According to the NHS, asthma usually starts in children, but it can happen at any age. It cannot currently be cured, but if it is well treated you should not have problems with symptoms.

Tanda asma: what are the symptoms?

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of asthma are problems with breathing, such as:

wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe);
coughing;
shortness of breath;
your chest feeling tight.

Symptoms can be mild or severe. They usually come and go, and may be worse at night and early in the morning. The WHO adds that symptoms are often worse during exercise, and some people have worse symptoms when they have a cold or when the weather changes.

These symptoms can have other causes too, such as a chest infection; see our guides to batuk and sakit dada. A doctor can check whether it is asthma.

What to do during an asthma attack (serangan asma)

An asthma attack is when you have severe symptoms and it is difficult to breathe. According to the NHS, if you are having an asthma attack:

sit up straight to help your breathing, and try to stay calm;
if you have a blue reliever inhaler, take 1 puff every 30 to 60 seconds until you feel better, up to a maximum of 10 puffs; shake the inhaler between puffs and use a spacer if you have one;
if you use a combined preventer and reliever inhaler, take 1 puff every 1 to 3 minutes, up to a maximum of 6 puffs;
if your personal asthma action plan gives a different dose, follow your plan.

Call 999 if you or someone else is having an asthma attack and they:

start to feel worse at any time;
do not feel better after the maximum dose of the reliever inhaler;
do not have an inhaler.

If symptoms are no better after 10 minutes and the ambulance has not arrived, use the inhaler again, up to the same maximum dose. Do not drive yourself to the emergency department. Even if you recover, see a doctor within 2 days to review your treatment and help prevent another attack.

Pencetus asma: what triggers asthma?

According to the NHS and WHO, asthma symptoms can be triggered by:

air pollution and haze, and smoke, including cigarette smoke;
dust and house dust mites, mould, pollen, animal fur and feathers;
cold air and changes in the weather;
exercise;
infections such as colds and flu (see selsema);
strong soaps, perfume and fumes;
some medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and beta blockers, in some people.

In a study of 1,280 patients at six public health clinics in Klang, the main triggers linked to poorly controlled asthma in adults were haze, cold food, strong emotion, air-conditioning and physical activity. In children, hot weather and allergic rhinitis (resdung) were linked to poor control. For tips on protecting your family during the haze, see our haze survival guide.

Who is more likely to get asthma?

According to the NHS, it is not fully understood what causes asthma. You may be more likely to get it if:

you have allergies such as eczema, hay fever or food allergies;
other people in your family have asthma, hay fever, eczema or allergies;
you were born prematurely or had a low birth weight;
you were exposed to high levels of air pollution or cigarette smoke as a child;
you had illnesses as a child that affected your breathing, such as bronchiolitis or croup;
you are overweight.

Asthma can also be caused by breathing in certain chemicals at work.

Asthma control in Malaysia

Malaysian studies show that many people with asthma do not have it well controlled:

In the Klang clinic study, only 34.1% of adults and 54.3% of children had well-controlled asthma. Most had been prescribed preventer (controller) medicines, but only 42.4% of adults and 29.8% of children took them as prescribed.
Among patients admitted to two Kuala Lumpur hospitals for asthma attacks, about 75% believed their asthma was controlled, but by international (GINA) criteria only 6.4% had good control.
In a Malaysian primary-care study, the proportion of adults with good asthma control rose from 30.4% to 64.4% after 6 months of supported self-management with a pictorial asthma action plan.

According to the NHS, see your doctor if you need your inhaler more often, or your symptoms wake you up at night or stop you doing your usual activities.

Ubat asma: how is asthma treated?

According to the NHS, the main treatment for asthma is medicine you breathe in using an inhaler. For most people, inhalers work well to reduce or prevent symptoms. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, you may be offered:

an inhaler to use only when you get symptoms, called an anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) inhaler;
an inhaler to use every day to prevent symptoms and also when you get symptoms, called maintenance and reliever therapy (MART);
2 separate inhalers: a preventer to use every day and a blue reliever for when you get symptoms.

The WHO explains that inhalers contain bronchodilators such as salbutamol, which open the airways, steroids such as beclometasone, which reduce inflammation and the risk of severe attacks, or a combination of both.

Do not rely on a blue reliever alone. The NHS says you should not be given a blue reliever inhaler to use on its own, and a 2024 Malaysian national expert consensus called for an end to over-reliance on these short-acting relievers.

If inhalers are not enough, your care team may recommend a stronger inhaler or tablets such as montelukast, and for severe asthma, injected medicines called biological therapies. A severe attack may need hospital treatment with oxygen, a nebuliser and steroids.

Using your inhaler correctly matters. There are different types, and a doctor, nurse or pharmacist will show you how to use yours. The WHO notes that a spacer makes an aerosol inhaler easier to use, especially for children.

Asthma action plan and check-ups

According to the NHS, your care team will explain how and when to use your medicines, how to monitor your asthma, how to avoid triggers and what to do if symptoms get worse. This is recorded in your asthma action plan (pelan tindakan asma). You should have check-ups at least once a year, including checking that you use your inhalers correctly.

Things you can do to help with asthma

According to the NHS:

always have your inhaler with you;
use your inhalers as recommended by your care team;
try to avoid things that trigger your symptoms, such as air pollution, smoke, pollen or animals;
exercise regularly, and ask your doctor or nurse how to exercise safely if exercise triggers your asthma;
keep to a healthy weight;
have vaccinations such as the flu vaccine, as viruses like flu can make asthma worse;
do not smoke;
do not take medicines for other conditions without checking with a pharmacist or doctor, as some, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and beta blockers, can trigger asthma in some people.

If you are pregnant, tell your doctor or midwife about your asthma; it is important to manage asthma in pregnancy to keep you and your baby well.

Asthma during Ramadan

A Malaysian study of Malay children with asthma and their parents found that conflicting religious opinions on using inhalers during Ramadan caused confusion in practice. If you plan to fast, talk to your doctor before Ramadan about how to manage your asthma while fasting. An asthma attack can be life-threatening, so always treat it as your asthma action plan says.

When should you see a doctor?

According to the NHS, see a doctor (at a klinik kesihatan or a GP) if:

you or your child have asthma symptoms;
you have asthma and treatments are not helping, you need your inhaler more often, or you need advice about using it;
your symptoms are not improving, or are stopping you doing your usual activities or waking you up at night;
you have had an asthma attack and recovered (see a doctor within 2 days).

A doctor or nurse will ask questions, listen to your chest and may arrange a simple breathing test, sometimes a blood test, or a peak flow meter to use at home. Asthma can take time to diagnose because symptoms vary.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is penyakit asma (asthma)?

Asma, also called lelah, is a common long-term condition that affects your breathing. According to the WHO, it is caused by inflammation and muscle tightening around the airways, which makes it harder to breathe. It cannot currently be cured, but the NHS says that if it is well treated you should not have problems with symptoms.

What are the signs of asthma?

According to the NHS, the main symptoms are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and a tight chest. Symptoms usually come and go and may be worse at night and early in the morning. An asthma attack is when symptoms become severe and it is difficult to breathe, which can be life-threatening.

What triggers asthma (pencetus asma)?

Common triggers include exercise, air pollution, smoke, cold air, infections such as colds and flu, and allergens such as dust, mould, pollen and animals. In a study of six public health clinics in Klang, haze, cold food, strong emotion, air-conditioning and physical activity were linked to poor asthma control in adults.

What is the best ubat asma?

The main treatment is medicine breathed in through an inhaler, chosen by your doctor. Many people use a preventer (an inhaled steroid) every day, sometimes combined with a reliever. The NHS says you should not be given a blue reliever inhaler to use on its own, and Malaysian experts have warned against over-relying on blue relievers. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to check how you use your inhaler.

What should I do during an asthma attack?

Sit up straight and try to stay calm. Use your reliever inhaler as shown in your asthma action plan; for a blue reliever, the NHS advises 1 puff every 30 to 60 seconds, up to 10 puffs. Call 999 if you feel worse at any time, do not feel better after the maximum dose, or do not have your inhaler. See a doctor within 2 days after an attack, even if you feel better.

Can asthma be cured?

Asthma cannot currently be cured, but it can be controlled. The NHS says it is often a life-long condition, although asthma in young children sometimes goes away by the time they are teenagers or adults. With the right inhaler used correctly, most people find asthma has only a small impact on daily life.

Why does my asthma get worse during the haze?

Air pollution is an important risk factor for asthma and can make existing asthma worse, according to the WHO. In the Klang clinic study, haze was one of the main triggers linked to poorly controlled asthma in adults. During haze, stay indoors when possible, keep your inhaler with you and follow your asthma action plan.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. Follow the asthma action plan from your own doctor. In an emergency in Malaysia, call 999. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

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