Health / B2

ASM-uh/ˈæsmə/

Asthma is a condition that makes breathing difficult, with wheezing and tight airways (usually uncountable): an asthma attack; bronchial asthma. An inhaler is the device; allergy can be a trigger (already in the dictionary); airway is this batch. Asthma in the prevalence table still needs the year and the age band. Mix-up: asthma vs asma spelling; isthmus; do not write asthma for a one-off cough unless the source names the diagnosis.

Meaning

A condition that makes breathing difficult, with wheezing and tight airways (usually uncountable).

Examples

• “Asthma in the prevalence table still needs the year and the age band, not an inhaler slogan.”
• “An asthma attack featured in the first-aid paper, which is the acute sense — still name the trigger if given.”

Good to know

asthma; an asthma attack / inhaler; allergic asthma. Related: airway (this batch) / allergy (already in B1). Trap: a cough not diagnosed as asthma. Biology and PSHE. A long-term condition that tightens the airways — quote prevalence, not a slogan.

Near in meaning

wheeze, bronchial spasm, respiratory condition

Topics

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