Asthma Treatment & Medication in Singapore

Asthma is a chronic condition where the airways become inflamed and narrow, making breathing difficult. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Triggers commonly include dust mites, cold air, smoke, pollen, exercise, stress, and viral infections.

Proper treatment controls symptoms, reduces flare-ups, and protects long-term lung function. Effective management lowers the risk of urgent visits and hospitalisation, improves sleep and exercise tolerance, and helps children grow and develop normally.

Treatment is tailored to your severity and triggers. Options include: (Coming soon)

• Reliever inhalers (SABA, e.g., Salbutamol/Ventolin) — rapid relief during attacks by relaxing airway muscles.
• Controller inhalers (inhaled corticosteroids, ICS) — daily anti-inflammatory therapy to prevent symptoms.
• Combination inhalers (ICS + LABA) — for moderate to severe asthma to reduce flare-ups long term.
• Oral medications — leukotriene receptor antagonists (e.g., montelukast) where appropriate.
• Nebuliser treatment — for acute episodes or young children who struggle with inhalers.

Our doctor reviews symptoms and triggers, examines your chest, and may perform lung function tests if required. Follow-up includes assessing symptom control, inhaler technique, reliever use, and adjusting treatment.

Spacers improve medication delivery to the lungs and reduce throat side effects for pressurised metered-dose inhalers. They are recommended for many patients, especially children and anyone starting on inhaled corticosteroids. We can demonstrate correct use in clinic.

Inhaled corticosteroids act directly in the lungs and use much lower doses than oral steroids. They are the cornerstone of long-term control. Rinsing your mouth and using a spacer help minimise throat irritation or hoarseness. Your doctor will use the lowest effective dose and review regularly.

Yes. With good control, most people can exercise normally. If you have exercise-induced symptoms, your plan may include a warm-up routine, trigger avoidance, and pre-exercise reliever use when advised. Regular physical activity can improve lung fitness and overall health.

• Avoid or reduce exposure to known triggers (dust mites, smoke, mould, strong chemicals).
• Use inhalers exactly as prescribed, even when well.
• Maintain a healthy weight and stay active.
• Get annual flu vaccination and recommended vaccines to prevent respiratory infections.
• Consider home peak-flow monitoring if advised to track control.

Book a consult if you have frequent night-time cough/wheeze, need your reliever more than twice a week, have persistent symptoms despite treatment, are newly diagnosed and need device training, or if a child has repeated coughing/wheezing episodes.

Seek urgent care if you are struggling to speak in full sentences, your reliever provides little or no relief, your lips or face look bluish, your peak flow is in the red zone, or symptoms are rapidly worsening. Use your action plan while arranging emergency help.

We provide holistic care and can arrange allergy screening where indicated. We also advise on and administer relevant vaccinations (e.g., influenza) to reduce infection-related flare-ups.

Yes. We assess paediatric symptoms, demonstrate child-friendly inhaler and spacer techniques, and tailor medication and follow-up to your child’s age and needs. Nebuliser options are available when suitable.