Asthma is a condition in which a person's airways become inflamed, narrow and swell and produce extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. Asthma is a long-term disease of the lungs. You might hear your doctor call it a chronic respiratory disease. It causes your airways to get inflamed and narrow and makes breathing difficult. Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness is classic asthma symptoms. The classic symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, tightness in your chest, and feeling short of breath. But other conditions like allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnoea, and post nasal drip can trigger the same problems.