### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
I m 43 and was diagnsed with asthma when I was 3. Generally it is well controlled but I recently had a cold which went straight onto my chest. Was given a 5 day course of prednisolone a fortnight ago and thought I was getting better but haven t fully recovered. I am still short of breath and fatigued through struggling to breathe. SATs sitting at 94-97%, lingering cough with phlegm. Would a longer course of steroid have cleared this up? Multidosing of salbutamol gives some relief but not enough to resume normal activity.

### output:

Hello, Thank you for asking at Chat Doctor. I went through your history and would like to make suggestions for you as follows:1 I usually suggest my such patients' spirometry with post-bronchodilatory reversibility testing which measures lung capacity and also helps to choose proper inhaler.2. As you have asthma since young age, I would also suggest you allergy testing for common air-borne allergens such as house dust mites, pollen, molds, insect proteins, animal dander, etc. This will help you identify the substances you could be allergic to and also to know the measures to avoid them.3. Based on allergy testing, an Allergist-Immunologist may prescribe you allergen specific immunotherapy which works on immune system to gradually improve allergy symptoms.4. If you have repeated nose symptoms such as nose obstruction, running nose, sneezing, etc., I would also add montelukast + levocetirizine in your treatment, which would help asthma also.5. In general, please avoid exposure to dusts, smokes, air pollution and cold air.6. Regular breathing exercises and diet rich in vitamins & minerals would also help in a long run by improving your lung capacity and immunity respectively. Hope above suggestions will be helpful to you. Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask at Chat Doctor. Wish you the best of the health ahead. Thank you & Regards.