Research by Asthma UK has shown that symptoms of the condition such as coughing, wheezing and a shortness of breath could be worse at different times of the day. So the suggestion is that if we get to the bottom of these key times, it would revolutionise the way doctors treat the 5.4 million people in the UK who have asthma.

 A study carried out by Dr Hannah Durrington of Manchester University looked at why people with asthma have worse symptoms at night and in the early hours of the morning.

It turns out tests of lung function, such as peak flow rate – which ­measures airflow out of the lungs – gave lower results at 4am compared to 4pm. Other tests had similar results. So the question is, should this kind of testing be done at different times of day? And should those with asthma look out for symptoms at certain hours and have their inhalers handy? This could revolutionise asthma management.

Although doctors can assess the severity of asthma in a patient by measuring the levels of white blood cell eosinophils in blood or phlegm, Dr Durrington reveals that these levels change naturally over the course of a day, so if doctors timed appointments around these variations, they would get a more accurate picture of a person’s asthma.

Her research could help doctors determine whether there’s an optimum time of day to use inhalers and other medication in order to keep symptoms under control.

Dr Durrington says: “Asthma can have a huge impact on people, leaving them coughing, wheezing, gasping for breath and at risk of having a ­life-threatening asthma attack.

“It’s really exciting to think my research could play a part in making things better for people with asthma, helping doctors assess if patient’s symptoms are at their worst depending on the time of day and identifying exactly when people should take their inhalers to keep them well.”