A Guide to Identify Asthma Symptoms
The symptoms of asthma are not
the same for every person and ranges from severe to mild. You might experience infrequent or frequent asthma attacks. The asthma
symptoms are caused
by the constriction and inflammation of the airways. The symptoms might
take place during
a particular time of the day or by specific triggers. Some patients do
not feel any trouble in
breathing between the asthma outbreaks while some may experience the
signs every day, either
after exercise or at night. Common Asthma Symptoms
Some of the common asthma symptoms are tightness or pain in the chest
that is caused by the
constriction of the muscles covering the airways. Shortness of breath
takes place when you
have difficulty in breathing. Mucus can accumulate in the narrowed
passages to make matters
worse. This sign often causes feelings of anxiety, which makes breathing
even harder. Audible
wheezing or whistling sound while exhaling is another symptom. The
whistling sound takes
place when the air is forced through constricted and narrower air
passages. It is a recognizable
symptom of asthma and also of pneumonia and COPD (Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary
Disease). Bouts of coughing are another symptom of asthma. It can be wet
or dry cough and is
often accompanied by respiratory virus such as flu or cold. It should be
noted that constant dry
cough minus the asthma symptoms might be a sign of cough-variant asthma.
Trouble in sleeping
due to wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath is another symptom.
The less common symptoms of asthma are fatigue that can be caused either
by troubled sleeping
or insufficient supply of oxygen into the lungs, due to breathing
difficulty. Anxiety is capable of
causing asthma and also be a symptom of it. Breathing difficulty and for
some people, stressful
situation can lead to anxiety. Sighing is a physiological response that
involves deep breath
and long exhale, expanding the lungs to full capacity. The most common
asthma symptom in
children is nasal flaring that involves enlargement of the nostrils in
an attempt to breathe.
You will understand that your asthma is getting worse with symptoms like
difficulty in breathing
in an increased rate, more bothersome asthma symptoms occurring
frequently and the increased
use of an inhaler providing quick relief.
Some people might experience asthma signs in specific situations. Many
experience it during
exercise, especially when the air is dry and cold. This is known as
“exercise-induced asthma”.
Those suffering from “allergy-induced asthma”, have the symptoms caused
by allergens like
cockroaches, pet dander or pollen. The symptoms of “occupational asthma”
are worsened or
triggered by breathing workplace irritant like gases, chemical fumes or
dust. What to do when symptoms appear
It is advisable that whenever you notice these symptoms, you should
visit a doctor and opt for
tests and asthma screening. Treating asthma in its early stages,
especially in case of children
might help from worsening the condition and prevent lung damage over the
years. After
consulting with your doctor, you should take every initiative to keep
asthma under control. This
should be done to prevent any sort of critical asthma attack and to feel
better everyday. It is not
wise to increase the use of quick-relief inhalers and medication without
consulting the doctor as
it might worsen the condition and cause severe side effects. The asthma
symptoms change over
time, so the visits to doctors should be made regularly to get treated
accordingly.
Serious attacks of asthma can be dangerous. You should know when the
emergency treatment
is required and what to do when the symptoms worsen and are not cured by
the quick-relief
medications. Signs of severe asthma symptoms include shortness of breath
even when opting for
minimum physical activity and no signs of improvement even after 10 to
15 minutes of taking
the quick relief medication. Worsening of wheezing or shortness of
breath in a rapid manner
is another symptom. You should opt for emergency help when symptoms like
discoloration,
as in grey or blue, takes place in face, lips or nails. The other asthma
symptoms are difficulty
in walking or talking, running a fever of at least 100 degrees, rapid
pulse, extreme difficulty in
breathing, mental confusion, chest pain and extreme anxiety due to
difficulty in breathing.
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