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Intermittent reversible obstruction, hyperresponsiveness and
inflammation of airways is
responsible for
asthma symptoms.
Clinical hallmark of asthma include episodic
wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, cough and sputum production.
Between the episodes of asthma the symptoms improve or may
disappear completely. Asthma symptoms
can vary from mild to severe.
Before the attack of asthma occur there are some early warning
signs or symptoms that can tell that the asthma attack is about
to occur.
Early warning signs of asthma attack:
Full-blown asthma attack is
usually preceded by certain signs and symptoms by which one can guess that
he or she may get asthma attack. They are:
1. Loosing
you breath easily or shortness of breath.
2. Feeling
tired or weak.
3. Wheezing
or coughing after exercise.
4. Decrease
in PEFR reading or lung function.
5. Signs
of cold or allergies like itchy throat, running or stuffy nose,
headache.
6. Trouble
sleeping.
7. Chest
tightness.
8. Change
in amount color and thickness of mucus.
Asthma symptoms during asthma attack:
Full-blown attack of asthma
usually has following symptoms which are usually episodic:
Wheezing
A high-pitched whistling sounds when breathing out—especially in children. (Lack of wheezing and a normal chest examination do not exclude asthma.)
Coughing (specially in night)
Recurrent breathlessness or Shortness of breath
Tightness of the chest, pain or
pressure.
Symptoms of
asthma vary from person to person. Some may have all the above
symptoms and some may have few of them. Severity of symptoms may
vary in each attack.
Symptoms of Asthma getting worse
(Acute exacerbation of asthma):
In an asthma attack the muscles
surrounding the airways tighten. This tightening of airway is
called bronchospasm. There is also swelling or inflammation of
airways causing and excess mucous production which further
reduces the lumen of airways. So patient finds it difficult to
push air in and out of lungs. The symptoms are:
All of
these factors --
bronchospasm,
inflammation, and mucus production --
cause asthma symptoms such as difficulty breathing,
wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty
performing normal daily activities.
Other symptoms of an asthma
attack include some or all of the below:
1. Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out.
2. Coughing that won't stop.
3. Very rapid breathing and nasal flaring (the nostril size
increases with each breath, a sign that person is working harder
to take each breath.
4. Chest pain or pressure.
5. Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions.
6. Trouble focusing and talking.
7. Feelings of anxiety or panic.
8. Pale, sweaty face.
9. Cyanosis causing blue lips or fingernails.
last edited: 19/9/2008
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