Symptoms of Asthma

   
 
 

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