What are the Symptoms of Asthma?

As asthma patients suffer an attack, the airways can constrict, become inflamed, or fill with fluid or mucus which causes coughing, wheezing, pain, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, and pressure of the chest.

Because of the different ways that asthma may manifest in a patient not every patient may experience the same symptoms depending on a variety of physical and environmental elements. With so many different contributing factors to asthma it is difficult to determine just what exactly contributes to asthma depending on environmental and lifestyle conditions.

Asthma Attacks: How Bad Can They Be?

Many asthma patients report that their attacks can range from hardly noticeable to severe while going long periods of time without experiencing any attacks. While the severity may fluctuate, it is important that anyone experiencing a asthma attack receive immediate care regardless of condition.

There are asthma patients that can experience an attack and not even notice the symptoms - or even realize they are having an asthma attack until they are educated on the symptoms. Some asthma sufferers will experience a simple cough or general malaise, complaining that they feel as if they are feeling "sick" or "under the weather".

Lookout for the Signs of an Asthma Attack

There are, however, some signs that serve as an early warning for an oncoming asthma attack which usually manifest before the symptoms of an actual asthma attack begin. These early warning signs may include:

  • Persistent coughing which occurs mostly at night
  • A shortness of breath or inability to keep ones breath
  • Experiencing quick fatigue, weakness or feeling increasingly tired
  • Coughing or wheezing after exercise
  • Noticeable changes in lung function
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Cold or seasonal allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, headaches, and nasal congestion
  • Asthma attack symptoms are notable and will manifest very specifically. If you have, or are experiencing these symptoms then you should immediately seek care and treatment from a physician:
  • Rapid breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Chest pressure
  • A feeling of panic or anxiety
  • Sweatiness and a white pallor
  • Blue fingertips and lips
  • The inability to stop coughing
  • Retractions, or tightening of the chest and neck muscles