The Complete Guide to Recognizing and Managing Asthma Symptoms

Understanding Asthma and Its Symptoms

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs. When someone has asthma, their airways are always inflamed. They become swollen and produce extra mucus, making breathing difficult. Asthma also causes the muscles around the airways to tighten, further narrowing the airways and making it hard for air to move in and out of the lungs.

The main symptoms of asthma include:

• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Coughing

These symptoms can range from mild to severe, and often occur randomly. Some people with asthma only experience minor symptoms from time to time, while others have more persistent, troublesome symptoms.

Wheezing

Wheezing is one of the most common symptoms of asthma. It is a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs during breathing, especially when exhaling. Wheezing happens when air has trouble moving through narrowed or inflamed airways. The airways end up vibrating as the air tries to squeeze through, causing the characteristic wheezing sound.

Wheezing may be soft or loud. Some people only wheeze occasionally, while others experience wheezing most of the time. Wheezing often gets worse with physical activity or at night. Exposure to cold air, allergens, and irritants can also trigger wheezing in people with asthma.

Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, frequently occurs with asthma. It happens when the airways become restricted, making it difficult to get air in and out of the lungs. People may feel like they cannot get enough air. They may breathe faster or take deep breaths, but still feel winded and breathless.

Like wheezing, shortness of breath may come and go. It often worsens with exercise, allergens, respiratory infections, stress, and other asthma triggers. Some people experience shortness of breath most of the time, which can severely impact daily activities and quality of life.

Chest Tightness

Chest tightness or chest pain is another common symptom. This happens when the airways constrict and less air is able to reach the lungs. It may feel like something is pushing or squeezing the chest, making it hard to take in a full breath.

Some people describe the chest tightness as pressure, heaviness, or aching. It may occur sporadically or persist for long periods. Chest tightness often gets worse at night or early in the morning. It can be a frightening symptom that makes people think they are having a heart attack.

Coughing

Coughing is another key sign of asthma. It is the bodys effort to try to expel mucus and open up the airways. Some people may have mild, occasional coughing, while others experience chronic coughs that interfere with daily life.

In asthma, coughing often gets worse at night or early in the morning. It may occur randomly or be triggered by asthma triggers like exercise, smoke, cold air, or allergens. Coughs tend to be nonproductive, meaning they do not produce mucus. They have a dry, hacking sound.

Signs of an Asthma Attack

An asthma attack, also called an exacerbation, is a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms. Attacks are acute flare ups that make breathing extremely difficult. They are medical emergencies that require immediate treatment.

The signs of an asthma attack include:

• Severe shortness of breath
• Wheezing that does not improve with medication
• Tight chest and difficulty speaking
• Coughing that will not stop
• Respirations faster than 30 breaths per minute
• Retractions - skin pulling in around neck and ribs with breathing
• Difficulty walking or talking
• Blue tinge to lips or fingernails (cyanosis)

During an asthma attack, the airways tighten so much that very little air can get through. People may gasp for breath and have extreme difficulty inhaling and exhaling. Their wheezing becomes very loud, or they may not be able to wheeze at all. Their chest feels extremely tight. Their coughs are constant and unproductive.

Without treatment, the airways will continue to constrict. Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening and result in respiratory failure if the airways become completely blocked. Seek emergency medical care immediately if you or someone you know has signs of an asthma attack.

What Triggers an Asthma Attack?

Asthma attacks are usually triggered by:

• Exercise
• Allergens - pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander
• Irritants - smoke, strong odors, air pollution
• Weather - cold, dry air
• Illnesses - colds, flu, sinus infections, pneumonia
• Medications - aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen
• Stress and emotions
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

When exposed to one of these triggers, the airways in the lungs react by tightening and producing excess mucus. This leads to the severe, acute symptoms of an asthma attack like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Treating an Asthma Attack

Asthma attacks require immediate medical treatment, usually with short-acting beta agonist inhalers like albuterol. This medication rapidly relaxes the muscles around the airways to open them up. Oxygen therapy may be needed for severe attacks.

Oral or intravenous corticosteroids are also used to reduce airway inflammation during an asthma exacerbation. Some people may need injections of epinephrine to open their airways.

Do not try to treat an asthma attack at home without medical supervision. Go to the emergency room or call emergency services if you think you are having a severe asthma attack.

Signs of Severe Asthma

Some people have severe asthma that is difficult to control even with aggressive treatment. The signs of severe, refractory asthma include:

• Frequent asthma attacks - 2 or more per week
• Nighttime asthma symptoms that disrupt sleep
• Need for daily controller/rescue medication
• Asthma symptoms that limit activity
• FEV1 (lung function) less than 60% of predicted
• Two or more hospitalizations for asthma in the past year

People with severe asthma often have continuous symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. They may feel breathless doing simple daily activities. Their symptoms disrupt sleep, work, and exercise.

Severe asthma greatly impacts quality of life. It can be frightening and make people feel isolated. Getting severe asthma under control requires working closely with an asthma specialist.

What Causes Severe Asthma?

Researchers do not fully understand why some people develop severe asthma while most have mild-to-moderate forms. Causes likely include a complex interaction between genetics, environmental exposures, and underlying physiology. Some risk factors include:

• Family history of asthma
• Allergies
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Air pollution exposure
• Chronic sinus disease

People whose asthma starts in childhood and continues into adulthood tend to have more severe disease. The immune system and structural cells in the lungs respond differently in severe asthma, but scientists are still working to understand the mechanisms involved.

Treating Severe Asthma

Severe asthma requires more intensive medical management to try to achieve control. Treatment typically includes

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.