The most common signs of asthma are:

 Coughing, especially at night, during exercise or when laughing

 Difficulty breathing
 Chest tightness
 Shortness of breath
 Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound in your chest when breathing, especially when
exhaling)

Any asthma symptom is serious and can become deadly if left untreated. If you’re experiencing
one or more of these symptoms, visit an allergist for a diagnosis — and then develop an asthma
action plan.

Causes
Asthma symptoms may be triggered by exposure to an allergen (such as ragweed, pollen, animal
dander or dust mites), irritants in the air (such as smoke, chemical fumes or strong odors) or
extreme weather conditions. Exercise or an illness — particularly a respiratory illness or the flu
— can also make you more susceptible.
A physical display of strong emotion that affects normal breathing patterns — such as shouting,
crying or laughing — can also act as an asthma trigger. Panic can prevent a person with asthma
from relaxing and following instructions, which is essential during an asthma attack. Scientists
have found that rapid breathing associated with strong emotions can cause bronchial tubes to
constrict, possibly provoking or worsening an attack.
Asthma symptoms can appear at any time. Mild episodes may last only a few minutes and may
be resolved spontaneously or with medication; more severe episodes can last from hours to days.
People with asthma, like those with any chronic condition, may experience significant stress.
Because it is a leading cause of work and school absences, asthma can affect a person’s
livelihood, education and emotional well-being. Depression may set in when people diagnosed
with asthma believe that they are unable to participate in normal activities.
If you’re experiencing breathing difficulties that interfere with your daily activities and decrease
the quality of your life, visit an asthma screening event in your area and see an allergist for
diagnosis and treatment. An allergist can also help you recognize the early warning signs of an
attack and coach you in ways to cope during an emergency.

Asthma Symptoms in Children

Most children with asthma have symptoms before they turn 5. In very young children, it may
be hard for parents, and even doctors, to recognize that the symptoms are due to asthma.
The bronchial tubes in infants, toddlers and preschoolers are already small and narrow, and
 head colds, chest colds and other illnesses can inflame these airways, making them even
smaller and more irritated.

The symptoms of pediatric asthma can range from a nagging cough that lingers for days or
weeks to sudden and scary breathing emergencies.

Common symptoms to watch for include:

 Coughing, especially at night

 A wheezing or whistling sound when breathing, especially when exhaling
 Trouble breathing or fast breathing that causes the skin around the ribs or neck to
pull in tightly
 Frequent colds that settle in the chest

Your child might have only one of these symptoms or several of them. You may think it’s
just a cold or bronchitis. If the symptoms recur, that’s a clue that your child might have
asthma. In addition, symptoms may worsen when your child is around asthma triggers, such
as irritants in the air (smoke or strong odors, for example) or allergens like pollen, pet
dander and dust mites.

Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes with increased

production of sticky secretions inside the tubes. People withasthma experience
symptoms when the airways tighten, inflame, or fill with mucus. Common asthma
symptoms include:

 Coughing, especially at night

 Wheezing
 Shortness of breath
 Chest tightness, pain, or pressure
Still, not every person with asthma has the same symptoms in the same way. You may
not have all of these symptoms, or you may have different symptoms at different times.
Your asthma symptoms may also vary from one asthma attack to the next, being mild
during one and severe during another.

Some people with asthma may go for extended periods without having any symptoms,
interrupted by periodic worsening of their symptoms called asthma attacks. Others
 might have asthma symptoms every day. In addition, some people may only
have asthma during exercise, or asthma with viral infections like colds.

Mild asthma attacks are generally more common. Usually, the airways open up within a
few minutes to a few hours. Severe attacks are less common but last longer and require
immediate medical help. It is important to recognize and treat even mild asthma
symptoms to help you prevent severe episodes and keep asthma under better control.

Know the Early Symptoms of Asthma

Early warning signs are changes that happen just before or at the very beginning of an
asthma attack. These signs may start before the well-known symptoms of asthma and
are the earliest signs that your asthma is worsening.

In general, these signs are not severe enough to stop you from going about your daily
activities. But by recognizing these signs, you can stop an asthma attack or prevent one
from getting worse. Early warning signs of asthma include:

 Frequent cough, especially at night

 Losing your breath easily or shortness of breath
 Feeling very tired or weak when exercising
 Wheezing or coughing after exercise
 Feeling tired, easily upset, grouchy, or moody
 Decreases or changes in lung function as measured on a peak flow meter
 Signs of a cold or allergies (sneezing, runny nose, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat,
and headache)
 Trouble sleeping
If you have early warning signs or symptoms of asthma, you should take more asthma
medication as described in your asthma action plan.
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Know the Symptoms of an Asthma Attack

An asthma attack is the episode in which bands of muscle surrounding the airways are
triggered to tighten. This tightening is called bronchospasm. During the attack, the lining
of the airways becomes swollen or inflamed and the cells lining the airways produce
more and thicker mucus than normal.

All of these factors -- bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production -- cause

symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and
difficulty performing normal daily activities. Other symptoms of an asthma attack
include:

 Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out

 Coughing that won't stop
 Very rapid breathing
 Chest pain or pressure
 Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
 Difficulty talking
 Feelings of anxiety or panic
 Pale, sweaty face
 Blue lips or fingernails
The severity of an asthma attack can escalate rapidly, so it's important to treat these
asthma symptoms immediately once you recognize them.

Without immediate treatment, such as with your asthma inhaler orbronchodilator, your
breathing will become more labored. If you use a peak flow meter at this time, the
reading will probably be less than 50%. Many asthma action plans suggestion
interventions starting at 80% of normal.

As your lungs continue to tighten, you will be unable to use the peak flow meter at all.
Gradually, your lungs will tighten so there is not enough air movement to produce
 wheezing. You need to be transported to a hospital immediately. Unfortunately, some
people interpret the disappearance of wheezing as a sign of improvement and fail to get
prompt emergency care.

If you do not receive adequate asthma treatment, you may eventually be unable to
speak and will develop a bluish coloring around your lips. This color change, known as
cyanosis, means you have less and less oxygen in your blood. Without aggressive
treatment for this asthma emergency, you may lose consciousness and eventually die.

If you are experiencing an asthma attack, follow the "Red Zone" or emergency
instructions in your asthma action plan immediately. These symptoms occur in life-
threatening asthma attacks. You need medical attention right away.

Know About Unusual Asthma Symptoms

Not everyone with asthma has the usual symptoms of cough, wheezing, and shortness
of breath. Sometimes individuals have unusual asthma symptoms that may not appear
to be related to asthma. Some "unusual" asthma symptoms may include the following:

 rapid breathing
 sighing
 fatigue
 inability to exercise properly (called exercise-induced asthma)
 difficulty sleeping or nighttime asthma
 anxiety
 difficulty concentrating
 chronic cough without wheezing
Also, asthma symptoms can be mimicked by other conditions such asbronchitis, vocal
cord dysfunction, and even heart failure.

It's important to understand your body. Talk with your asthma doctorand others with
asthma. Be aware that asthma may not always have the same symptoms in every
person.

For more detail, see WebMD’s article Unusual Asthma Symptoms.

Know Why Infections Trigger Asthma Symptoms
Sometimes a virus or bacterial infection is an asthma trigger. For instance, you might
have a cold virus that triggers your asthma symptoms. Or your asthma can be triggered
by a bacterial sinus infection. Sinusitis with asthma is common.

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infections and to call
your health care provider immediately for diagnosis and treatment. For instance, you
might have symptoms of increased shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or wheezing
with a bronchial infection. In people who don’t have asthma, the bronchial infection may
not trigger the same debilitating symptoms. Know your body and understand warning
signs that an infection might be starting. Then take the proper medications as
prescribed to eliminate the infection and regain control of your asthma and health.

Asthma symptoms vary from person to person. You may have infrequent asthma
attacks, have symptoms only at certain times — such as when exercising — or have
symptoms all the time.

Asthma signs and symptoms include:

 Shortness of breath
 Chest tightness or pain
 Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
 A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in
children)
 Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or
the flu
Signs that your asthma is probably worsening include:

 Asthma signs and symptoms that are more frequent and bothersome
 Increasing difficulty breathing (measurable with a peak flow meter, a device used to check
how well your lungs are working)
 The need to use a quick-relief inhaler more often
For some people, asthma signs and symptoms flare up in certain situations:

 Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry
 Occupational asthma, triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gases or
dust
 Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores,
cockroach waste or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets (pet dander)
When to see a doctor
Seek emergency treatment

Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Work with your doctor to determine what
to do when your signs and symptoms worsen — and when you need emergency
treatment. Signs of an asthma emergency include:

 Rapid worsening of shortness of breath or wheezing

 No improvement even after using a quick-relief inhaler, such as albuterol
 Shortness of breath when you are doing minimal physical activity
Contact your doctor
See your doctor:

 If you think you have asthma. If you have frequent coughing or wheezing that lasts more
than a few days or any other signs or symptoms of asthma, see your doctor. Treating
asthma early may prevent long-term lung damage and help keep the condition from
worsening over time.
 To monitor your asthma after diagnosis. If you know you have asthma, work with your
doctor to keep it under control. Good long-term control helps you feel better from day to day
and can prevent a life-threatening asthma attack.
 If your asthma symptoms get worse. Contact your doctor right away if your medication
doesn't seem to ease your symptoms or if you need to use your quick-relief inhaler more
often. Don't try to solve the problem by taking more medication without consulting your
doctor. Overusing asthma medication can cause side effects and may make your asthma
worse.
 To review your treatment. Asthma often changes over time. Meet with your doctor
regularly to discuss your symptoms and make any needed treatment adjustments.