It is necessary to recognize the early warning signs of asthma to prevent complications and fatalities. These early warnings differ from person to person. An individual may even encounter different symptoms at different times. The indications may also vary in intensity and frequency. These may be severe in one attack but milder in another.
What Are The Common Symptoms Of Asthma?
The most common symptoms of this illness are:
• Coughing, generally during the night
• Shortness of breath
• Pain or feeling of tightness in the chest
• Audible wheezing sound during exhalation
There are many early warning signs that indicate an impending attack. Although these might not be severe enough to prevent you from going about your daily activities, you can stop an attack or prevent it from causing more harm.
Here is a list of some early warning signals which are generally observed before an attack takes place. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should immediately take the prescribed asthma medication.
• Coughing, especially at night, which seems to worsen by infections such as cold or flu
• Sleep discomfort due to shortness of breath and coughing
• Wheezing and weakness after exercise
• Losing your breath easily with a wheezing sound while exhaling
• Variations in lung functions when measured using a peak flow meter
Unusual Symptoms In Asthma
Although most patients experience the common symptoms of coughing and wheezing, it is not necessary that everyone with this disorder will experience them in the same way. People may also suffer from some unusual symptoms that may be difficult to relate to this disease.
A few of the unusual symptoms of asthma are as follows:
• Fast breathing and sighing
• Fatigue
• Difficulty while exercising
• Anxiety and difficulty in concentration
• Chronic cough without wheezing
One should keep in mind that some asthma symptoms are similar to those encountered in illnesses such as bronchitis and heart failure.
Signs Of Asthma Worsening
If you observe an increase in the intensity and frequency of the asthma signs, it is possible that your asthma is worsening. This can also be confirmed using a device known as peak flow meter. A drop in the peak flow rates is an indication of reduced lung functioning. Also, if you need to use bronchodilators frequently to clear your respiratory system, then you may have to increase your asthma medication. If your asthma starts worsening, you may eventually end up in the emergency room. You must discuss with your doctor any further steps that may be required to bring back your asthma to a manageable level. Identify the early signs and symptoms of this disorder to avoid any further complications.
Are You Having An Attack?
An asthma attack is caused by bronchospasm, which is the tightening of the muscles around the airways. In addition to difficulty in breathing and wheezing, there are some other symptoms of an asthma attack.
• Severe coughing which does not seem to stop
• Difficulty in speaking
• Anxiety pangs and a sweaty face
• Tightness in chest and neck muscles
• Rapid breathing
Upon observing these symptoms, one must immediately take the medication as the severity of the attack can rise very rapidly. Some people may have asthma attacks daily while some may go without them for a long time. The milder attacks pass off faster than the severe ones, which may require medical help. Inadequate treatment may lead to conditions such as cyanosis, which indicates reduced oxygen in your blood. This can eventually even lead to loss of life.