Asthma symptoms come in a wide spectrum from barely noticeable to life threatening. Not surprisingly, it is important to understand your asthma symptoms so that you can take appropriate actions. Knowing what to watch for and understanding your asthma symptoms is important for your treatment.
In order to know how well you are doing, it will be important to track your asthma symptoms over time. If you know the mild symptoms, you might be able to prevent an asthma attack. Not recognizing more severe symptoms, might delay emergent care and put you at risk for hospitalization or even a life-threatening asthma attack.
Know the Early Asthma Symptoms Indicating Poor Control
Before experiencing the classical signs of asthma, you may notice a number of changes that could clue you in that your asthma is worsening. These early warning signs include:
- Allergy symptoms such as itchy throat or runny nose
- Increased nighttime cough
- Cough or wheezing with physical activity
- Tiredness with activities that you normally could complete easily
- Decreases in your peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)
- Restless sleep or waking up tired
- Worsening allergy symptoms like persistent runny nose, dark circles under your eyes or itchy, inflamed skin
By recognizing that these symptoms may be related to worsening asthma, you may be able to prevent more severe symptoms. Make sure you review the asthma care plan you have developed with your healthcare provider so that you know what actions need to be taken.
Worsening Asthma Symptoms
If the early symptoms are not recognized and treated, you may begin to notice more classic asthma symptoms. These classically include:
As your symptoms worsen and the airways narrow, you will notice increased difficulty completing your normal activities. You may also:
- Hear yourself wheezing
- Feel more short of breath
- Experience a cough that just won't go away (day or night)
- Have more trouble falling asleep and getting a good nights rest
- Have PEFRs well into the yellow zone
- Get less relief from your 'quick relief' medications
You need to take action based on your asthma care plan. If your actions do not improve your symptoms, you need to see or, at least, talk with your doctor about the next appropriate steps.
Signs of a Possible Emergency
If your asthma symptoms become more severe, you will most probably not be able to perform your regular activities. At this stage, you will need to follow the actions described in the red zone of your asthma action plan and seek prompt medical attention as these symptoms can represent potentially life-threatening asthma.
Emergent symptoms of asthma include:
- Severe wheezing while breathing both in and out
- Breathing very fast
- Getting short of breath while or having difficulty talking
- A feeling of impending doom or panic
- Profuse sweating
- Inability to perform PEFR
- Color changes in fingertips or around your mouth known as cyanosis
Preventing Your Asthma Symptoms From Becoming an Asthma Attack
Preventing your asthma symptoms from getting worse is important. Here are a few things you can do to keep your asthma under control:
- Monitor your asthma symptoms and follow your asthma action plan
- Identify and avoid your asthma triggers
- Track your asthma symptoms
- Follow your asthma treatment plan and be sure to discuss it regularly with your doctor
- Improve communication with your asthma doctor
Sources:
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Consumer Information Sheet. Accessed: January 1, 2008. Is Your Asthma Allergic?
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed: January 1, 2008. Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma
Asthma. In Chest Medicine: Essentials Of Pulmonary And Critical Care Medicine. Editors: Ronald B. George, Richard W. Light, Richard A. Matthay, Michael A. Matthay. May 2005, 5th edition.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Consumer Information. Accessed: January 1, 2008. Asthma: General Information
