Asthma can be a tough disease to control, but to control it you first need to know if you have it.
A chronic condition, there are telltale symptoms that crop up when an asthma attack strikes and knowing what those are could help you avoid a life-threatening emergency.
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma affects 7.8% of Americans. Asthma occurs when the airways become inflamed and narrow, which hinders airflow. More mucus is produced, which further blocks the air from moving in and out of the lungs. When something in the environment causes irritation, tiny muscles squeeze the airways, narrowing them even more.
This is called an asthma attack, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. While the effects of asthma vary from minor to severe, here are the most common symptoms of asthma.
Shortness of breath
One of the most common asthma symptoms, shortness of breath can be quite frightening, Mount Sinai says. When the airways narrow and more mucus is produced, you have trouble pulling enough air in, as well as pushing it out.
When this happens, you become short of breath, breathe faster and more shallowly, and use more muscles to get enough air in. This shortness of breath can come on suddenly, with exercise, or even when you are at rest.
Coughing
A cough is the body’s way of expelling an irritant, but when it is due to inflammation in the airways, it can be a chronic problem. This common asthma symptom in adults or children occurs because the airways are hyper-responsive to irritants such as dust, cold or dry air, pollen, smoke, and colds or flu.
The narrowed and irritable airways cause a cough that is usually nonproductive (you don’t cough anything up). An asthma cough often is worse at night due to a variety of reasons, including sinus drainage, increased irritants, changes in air temperature or humidity, and an inability to keep on top of the inflammation while sleeping.
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Wheezing
Wheezing is a high-pitched, shrill whistling sound that occurs when the airway is