Symptoms
What are the symptoms of asthma?Symptoms may include some or all of the following:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath at rest or with exercise
- Trouble exhaling
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Coughing up phlegm
- Nighttime awakening with shortness of breath
How do I know if you have asthma?
To help determine if you have asthma, your doctor can order tests such as pulmonary function testing or spirometry. You breathe into a machine that measures how much air you can take in and blow out, and how fast you blow out. Allergy tests may determine if you have allergies that are causing your symptoms.
To help determine if you have asthma, your doctor can order tests such as pulmonary function testing or spirometry. You breathe into a machine that measures how much air you can take in and blow out, and how fast you blow out. Allergy tests may determine if you have allergies that are causing your symptoms.
What happens during an asthma attack?
When your asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it is called an asthma attack. Not all asthma attacks are the same. Some are worse than others. There are 4 things that may occur during an asthma attack and these things are:
When your asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it is called an asthma attack. Not all asthma attacks are the same. Some are worse than others. There are 4 things that may occur during an asthma attack and these things are:
- Hypersensitivity – Once the airways have been exposed to a trigger, they become easily irritated with repeated exposure.
- Bronchospasm – The muscles around the airways tighten up & make the airways smaller.
- Inflammation – The airways become swollen & irritated. This also makes the airways smaller & makes breathing more difficult.
- Mucus production – Inflamed airways produce excess mucus which clogs the already narrowed openings.