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Symptoms of Asthma
The most common features of asthma are:
- Coughing (this is more common in children than adults)
- Feeling out of breath
- Tightness in your chest
- Wheezing (a whistling sound that happens when you breathe)
Symptoms are often worse during the night and with exercise, if the condition is not controlled.
How long the attack lasts and how severe it is can vary greatly. Some people with asthma never have a severe attack, only a little wheezing or the occasional bout of coughing. These mild attacks may affect children from time to time for a few years, then stop, because many children may improve to the point where they no longer require medication.
In most cases, however, asthma is rather more severe. Attacks are regular, and the person experiences definite wheezing and a feeling of breathlessness. People affected in this way are often able to work out what brings them on and can help to control their attacks with self treatment.
Severe asthma can be alarming, especially when an attack comes on suddenly. In a severe attack, symptoms can include:
- Finding it hard to talk because of lack of breath
- Nostrils open very wide when you breathe
- Using extra muscles (accessory muscles) in the neck and chest to help you breathe (this appears as a pulling-in of skin around these areas)
- Heart beats faster than normal
- Finding it hard to walk
- Lips or fingernails turn blue or grey (very serious because it means the person is not getting enough oxygen to keep the blood a healthy red colour)
This is a dangerous situation and needs urgent hospital attention.
