Asthma Symptoms
How Do You Know You Have Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs that makes the airways, also known as the bronchial tubes, particularly sensitive to irritants. The main asthma symptoms include cough, recurring periods of breathlessness and wheezing. An asthma attack can happen at any time of day or night. It is mild in some people but can be deadly to others.

Other symptoms of asthma include:

• A tight feeling in the chest.  This has been described as feeling like someone is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
• Shortness of breath.  Asthma sufferers have a very hard time catching their breath. They feel like they cannot get enough air in or out of their lungs. The air passages in the lungs narrow, causing increased resistance to airflow.
• Episodes of wheezy breathing.
• Rapid breathing.
• Heightened anxiety.

People with asthma may also experience bouts of wheezing when they have any type of respiratory illness, by prolonged crying or laughing. They frequently are bothered by night coughing, which is most often seen in children. Exercising such as running, biking or other brisk activity can bring on an attack in people prone to the affliction.

Asthma symptoms vary from one attack to another, and not all people have all or most of  these symptoms.

Frequency of Attacks

There is no consistency or pattern to asthma attacks.  Some people have symptoms only once every few months. Others have them every week, and still other people have symptoms every day.

With proper treatment and management, however, the majority of  people with asthma can expect to have minimal or no symptoms, and can lead active, normal lives.