Related topics: •  Asthma Center •  Asthma: Symptoms and Treatment •  Preventing Attacks •  Revised Standards for Diagnosis and Treatment •  What Causes Attacks

If coughing or gasping for breath were sure signs of asthma, we'd all be carrying inhalers. Everybody has trouble breathing from time to time, a fact that can make it hard to spot the symptoms of asthma.

Even those who have been diagnosed with the disease need to pay close attention to their bodies to recognize the warning signs of an attack. With careful monitoring, you can stop such crises before they happen. And if you should suffer a full-blown asthma attack, alertness to the symptoms will help you quickly get the treatment you need.

Your symptoms may change from one attack to another, but most people can learn to see a pattern in their disease. The first rule is to be especially alert for symptoms after you've come in contact with an asthma trigger such as pollen, cold air, or tobacco smoke.

Warning signs that an attack may be about to occur:

•Sneezing

•Coughing

•Runny nose

•Itchy throat or chin

•Moodiness

If you notice any of the above symptoms, you may be on your way to an attack. Use a peak-flow meter to make sure your breathing hasn't already started to decline.

Feeling out of breath while exercising or wheezing when you breathe may be warning signals of a mild asthma attack. As your airways begin to tighten, your breath may be slightly labored when you walk or exercise. Checking your peak-flow meter will show that your breathing is still between 80 percent and 100 percent of normal. You may wheeze (breathing with a raspy or whistling sound) when you exhale.

•Shortness of breath

•Gasping while talking

•Tightness in chest

•Loud wheezing and coughing

If your attack worsens, any activity other than sitting quietly will make you feel short of breath. You probably won't have the breath to speak complete sentences. You may feel tightness in your chest, and you may wheeze loudly and cough. Your peak-flow meter will read between 50 percent and 80 percent of normal. At this point, you should take a quick-relief bronchodilator medication to open your airways and prevent a more severe attack. If symptoms persist, get medical treatment before the attack becomes severe.

•Not having the breath to speak

•Flared nostrils, tight neck muscles, sitting hunched forward

•Sleepiness and confusion

•Bluish lips and fingernails

Make sure you and your family members already have a plan for dealing with severe attacks. At its worst, asthma can grip your airways so tightly that you'll struggle for every breath of air. Even sitting still will leave you breathless. Your breathing may be fast and shallow, or it may be slower than normal. Breathing may become such a chore that your shoulders hunch, your nostrils flare, and your neck muscles tighten. The shortage of air can make you sleepy and confused, and your lips and fingernails may turn grayish or bluish. Your peak-flow reading will be less than half of normal.

These symptoms obviously signal an emergency. If you're having a severe attack, take your quick-relief medication right away and get prompt medical treatment.

-- Chris Woolston, M.S., is a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology. He is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive, and was the staff writer at Hippocrates, a magazine for physicians. He has also covered science issues for Time Inc. Health, WebMD, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. His reporting on occupational health earned him an award from the northern California Society of Professional Journalists.

Further Resources

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

800-822-ASMA http://www.aaaai.org

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

800-842-7777 http://allergy.mcg.edu

American Lung Association

800-LUNG USA http://www.lungusa.org

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

800-7-ASTHMA http://www.aafa.org

References

First published January 23, 2001
Last updated September 10, 2007
Copyright © 2001 Consumer Health Interactive

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