The Symptoms of Asthma

There are quite a few symptoms to indicate an asthma attack. Most of them are related. However, not all these symptoms manifest at the same time. It is very possible that an asthmatic displays different symptoms during different attacks. This is because the underlying causes for the attack are usually the same, as is the mechanism.

One of the most common symptoms is the shallowness in breathing. A person suffering from an asthma attack will find it difficult to breathe normally. At such times, due to the constriction of the bronchial muscles, the volume of air reaching the lungs is reduced. This causes an asthmatic to breathe harder during an attack, as he tries to take in the normal amount of air into the lungs. Due to this, the pace of breathing speeds up as well, as the person is literally gasping for breath.

Another common symptom is incessant coughing spells. These are especially intense during a nighttime attack. The coughing spells are induced by the excessive mucus secretion due the constriction of the muscles. The constriction also causes a tightening feeling in the chest region. The reduced airspace also causes a patient to wheeze, breathe noisily with a wheedling sound. Wheezing can occur even if a patient is anywhere near a stimulant for asthma.

Asthma symptoms may also appear during increased metabolic phases, i.e. when a patient is indulging in activities that increase the metabolism rate, such as running, cycling, or in situations of stress or excitement.

In persons suffering from acute asthma, the attacks may increase in frequency during night, and reduce by day. However with proper care and medication, a patient can stay free of attacks for long periods of time.

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