Asthma Symptoms

The main asthma symptoms are given below. The first four asthma symptoms are the most common, though usually only one or two are evident unless you are having a severe attack.

Shortness of breath. A narrowing of the airways leads to an inability to exhale properly. If too much air remains in the lungs it is also difficult to fully inhale.
Wheezing. This is a symptom associated with asthma, yet many asthmatics do not wheeze during an attack. The lining of the airways and surrounding muscles swell to block airflow as you exhale. Forcing the air through the narrow airways produces a characteristic whistling noise known as wheezing.
Coughing. This is how your body tries to remove the excess mucus that is produced during an attack. However there may be too much mucus or it may be too thick to be expelled. You may not be able to cough with enough force because your airways have become too obstructed.
Chest pain. Symptoms can occur as you struggle to breathe and the chest muscles and membranes around the lung become stretched. You may feel as if someone has placed a tight strap around your chest. It is also possible to strain muscles in your back and shoulders.
Rapid shallow breathing. This is a common asthma symptom to being unable to breathe deeply enough. You try to get more air in and out of the lungs in shorter, quicker breaths.
Inflated chest. If you cannot exhale properly more and more air becomes trapped in the lungs as you continue to breathe. The lungs expand, making the chest widen from front to back. The diaphragm is also pushed down, making it even harder to breathe.
Problems speaking. Reduced ability to inhale and exhale is a symptom which makes talking difficult. During a severe attack you may only be able to manage a word or two between struggling for breath.
Tiredness. Trying to breathe during an attack can be exhausting. The longer the attack lasts the more tired you will feel. This is particularly dangerous if you become too tired to breathe enough oxygen into your body.
Dehydration. The rapid, shallow breathing makes the body lose water and causes dehydration. Mucus in the airways will thicken as you become dehydrated and be harder to remove by coughing.
Vomiting. This is caused by excess pressure on the stomach as the lungs become over inflated. This happens most often in children.
Feelings of strangulation. A small minority of asthmatics experience a narrowing of the upper part of the windpipe.

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