Signs of asthma

In asthma, an early diagnosis is crucial for the success of the treatment and for improving the quality of life of the patients. That is why understanding the signs of asthma is so important.

It can be useful to keep in mind that the signs of asthma are not the same thing as the symptoms. Symptoms are perceived on a subjective level and they are only accessible to the patient, while the signs of asthma can be observed by a physician or by the persons that come into contact with the patient. However, the expression ‘signs of asthma' will be used in this article to facilitate the understanding of the text and it will allude to both symptoms and signs of asthma.

What are the signs of asthma?

There are signs of asthma that are experienced before the start of an asthmatic episode. Among them we find: breathing changes, sneezing, moodiness, headache, feeling tired, runny nose or throat itches. These early signs of asthma are different from one person to another and they should be understood just as guidelines.

The signs of asthma that indicate that an asthmatic episode is occurring are: wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest. In the case of a severe asthma episode, that can be life-threatening, the signs of asthma are: severe wheezing, coughing that won't stop, very rapid breathing, inability to catch your breath, chest pain or pressure, tightened neck or chest muscles, difficulty talking, feelings of anxiety or panic, pale or sweaty face and blue lips or fingernails.

Understanding the signs of asthma is an important part in controlling this disease and it favors early intervention and treatment.