Common Symptoms of Asthma
The intensity, duration, and recurrence of the symptoms vary from person to person. Even in the same person, the symptoms may vary from episode to episode. Some people with asthma may have extended symptom-free periods, interrupted by periodic asthma episodes, while others may have some symptoms every day. Very often some people with asthma have symptoms only during exercise, or when they are exposed to allergens or viral respiratory tract infections.
Common Symptoms of Asthma:
- Cough is most often worse at night.
- Wheezing. It is a whistling sound when you breathe.
- Shortness of breath. A feeling of breathlessness.
- Nasal flaring
- Rapid pulse
- Sweating
- In severe cases bluish discoloration of lips/face
- Retractions of intercostal spaces
Based on symptoms, asthma is divided into four levels of severity are:
- Mild intermittent: you have episodes of asthma symptoms twice a week or less, between episodes, however, you have no symptoms and your lung function is normal.
- Mild persistent asthma: you have asthma symptoms more than twice a week, but no more than once in a single day. You are bothered by symptoms at night more than twice a month.
- Moderate persistent asthma: you have asthma symptoms every day, and you are bothered by nighttime symptoms more than once a week.
- Severe persistent asthma: you have symptoms throughout the day on most days, and you are bothered by symptoms more often at night or early morning.