Symptoms Of Asthma

When the airways are irritated or infected, it triggers an attack. The attack may come on suddenly or develop slowly over several days or hours. The main symptoms that indicate an attack are:

wheezing,

shortness of breath;

chest tightness,

cough, and

slurred speech.

The symptoms may occur during the day or night. If they occur at night, can interfere with sleep.

Wheezing is the most common symptom of an asthma attack.

Wheezing is a musical, whistling, or hissing sound of breathing.

Wheezes are usually heard on expiration, but can occur by breathing (inhalation).

Not all asthmatics wheeze, not all people with asthma wheeze.

Current guidelines for the care of people with asthma include the classification of the severity of asthma symptoms, as follows:

Mild intermittent: This includes attacks not more than twice a week and the night attack no more than twice a month. The attacks do not last more than a few hours to several days. Severity of attacks varies, but there are no symptoms between attacks.

Mild persistent: This includes attacks on more than twice a week but not every day, and night symptoms more than twice a month. The attacks are sometimes so difficult to interrupt the normal activity.

Moderate persistent: These include daily attacks and nocturnal symptoms more than once a week. Most serious attacks occur at least twice a week and can last several days. Attacks require daily use quick-relief (rescue) medications and changes in daily activities.

Severe persistent: This includes frequent severe attacks, continuous daytime symptoms and frequent nighttime symptoms. Symptoms requiring limits on daily activities.

Just because a person of mild to moderate asthma does not mean he or she can not have a serious crisis. Asthma severity may change over time, whether for good or ill.