The Most Common Symptoms Of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition with symptoms of cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms occur periodically, usually related to specific triggering events. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children in developed countries, affecting about 12 percent of children who are less than 18 years. Statistics reveal that asthma is prevalent not only among adults but also among children including infants.

According to world health organization, there are at least 300 million people suffering from asthma worldwide and more than 180,000 people die from asthma each year. Asthma attack is characterized by sudden attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction and coughing. Despite the availability increasing treatment, asthma-related morbidity and mortality continues to rise. The prevalence of asthma is increasing in developed as well developing countries through the world.

Those people who do not realize they have asthma known as ‘hidden asthma'. They are more likely to deal with respiratory sickness and get pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and severe colds. Plus, they may suffer from poor sleep as one of the common symptoms of asthma is nighttime restlessness and coughing. Common asthma symptoms include: Wheezing, Coughing, Shortness of Breath, Tight chested feeling, Nasal Problems, Excessive mucus production, Disturbed Sleep Patterns and Lethargy etc.

Wheezing at the end of exhaling is one of the symptoms of milder cases while if it happens throughout the exhale it may be a sign of a more severe case. Wheezing is a sign of an asthma attack but is not always present, especially in mild cases. Wheezing while both inhaling and exhaling is a sign of an acute asthma attack. Nighttime coughing, particularly if there is no other sickness that could be contributing, is one of the most common symptoms of childhood asthma.

Coughing is the asthma symptom that is most likely to appear alone. A doctor can diagnose it using specialized tests. Running short of breath after exertion or exercise may be symptomatic of asthma. Shortness of breath after exercise does not always indicate asthma, however, and if it is suspected, a doctor should be consulted. Symptoms of asthma in children include coughing and wheezing.

Asthma symptoms often develop in children before five years of age, although it is sometimes difficult to diagnose asthma in infants and toddlers. Very severe asthma attacks such as status asthmaticus may constrict the airways so much that there is very less flow of air in and out of the lungs. Thus there may be no wheezing sound or coughing.

If the child experiences breathlessness after laughing or talking this could mean that their asthma could be bothering him or her. You may also notice that the child needs to breathe in before finishing breathing out. When air is trapped in the airways due to inflammation, the surrounding membrane stretches, and causes pain.

Feeling very tired is quite usual for asthmatics. It is often the result of broken sleep, decreased oxygen supply to the body and also the build up of lactic acid which exhausts the muscles. Knowing the symptoms will help you determine if you may be dealing with asthma but you should always consult with your doctor to get a proper medical diagnosis.