Recognizing Asthma Symptoms
Cough as soon as you wake up in the morning, shortness of breath while climbing stairs, sleep interruption due to frequent cough at night, or whistling sound while breathing – all these symptoms are sometimes ignored considering them to be the effect of weather, dust or weakness. But these can also be early signs of asthma.
Asthma is a disease related to the respiratory tubes, in which swelling and narrowing of the airways can cause difficulty in breathing. Its symptoms can vary from person to person and may worsen when exposed to certain circumstances or triggers.
Can asthma start suddenly?
Asthma attack can come suddenly, but it is not necessary that this disease starts like this in everyone. Many people may have mild and intermittent symptoms before this.
In the beginning, the person may sometimes suffer from cough, whistling sound while breathing, chest tightness or shortness of breath during exercise. These symptoms can be so mild that a person can ignore them considering them normal.
Some people may have serious trouble breathing the first time they are exposed to a trigger. Factors such as viral respiratory infections, dust, pollen, smoke, tobacco, air pollution and cold air can aggravate asthma symptoms in some people.
Early signs of asthma
Symptoms of asthma are not the same in every person. Still, there are some signs to pay attention to.
1. Frequent cough
If cough occurs frequently, especially at night, upon waking up early in the morning or after exercise, it should not be ignored.
In some people, cough may be the main symptom of asthma and they do not initially feel problems like breathlessness. If the cough persists for a long time or returns repeatedly, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
2. Shortness of breath while climbing stairs or exercising
If you used to climb stairs easily or do normal exercise, but now you start feeling short of breath after just a little activity, then you should pay attention to this change.
In asthma, physical activity may trigger symptoms in some individuals. However, asthma is not the only cause of breathlessness during exercise. Anemia, weight gain, lack of fitness and other problems related to heart or lungs can also be behind this.
3. Whistling sound while breathing
Whistling or wheezing sound while exhaling is called wheezing. This can be a common symptom of asthma.
If such a sound is heard repeatedly, especially at night, in cold air, after exposure to dust or during exercise, the cause may become clear upon examination by a doctor. However, not all types of wheezing are caused by asthma.
4. Chest tightness or heaviness
Some people may feel tightness, pressure or heaviness in the chest before becoming short of breath. If this problem occurs repeatedly and is associated with dust, change in weather, night or any particular activity, then it should not be ignored.
However, chest tightness can also be caused by many other health problems. Therefore, asthma cannot be confirmed on the basis of this one symptom alone.
Why is trigger identification important?
Various things can increase symptoms in people with asthma. Some may be bothered by dust or pollen, while others may have increased symptoms in smoke, pollution, cold air or after exercise.
If you have frequent coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath, it may be useful to note when and under what circumstances the symptoms increase. This can help the doctor understand the cause of the problem and plan appropriate testing or treatment.
Is it right to assume that you have asthma with these symptoms?
No. Problems like cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing can occur in many other conditions apart from asthma. Therefore, it is not advisable to start asthma medication on your own based on symptoms alone.
Your doctor can determine the cause based on your medical history, pattern of symptoms, and lung function tests, as needed.
When should one seek immediate medical help?
If there is sudden difficulty in breathing, difficulty in speaking, lips or face turning blue, the person feeling very weak or confused or the problem of breathing increasing rapidly, then it should be considered an emergency and immediate medical help should be sought.
Asthma does not always start suddenly as a major attack. Recurring symptoms such as frequent coughing at night, unusual shortness of breath during exercise, whistling sounds or chest tightness may be early signs. However, these symptoms do not directly indicate asthma. To know the exact cause, it is necessary to consult a doctor for examination and consultation.