There are many reasons someone may cough or gasp for breath. Everybody has trouble breathing occasionally, but spotting asthma symptoms can be helpful. These include:
Coughing during the day or coughing that may wake you up at night
Wheezing or a whistling sound when you breathe (you may hear it more when you breathe out)
Breathing problems that include having shortness of breath, feeling like you are out of breath, gasping for air, having trouble breathing out or breathing faster than usual
Chest tightness and when breathing gets very difficult, the skin of your chest and neck may suck inward
Other early warning signs of an asthma attack are:
Being short-tempered or irritable
Feeling nervous or edgy
Recognizing signs
If the following symptoms are present, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. They may be signs of a severe medical emergency.
Having trouble walking or talking because it is so hard to breathe
Hunching over with coughs
Lips or fingernails are blue or gray
Confusion or being less responsive than usual
Symptoms may change from one attack to another, but most people can learn to see a pattern and be alert to symptoms. Warning signs that an attack may be about to occur include:
Sneezing
Coughing
Runny nose
Itchy throat or chin
Moodiness
It's vital that people with asthma alert their loved ones and co-workers and have a plan in place in case they have an attack.
If your child has asthma, ensure the child's caregivers know to call 911 if your child has any of these symptoms. This includes teachers, babysitters and others who take care of your child.
