Asthma Symptoms
Asthma symptoms differ from person to person. They may not be present all the time, but are more likely to appear in short episodes called asthma-attacks or during periods when asthma symptoms worsen.
Common Symptoms
- Coughing – usually occurs in fits or episodes
- Wheezing – a whistling sound when exhaling
- Shortness of breath and rapid breathing (dyspnea)
- Chest tightness or pain
Less Common Symptoms
- Fatigue or daytime tiredness — often due to difficulty sleeping from nighttime symptoms
- Feeling weak or lacking energy
Symptoms of an Asthma Attack
During an asthma attack, symptoms worsen significantly. Asthma attacks can develop slowly over time or suddenly.
Signs of an asthma attack:
- Rapid breathing (tachypnoea)
- Low oxygen levels (hypoxia)
- Wheezing
- A long expiratory phase (difficulty exhaling fully)
- Using extra muscles to breath (e.g., shoulders or neck muscles)
- Difficulty speaking full sentences
- Tripod positioning (leaning forward with hands on knees to help breathing)
When to Seek Help
Deciding when to seek help can sometimes be difficult
- You might not know you have asthma
- Your symptoms could be due to a prolonged cold
- You have asthma medication but are unsure when they aren’t enough and you need to see a doctor
Whenever uncertain, it is always best to contact your doctor!
Before an Asthma Diagnosis
- Coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or wheezing last longer than a usual cold
- A prolonged cold could sometimes also be asthma, or another condition requiring medical attention
After an Asthma Diagnosis
- Your doctor should tell you when to seek emergency care
- Use an asthma action plan, a three-zone plan that helps manage asthma
When to Seek Help if You Have an Asthma Action Plan
- Red zone (most dangerous level):
- seek emergency care immediately (call 911)
- Continue relief medications based on your asthma action plan while waiting for help
- Yellow zone
- Contact a doctor if symptoms worsen despite adhering to the asthma action plan
- Seek help if you are in the yellow zone for more than a day
- Green zone
- If you keep switching back and forth between green and yellow zone, your asthma may not be well-controlled and should be reassessed by a doctor
Severe Symptoms – When to Call 911
If symptoms persist despite using your quick relief medication, or if any of the following occur, seek emergency medical help immediately:
- Quick relief medications stops working within a few hours
- Severe shortness of breath (unable to speak in full sentences) and chest tightness
- Shortness of breath even with minimal physical activity
- Lips and nails turning blue or gray
- Flaring nostrils while breathing
- Retractions (visible pulling in of skin between ribs with each breath)
- Rapid worsening of symptoms, including shortness of breath and wheezing
- Extreme fatigue or lethargy (getting “tired out”)
- Becoming unresponsive when other people talk to you