Health Topics A-Z

What Are the Symptoms?

Asthma symptoms include episodes of:

• Tightness or pressure in the chest.
• Shortness of breath.
• Wheezing (a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs when exhaling).
• Coughing, especially at night.

Early warning signs of the onset of an asthma episode include:

• Signs of a cold.
• Frequent cough, especially at night.
• The need to use your rescue inhaler.
• Losing your breath easily (exercise-induced bronchospasm).
• A decrease in lung function, as measured by a spirometer or peak flow meter.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You or another person is experiencing an episode of asthma for the first time. Asthma can be quite serious if not treated properly.
• Your rescue inhaler (usually albuterol) does not work to relieve your symptoms within 20 minutes.
• You or the person with asthma cannot talk in complete sentences. Other things to look for: flaring nostrils; the skin between the ribs is sucked in with each breath; the lips or the skin under the nails appear grayish or bluish. These are all signs of extreme oxygen deprivation. Get immediate emergency treatment.