Asthma Symptoms

Published at 05 November 2024

Asthma is a common, chronic disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, and may produce extra mucus, causing coughing and difficulty breathing.

Asthma symptoms begin to appear in people of any age, whether young or old, but they often begin in childhood, especially before the age of five. Asthma affects about 1 in 5 children in Qatar, a percentage similar to statistics on the spread of the disease among children globally. (1)

What are the asthma symptoms?

Not every asthma patient experiences the same symptoms in the same way. For example, some people with asthma may go long periods without any symptoms, except when they are exposed to stimuli that trigger an asthma attack. In contrast, others may experience asthma symptoms daily. (2)

In addition, the symptoms of asthma attacks or episodes vary from one attack to another in the same person, as some episodes can be mild, while others are severe. (2)

Common symptoms

Asthma has 3 main symptoms: (2)

1.Shortness of breath: Asthma patients describe it as their inability to inhale easily. Which leads to a feeling of suffocation, pain and tightness in the chest.

2.Chronic cough: especially at night, or when exposed to a stimulus such as: dust or smoke, or when exercising or laughing.

3.Chest wheezing: which is hearing a wheezing sound when breathing, due to narrowing of the air passages. Which reduces the amount of air that reaches the lungs.

A chronic cough may be the only symptom that an asthmatic suffers from, which delays parents’ attention and seeking medical advice. If your child suffers from any of these symptoms, book an appointment in the Pulmonary and Chest Department, so that your child receives early diagnosis and treatment at the hands of the best doctors in Qatar, to prevent symptoms from getting worse.

Other symptoms

In addition to the three main symptoms, asthma may cause some other less common symptoms, such as: (3)

Tachypnea.
General fatigue and exhaustion.
Inability to exercise.
Difficulty breathing and persistent coughing at night.
Chronic cough without a wheezing sound.
Runny nose and congestion.
Itchy throat.
Difficulty sleeping.
Sneezing.

Symptoms of an asthma attack

An asthma attack can occur at any time. Sometimes it could be severe, which requires seeking immediate medical assistance, and its symptoms include: (3)

Tachypnea accompanied by chest contraction.
Discoloration of the lips and the area around the eyes to blue.
Peripheral cyanosis in people with light skin, or a tendency toward white or gray in people with dark skin.
Notice rapid movement of the nose when breathing.
Notice a rapid and deep movement of the ribs or abdomen when breathing.

Things that aggravate asthma symptoms: Beware of them

Some things may increase the severity of symptoms, such as: (4)(5)

Respiratory infections such as: cold, influenza, bronchitis, and sinusitis.
Incense.
Other strong odors such as: perfumes and detergents.
Smoke.
Cold weather.
Exercising in cold and wet weather.
Air pollutants such as: car exhaust.
Some allergens, such as: pollen, pet saliva or dander, mold, dust, and bed mites.
Physical strain.
Stress and psychological pressures.
Sulfites and preservatives added to certain foods and beverages, such as shrimp, dried fruit, and processed potatoes.
Heartburn and esophageal reflux disease.

At last

There is no definitive cure for asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease, and there is no medicine that completely cures it, but adherence to the instructions and medications prescribed by the doctor helps control the symptoms and live a normal life. (3) Among the most important tips for controlling asthma attacks: (4)

Avoid any triggers for an asthma attack.
Wear a face mask when going out or exercising in cold weather.
Maintain a healthy weight and lose excess weight.
Try breathing exercises that may reduce the need to use medications.
Controlling any diseases that exacerbate asthma symptoms, such as: heartburn and esophageal reflux disease.
Exercise according to your doctor's instructions.

Asthma does not go away as a child grows older

It is a common belief that asthma goes away as a child grows older, but this is not true. Asthma is a chronic disease that does not disappear, but yes, a large number of children stop having asthma symptoms as they grow older, while about a third of children continue to have symptoms even when they grow up. (6)

Most patients develop mild or moderate asthma

Only 18% of patients develop severe asthma, which greatly hinders their lives. These patients are exposed to asthma attacks at a more frequent and severe rate than others. Adherence to medications and the doctor’s instructions help protect the child from his condition getting worse. (7)