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Diseases » Asthma » Symptoms

Symptoms of Asthma



Contents

List of symptoms of Asthma:

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Asthma includes the 18 symptoms listed below:

Note that Asthma symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Asthma signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Research More About Asthma

Do I have Asthma?

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Asthma:

Wrongly Diagnosed with Asthma?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Asthma includes:

See the full list of 41 alternative diagnoses for Asthma

More about symptoms of Asthma:

More information about symptoms of Asthma and related conditions:

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

Medical Books Online about Asthma

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Asthma are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Asthma.

Medical Books Excerpts

STRIDOR

  • "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs"

WHEEZING

  • "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs"

Stridor & Wheezing

  • "In a Page: Signs and Symptoms"

Stridor

  • "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms"

Wheezing

  • "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms"

STRIDOR AND SNORING

  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care"

Stridor

  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)"

Wheezing [Sibilant rhonchi]

  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)"

Wheezing

  • "A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis"

Asthma

  • "Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)"

Stridor

  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)"

Wheezing [Sibilant rhonchi]

  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)"

Stridor

  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"

Wheezing

  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"

Wheezing

  • "Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis"

Asthma

  • "Handbook of Diseases"

Stridor

  • "Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series"

Wheezing

  • "Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series"

Stridor

  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses"

Wheezing

  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses"

Wheezing

  • "The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics"

Stertor, Stridor, and Airway Obstruction

  • "The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics"

Stridor

  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms"

Wheezing [Sibilant rhonchi]

  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms"

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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Symptoms of Asthma: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Asthma.


Asthma: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

An asthma attack may begin dramatically, with simultaneous onset of many severe symptoms, or insidiously, with gradually increasing respiratory distress. It typically includes progressively worsening shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness or some combination of these signs or symptoms.

During an acute attack, the cough sounds tight and dry. As the attack subsides, tenacious mucoid sputum is produced (except in young children, who don’t expectorate). Characteristic wheezing may be accompanied by coarse rhonchi, but fine crackles aren’t heard unless associated with a related complication. Between acute attacks, breath sounds may be normal.

The intensity of breath sounds in symptomatic asthma is typically reduced. A prolonged phase of forced expiration is typical of airflow obstruction. Evidence of lung hyperinflation (use of accessory muscles, for example) is particularly common in children. Acute attacks may be accompanied by tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. In severe attacks, the patient may be unable to speak more than a few words without pausing for breath. Cyanosis, confusion, and lethargy indicate the onset of respiratory failure.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Asthma: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

An acute asthma attack begins dramatically, with simultaneous onset of severe multiple symptoms, or insidiously, with gradually increasing respiratory distress. Asthma that occurs with cyanosis, confusion, and lethargy indicates the onset of life-threatening status asthmaticus and respiratory failure. Symptoms of bronchial airway obstruction may persist between acute episodes.

Signs and symptoms of asthma include:

  • sudden dyspnea, wheezing, and tightness in the chest
  • coughing that produces thick, clear, or yellow sputum
  • tachypnea, along with use of accessory respiratory muscles
  • rapid pulse
  • profuse perspiration
  • hyperresonant lung fields
  • diminished breath sounds.

    In 1997, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health identified four levels of asthma severity based on the frequency of symptoms and exacerbations, effects on activity level, and lung function study results: mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent.

    Findings for mild intermittent asthma include the following:

  • Symptoms occur less than twice per week.
  • The patient is asymptomatic with normal peak expiratory flow (PEF) between exacerbations.
  • Brief exacerbations (from a few hours to a few days) vary in intensity.
  • Nighttime symptoms occur less than twice per month.
  • Lung function studies show forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) or PEF greater than 80% of normal values; PEF may vary by less than 20%.

    Findings for mild persistent asthma include the following:

  • Symptoms occur more than twice per week, but less than once per day; exacerbations may affect activity.
  • Nighttime symptoms occur more than twice per month.
  • Lung function studies show FEV1 or PEF greater than 80% of normal values; PEF may vary by 20% to 30%.

    Findings for moderate persistent asthma include the following:

  • Symptoms occur daily.
  • Exacerbations occur more than twice per week and may last for days; exacerbations affect activity.
  • A bronchodilator is used daily.
  • Nighttime symptoms occur more than once per week.
  • Lung function studies show FEV1 or PEF 60% to 80% of normal values; PEF may vary by greater than 30%.

    Findings for severe persistent asthma include the following:

  • Symptoms occur on a continuous basis.
  • Exacerbations occur frequently and limit physical activity.
  • Nighttime symptoms occur frequently.
  • Lung function studies show FEV1 or PEF less than 60% of normal values; PEF may vary by greater than 30%.

    READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Asthma:

    Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology (Excerpt)

    It is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. A variety of "triggers" may initiate or worsen an asthma attack, including viral respiratory infections, exercise, and exposure to irritants such as tobacco smoke. The physiological symptoms of asthma are a narrowing of the airways caused by edema (fluid in the intracellular tissue space) and the influx of inflammatory cells into the walls of the airways. (Source: Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology)

    Asthma A Concern for Minority Populations, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)

    Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by episodes of airflow obstruction. Symptoms of an asthma attack include

    • coughing
    • wheezing
    • shortness of breath
    • chest tightness
    (Source: excerpt from Asthma A Concern for Minority Populations, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

    NHLBI, Asthma & Physical Activity in the School: NHLBI (Excerpt)

    Acute symptoms require prompt action to help students resume their activities as soon as possible. Prompt action is also required to prevent an episode from becoming more serious or even life-threatening. Table 3 lists the symptoms that indicate an acute asthma episode and the need for immediate action. The student's asthma plan and the school's emergency plan should be easily accessible so that all staff, substitutes, volunteers, and aides know what to do.

    Table 3. Acute Symptoms Requiring Prompt Action
    • Coughing or wheezing

    • Difficulty in breathing

    • Chest tightness or pressure--reported by the student

    • Other signs, such as low peak flow readings as indicated on the asthma management plan.

    Symptoms of exercise-induced asthma (coughing, wheezing, pain or chest tightness) may last several minutes to an hour or more. These symptoms are quite different from breathlessness (deep, rapid breathing) that quickly returns to normal after aerobic exercise (Source: excerpt from NHLBI, Asthma & Physical Activity in the School: NHLBI)

    NHLBI, Asthma & Physical Activity in the School: NHLBI (Excerpt)

    Students may have symptoms that do not indicate an acute episode needing immediate treatment, but instead indicate that their asthma is not under complete control. Table 4 lists these signs.

    Table 4. Signs That May Indicate Poorly Controlled Asthma
    • A persistent cough

    • Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath after vigorous physical activity, on a recurring basis

    • Low level of stamina during physical activity or reluctance to participate.
    (Source: excerpt from NHLBI, Asthma & Physical Activity in the School: NHLBI)

    Asthma as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions

    When considering symptoms of Asthma, it is also important to consider Asthma as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Asthma may cause:

    - (Source - Diseases Database)

    Asthma as a symptom:

    For a more detailed analysis of Asthma as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Asthma.

    Medical articles and books on symptoms:

    These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

    Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

    About signs and symptoms of Asthma:

    The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Asthma. This signs and symptoms information for Asthma has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Asthma signs or Asthma symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Asthma may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Asthma symptoms.


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