Top 3 Signs of Asthma In 2017

Asthma symptoms can be as innocent as a little trouble catching your breath to severe wheezing. You could have one sign of asthma one day and something else–or nothing–the next, and your friend with asthma might have an entirely different set of symptoms.

To make things even more confusing, many of the common symptoms of asthma mimic those of other conditions.Here’s a guide to recognizing asthma symptoms. Although only your doctor can tell you for sure (through your medical history and a physical exam), being familiar with the signs will help lead you to the right treatment.

Coughing

Coughing is a sign that your airways are inflamed, a hallmark of asthma. Inflamed airways are also sensitive airways; the increased sensitivity makes you more likely to cough in response to allergens such as pollen or irritants like perfume in an effort to ease the irritation. (When allergens trigger your asthma symptoms, you’re said to have allergic asthma.)

Coughing can also be a result of smoking or a sign of a viral infection, but it’s more likely to be asthma if it lingers for more than two weeks, keeps coming back, or is triggered by allergens like pollen. Asthma-related coughing tends to be worse at night and in the early morning.

Coughing is the only symptom of a type of asthma called cough-variant asthma (CVA). People with CVA usually need an inhaler to control their chronic cough, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Shortness of breath

Running out of air, along with other signs like a cough, as well as a family history of asthma or allergies, can also signal asthma. Some people say they have no problem breathing in but that breathing out can be difficult.

Of course, shortness of breath can also have many other causes: obesity, heart problems, emphysema, COPD, and more. Chances are it’s not asthma if the symptoms started after the age of 50, if you also have lightheadedness or palpitations, if asthma medications don’t help, or if you have a history of cigarette smoking.

Chest tightness

Chest tightness can also feel like pain, pressure, or squeezing. It’s caused by “constriction of the muscles around the airways,” says Dr. Rambasek.

In some cases, this tightness is a sign of a heart attack, but more commonly, it’s a sign of acid reflux, especially if the tightness happens after you eat or when you lie down. “Reflux acid in the esophagus can trigger the same types of symptoms as asthma,” says Dr. Rizzo, even if a person doesn’t experience the typical burning sensation of reflux.

Asthma and acid reflux are linked, although experts don’t entirely understand why. Each condition can make the other worse, and they frequently occur together. In fact, about 75% of asthma patients have severe acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD.) Treating GERD often alleviates asthma symptoms.

When to see a doctor

Deciding when to contact your doctor or visit the ER for asthma symptoms varies from individual to individual. “If you’ve never been diagnosed, you might go the first time [you have symptoms],” says Dr. Rambasek. “Wheezing is not normal.”

If you are already working with a doctor, you should have an Asthma Action Plan, recommends the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American. The plan will tell you what types of medication to take in which situations and when to call your doctor. If the instructions on the plan aren’t working, then you know to go to the emergency room.

In general, if your symptoms suddenly get worse, your medications aren’t helping, or you can’t catch your breath even when you’re resting, find medical help. “Asthma should be controllable,”