What Is Asthma

Recognizing asthma signs and symptoms early on is crucial so that treatment and medical intervention can begin early, preventing the ailment from getting any worse and putting you in danger. The main problem with asthma symptoms is that, it can present itself in forms that would lead you to believe that it's more related to other conditions rather than asthma; thereby leading to self medication which leads nowhere and does nothing except maybe worsen the case. Here are some of the most common and misleading symptoms that asthma can present itself in:Coughing that worsens during nighttime: Dry unproductive cough to be exact. If you experience coughing that tends to worsen during the night, that just comes and goes without warning, then you should think twice before chugging down that cough medication as it might be worsening your asthma.Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a common disorder where there are one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. The pauses in breathing can usually last from a few seconds to minutes and can occur from about 5 to 30 times during the episode. Many people have led themselves to believe that this difficulty in breathing is more related to restlessness caused by insomnia rather than by asthma.Lack of air: if you find yourself catching your breath after minimal or even without any activity, then its time to think about getting an expert opinion as to what it really is. Asthma when starting can be difficult to determine allowing people to miss most of its signs and giving it the chance to worsen. Shortness of breath is one of its most common and earliest warning signs, that's why it would be in your best interest to have it checked rather than wait for it to get worse.Chronic fatigue: One of the most misleading signs of asthma. Since chronic fatigue is more related to stress, most people tend to miss this symptom until the first full blown asthma attack occurs. Although it is normal to feel tired after a hard days work, the chronic fatigue that asthma can bring is present even with sufficient rest and even without the presence of stress. If you often feel tired for no particular reason at all, get a second opinion immediately.Changes in breathing pattern: one of the most telling yet difficult to determine asthma symptom as it can come and go without warning and the changes sometimes are so slight that most people would just tend to disregard it. As time goes on though, this symptom can worsen and contribute to asthma attacks when not given proper attention early on.There are many other asthma signs and symptoms that you should probably take note of but if you feel either one or two of these symptoms frequently then it wouldn't be wise to wait for any other symptoms to show. Get yourself examined immediately so that something can be done early on.

One of the most common pulmonary diseases is asthma. We all probably know what asthma is and know at least one person who's suffering from such condition. Not all asthmatic episodes require immediate medical attention. But once in awhile, asthmatics experience a severe and persistent kind of asthma. It is medically known as status asthmaticus or acute exacerbation. But for lay men, it is called an "asthma attack".This attack will not respond to conventional therapy like asthma inhalers. An asthma attack can occur suddenly with no warning and can develop quickly to asphyxia. Some causes of an acute exacerbation include an infection, increased anxiety, severe lack of fluids, and external irritants.Signs of asthma attacks are similar to a severe asthmatic episode. Some additional manifestations include labored breathing, prolonged exhalation, puffing up of the neck veins, and wheezing (asthma breathing). As the blockage in the airway is aggravated, the wheezing likely fades away. This may be a warning for respiratory failure.During an asthma attack, the person might turn blue or cyanotic because of lack of oxygen. Chest pain may also be present, and loss of consciousness may be experienced. The person's extremities may also feel cold to touch and there might also be numbness.An asthma attack is often not alleviated by asthma inhalers. Instead of relief, the symptoms may keep on worsening. Even when just talking, the person experiences panting. The patient becomes too breathless to speak, eat, sleep, or do other simple activities.Status asthmaticus is an emergency situation. It can be fatal. However, most of us do not know what to do in this kind of situation. Asthma can deteriorate very quickly if warning signs are taken for granted. Luckily, you don't have to panic anymore. Just follow the simple steps below and everything will be just fine.First, when the person starts to experience the symptoms mentioned above, grab the asthma inhaler immediately. Try sitting down and make sure that any stiff or tight garments are loosened. Never ever lie down. Lying down may worsen the attack and block the air passages. However, if the asthmatic did not experience any relief from medications or when in doubt, call the emergency services or your doctor right away.An earlier appointment to the doctor will signify fewer drug requirements. In addition, it is important for the patient to stay calm. Anxiety will only make the situation worse.Moreover, fluid intake is vital in people who are experiencing an asthma attack since dehydration is quite a common occurrence. Fluids help loosen and liquefy respiratory secretions, thus making it easy for secretions to be coughed out. Additionally, the person who has just had an asthma attack or is experiencing one should conserve his or her energy.