Wheezing is but one of the Symptoms of Asthma
Many people can easily recognize wheezing as one of the symptoms of asthma, but it is not the sole indicator. Although this wheezing, and possibly whistling, sound is a dominant indicator of symptoms of asthma, it is important to recognize other indicators, especially if you are a caregiver for a person suffering from this debilitating condition.
Other significant indicators of symptoms of asthma include a dry, hacking-like cough that persistently occurs accompanied with a tightening of the chest and extreme difficulty trying to breathe, especially when physically moving or in the late hours of night or early hours of the morn.
There are quite a few “unusual” symptoms that may also indicate an impending asthma attack. One of these is a naturally occurring act most humans experience. It’s called sighing. That’s right. Asthma sufferers will outwardly exhibit the act of sighing. But unlike most people, this sighing activity could be one of the symptoms of asthma exhibited when it occurs frequently and this frequency accelerates. Other unusual symptoms of asthma include:
- Rapid breathing – this includes constant gasping for air
- Overwhelming fatigue – often exhibited with little, if any, physical exertion
- Inability to sleep – typically interrupted by other symptoms such as a persistent cough
- Paranoia – this can become a chronic manifestation of anxiety where a sufferer starts believing the worst of each moment
- A chronic cough not accompanied by any wheezing or whistling may also be one of the symptoms of asthma
One of the difficulties identifying a true symptom of asthma is that there is no consistent appearance of one or other of these symptoms. One sufferer may only experience symptoms of asthma at night, referred to as “nocturnal” asthma. Another may sleep peacefully through the night but manifest persistent symptoms of asthma during the day such as a constant cough.
What are the Triggers for Symptoms of Asthma?
There are many. People have different triggers initiating the onset of symptoms of asthma that include allergens, reaction to certain medications, cold air, dust, pet dander, smoke, exercise and in response to infections. However, there are quite a few other health conditions, like heart failure and bronchitis, where an individual may exhibit what appear to be symptoms of asthma but are not. This can present a difficult challenge not only for you but also for your physician to make accurate diagnoses along with creating an effective treatment plan.
Simple Cough May Be Beginning
A simple cough might be the first indicator of symptoms of asthma. The cough typically appears in what is mistakenly considered a cold or an upper respiratory infection. It also manifests in the early stages as a “tickle” in the sufferer’s throat. In some asthma sufferers, this cough is triggered by exercise and even laughing. Yes, laughing can cause a cough that may be a symptom of asthma, but it is no joke. The situation can lead to more severe symptoms of asthma.
Unfortunately, coughing that accompanies an asthma condition cannot be treated with cough suppressants. Therefore, you will be throwing money away buying cough drops, liquid suppressants and other traditional remedies. You need to have a medical evaluation by a licensed doctor if the cough continues three to six weeks. Only proper testing will determine if this is really experiencing symptoms of asthma or may be some other respiratory ailment.
