1. Allergy-Like Symptoms
If you notice that you develop signs of an allergy attack, or a cold without exposure to allergens, or a cold virus, you should consider the possibility that you have an undetected case of asthma. Among the allergy- or cold-like symptoms you may encounter are sore throat, sneezing, cough, sinus congestion and headache. These symptoms are more common in cases of extrinsic asthma, which is asthma caused by an external trigger.
2. Coughing, Wheezing and Shortness of Breath
Whether you have extrinsic or intrinsic asthma, you'll probably experience coughing fits when an attack is imminent. Coughing is the single most common sign of asthma, in both adults and children.
You're also likely to wheeze along with your cough. The asthmatic condition causes your bronchioles to constrict, making it harder for you to draw and expel air in and out of your lungs. A cousin of wheeziness is shortness of breath, which is also triggered by bronchoconstriction.
3. Watch out for Chest Tightness
If you have an inexplicable feeling that your chest is tight or constricted, you might want to talk to a doctor about the possibility that you have asthma, especially if you have other signs of the condition as well. This symptom usually accompanies an impending asthma attack, preceding a fit of coughing and shortness of breath.
4. Having Trouble Sleeping?
Both adults and children can be kept up at night because of asthma symptoms. Often, lying down constricts your air passageways even more, and impurities in the air and dust in your room can make breathing difficult.
You can combat this problem by keeping your bedroom free of dust, lint and mold, using an air purifier and supplementing with sinus medications, but if it continues to recur, you should talk to your doctor to get your condition diagnosed and treated.
5. Signs and Symptoms of Asthma in Children
Most children with this condition show signs of asthma by the age of 5, and incidence rates are on the rise. Wheezing and chronic, uncontrollable coughing are the two most common signs of childhood asthma, and you should check with your pediatrician if your child has any ongoing respiratory problems. Asthma is the No. 1 most common cause of chronic childhood illnesses, and you can give your child a better chance of avoiding this by treating the problem early.
