Asthma symptoms

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Allergic asthma is a breathing condition where the airways you breathe through tighten when you inhale an allergen. Common allergens include pollen, dander and mold spores. This type of asthma is very common in both children and adults. Symptoms of allergic asthma can include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, stuffy nose, itchy eyes and a rash. Overview What is allergic asthma? For many people, When you have allergies your body creates a response to something it thinks is a threat — the allergen. It fires up all of its defenses to try and fight off danger. This is done by your immune system. Your immune system typically works to protect you from disease. When your immune system thinks that there’s danger, it releases a chemical called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This substance is meant to fight back and protect your body. However, high amounts of IgE can cause your airways to tighten, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma is a disease of the lungs that causes your airways to: • Become swollen or irritated (called inflammation) specifically in the airway linings. • Produce large amounts of mucus that is thicker than normal. • Narrow because the muscles around the airways tighten. How common is allergic asthma? Many people with asthma actually have allergic asthma. It’s the most common type of asthma. In the United States, about 25 million people have asthma. Out of that group, approximately 60% have asthma that’s caused by allergies. Symptoms and Causes What causes alle...

What Is Asthma? Asthma is a serious disease that affects about 25 million Americans and causes nearly 1.6 million emergency room visits every year. With treatment, you can live well. Without it, you might have to go to the ER often or stay at the hospital, which can affect your daily life. What Does Asthma Feel Like? There are three major signs of asthma: • Airway blockage. When you breathe as usual, the bands of muscle around your airways are relaxed, and air moves freely. But when you have asthma, the muscles tighten. It’s harder for air to pass through. • Inflammation. Asthma causes red, swollen bronchial tubes in your lungs. This inflammation can damage your • Airway irritability. People with asthma have sensitive airways that tend to overreact and narrow when they come into contact with even slight triggers. These problems may cause symptoms such as: • • • Shortness of breath • Tightness, • Not every person with Some people with asthma may go for long periods without having any symptoms. Others might have problems every day. In addition, some people may have Mild asthma attacks are generally more common. Usually, the airways open up within a few minutes to a few hours. Severe attacks are less common but last longer and require medical help right away. It is important to recognize and treat even mild asthma symptoms to help you prevent severe episodes and keep asthma under better control. When to see your doctor Get medical help right away if you have serious symptoms ...

Transcript Speaker 1 (00:02): Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can cause breathing problems throughout someone's lifetime. When you have asthma, there is always a little swelling or inflammation inside the airways, with or without symptoms. Your lungs react to things that may not bother other people. These are known as triggers. Asthma can cause changes within the airway, all of which narrow the opening, making it difficult to breathe. A healthy airway is clear with no interior swelling, and the muscle bands around the airways are not tight. There is no extra mucus. Air moves freely through the open airway. When you have asthma, three main changes can happen in your lungs. If your asthma is left untreated or poorly controlled, changes to the structure of the airway may be permanent. One is swelling or inflammation. This is when the airway becomes swollen and irritated. When the airway becomes inflamed, it narrows and it is hard for air to flow through. Another change that can occur with asthma is extra mucus production, which clogs the airway, making the opening even smaller. The third change that can happen with asthma is the tightening of the muscles that surround your airways, called bronchoconstriction. This reduces the opening even more. When someone with asthma comes in contact with an asthma trigger such as dust, tobacco smoke, or even when laughing, any one or all three of the airway changes can happen. This is known as an asthma attack, or episode. All of the...

What Are Asthma Symptoms? Asthma symptoms can differ for each person, but here are some of the most common: • Wheezing. You may notice a whistling sound when you breathe. Sometimes this happens only when you exercise or have a cold. • Frequent cough. This may be more common at night. You may or may not cough up mucus. • Shortness of breath. This is the feeling that you can't get enough air into your lungs. It may occur only once in a while, or often. • Chest tightness. Your chest may feel tight, especially during cold weather or exercise. This can also be the first sign of a flare-up. What Causes Asthma Symptoms? For people with asthma, respiratory infections, allergens, chemicals, odors, physical activity, emotions, seasonal changes and smoking can irritate the lungs. We call these triggers because they cause (trigger) changes in the airways. Understanding what triggers your asthma will help you manage your disease. Work with your healthcare provider to identify the triggers that cause your asthma symptoms. Once you have identified your triggers, work on ways to avoid the trigger entirely or to limit your exposure to it.

Every time you breathe in, air enters your nose and If the airways are inflamed, air has more difficulty getting to your When What Causes Asthmatic Bronchitis? There are many triggers that may initiate the release of inflammatory substances. Common asthmatic bronchitis triggers include: • Tobacco smoke • Pollution • Allergens such as • Chemicals • Certain • Exercise • Weather changes (for example, cold weather) • Viral or bacterial infections • Strong emotions (laughing or crying) What Are the Symptoms of Asthmatic Bronchitis? The symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis are a combination of the symptoms of bronchitis and asthma. You may experience some or all of the following symptoms: • Shortness of breath • Wheezing • • Chest tightness • Excess mucus production You might wonder, is asthmatic bronchitis contagious? Bronchitis itself can be caused by a virus or bacteria, which are contagious. However, chronic asthmatic bronchitis typically is not contagious. Visiting Your Doctor If you've been experiencing symptoms like those listed above, make an appointment with your doctor. After going through a series of questions about your symptoms and taking a medical history and • Spirometry. A test that measures lung function as you breathe in and out of a mouthpiece that is attached to a device called a spirometer. • Peak expiratory flow. A test that measures the force of air you breathe out (exhale) into the mouthpiece of a device called a peak expiratory flow meter. • Chest X-ray. A r...

Asthma attack If you have asthma, the inside walls of the airways in your lungs can become inflamed and swollen. In addition, membranes in your airway linings may secrete excess mucus. The result is an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, your narrowed airways make it harder to breathe, and you may cough and wheeze. Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out and shortness of breath. For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. Symptoms Asthma symptoms vary from person to person. You may have infrequent asthma attacks, have symptoms only at certain times — such as when exercising — or have symptoms all the time. Asthma signs and symptoms include: • Shortness of breath • Chest tightness or pain • Wheezing when exhaling, which is a common sign of asthma in children • Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing • Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu Signs that your asthma is probably worsening include: • Asthma signs and symptoms that are more frequent and bothersome • Increasing difficulty breathing, as measured with a device used to check how well your lungs are working (peak flow meter) • The need to use a quick-r...