Asthma

Definition

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

See also: Pediatric asthma

Symptoms

• Cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production
• Pulling in of the skin between the ribs when breathing (intercostal retractions)
• Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise or activity
• Wheezing
  • Comes in episodes
  • May be worse at night or in early morning
  • May go away on its own
  • Gets better when using drugs that open the airways (bronchodilators)
  • Gets worse when breathing in cold air
  • Gets worse with exercise
  • Gets worse with heartburn (reflux)
  • Usually begins suddenly

Emergency symptoms:

• Bluish color to the lips and face
• Decreased level of alertness such as severe drowsiness or confusion, during an asthma attack
• Extreme difficulty breathing
• Rapid pulse
• Severe anxiety due to shortness of breath
• Sweating

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Abnormal breathing pattern --breathing out takes more than twice as long as breathing in
• Breathing temporarily stops
• Chest pain
• Nasal flaring
• Tightness in the chest

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