Symptoms

Most of the symptoms of asthma are because the airways become narrow and blocked during an asthma episode. There are three things happening:

1. Inflammation -- The lining of the airways become very inflamed, which means they swell with fluid and cells (in response to an allergic reaction, exercise, or other trigger). Chronic inflammation is now thought to be the major cause of asthma. In fact, the purpose of steroid “control” medication so commonly used is to keep inflammation as low as possible and prevent attacks.
2. Airway muscles tighten -- The rings of muscles that wrap the airways constrict tighter and tighter, pinching the airway closed. The drugs used to relax the muscles are called "bronchodilators."
3. Fluid buildup -- The cells that line the airway produce excess mucus, which builds up inside the airway passage.

People with asthma have very sensitive airways that are constantly on the verge of over-reacting to asthma triggers. It doesn't take much for the airways to become inflamed, constricted, and filled with fluid.







Notice that in the normal airway, there is a lot of room for air to move back and forth during the breathing process. Compare that to an airway that is inflamed, constricted, and filled with fluid, where there is almost no room for air to flow.


Main Symptoms of Asthma

1. Wheezing. This is a high-pitched, whistling sound that can occur either while breathing in or breathing out. This sound is produced when air is forced through narrowed airways. It is much different from the rattling sound of simple chest congestion from a cold. Wheezing is a classic sign of asthma. However, not all children who have wheezing episodes will develop asthma, and not all children with asthma wheeze. Certain viral infections commonly cause wheezing in infants and young children. This is because their airways are so small that any airway infection can cause breathing difficulties. Up to 50 percent of children have at least one episode of wheezing before they're 3 years old. But only about one-third of these children develop asthma before age 6 years.
2. Tight cough. An asthmatic cough is often much different than the cough from a regular cold. It is described as a tight, short, non-phlegmy cough, as if the patient can't get in enough air to make the big, deep, junky cough typical of colds or bronchitis. Note asthma may be triggered by upper respiratory tract infection that may present clinically as a phlegmy cough.
3. Shortness of breath or laboured breathing. The individual feels like he is not getting enough air. This prompts them to breath faster and heavier, using his shoulders to take deeper breaths. If this symptom develops to an extreme level it can be frightening for the sufferer and very distressing for those close to him or her.
4. Retractions. This occurs during a more severe asthma attack. You can see the chest sucking in below the ribs or below the neck when your child inhales.
5. Chest tightness. Trapped air in the lungs generates a feeling that the chest is over inflated. This is often described as someone squeezing or sitting on one’s chest.

The patient may have one or several of these symptoms. In addition, many sufferers will have other symptoms including blocked nose, hay fever/rhinitis etc.. The symptoms and their severity are peculiar to the individual, and may occur periodically, on a day-to-day or season-to-season basis, or they may be more or less continuous.