Asthma – What asthma feels like

We asked people to describe how it feels getting asthma symptoms, when breathing becomes difficult. Lisa explained her ‘minor’ symptoms or low-level feelings of breathlessness were fairly quickly eased by using her inhaler. Although she felt short of breath, it wasn’t a struggle to breathe. Peter describes how low level symptoms might sometimes linger and get worse to the point where breathing became more problematic.

Peter is symptom free for about 9 months of the year, but there are times when his asthma is less well controlled and he finds over a period of time he can begin to feel worried about his breathing.

Peter is symptom free for about 9 months of the year, but there are times when his asthma is less well controlled and he finds over a period of time he can begin to feel worried about his breathing.

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The symptoms I have I think are the same as what other people have. And they vary in severity from being very mild to being quite debilitating and that seems to be a bit of a characteristic of the condition called asthma. It not only affects different people in different ways, and to different degrees but any one individual can be affected in a different way over the course of a year let’s say.

So I reckon typically I probably have nine months of the year when I’m pretty fine. I can do most of what I want to do. And I probably have two or three months of the year when I’m restricted to a greater or lesser extent. Sometimes quite badly restricted. So it is variable.

The symptoms are yes, tightness in the chest coughing, wheezing. I think probably the, oh and shortness of breath. The shortness of breath and the coughing are the things that trouble me most. It may be mild and I might not notice it until I’m sort of walking up a steep hill for a few minutes or it may affect me just going up a few stairs. And I may not be able to hold a normal conversation because I haven’t got enough breath to keep it going.

If there’s a bad cough alongside that as well then you can’t sleep. As soon as you lie down it starts you off coughing so you have to sit up. And if you’re doing that for several days on end or a couple of weeks, or three weeks, coughing and coughing and coughing and coughing then you pull all your muscles in your upper body and so it hurts like mad whenever you do cough. And you really can’t sleep partly because you’re coughing, partly because you can’t get comfortable anywhere.

People talk about asthma attack which sounds like something sudden and violent. Well I haven’t had that experience. I can detect that the asthma is getting worse but it’ll be, it’ll deteriorate over two or three or four day period before I might reach a point where I’m struggling to breath. And, I wouldn’t describe that as an attack, it’s a steady deterioration. Although I have had the sensation of being afraid that I can’t carry on breathing. Which is frightening. It sounds absurd but I can remember sort of sitting on the bed and concentrating on breathing and thinking, telling myself all you’ve got to do is carry on you know, steadily slowly, breathing in and out. It sounds ridiculous to suggest, to suggest that you don’t know how to do that, but you know, and it’s obviously quite frightening when, when that happens. But I’ve only had that happen once, to the point where I really quite frightened.

In contrast to low level symptoms an asthma ‘attack’ was described as more dramatic. While there are a wide variety of experiences, it is striking that many people described the feelings in similar, often very vivid, ways.

People said they felt that they couldn’t get enough air into – or out of – their lungs – as if they were ‘breathing through a straw’, or even in some cases as if ‘suffocating’, ‘choking’ or ‘drowning’. They described ‘struggling’ or ‘fighting’ for air. Stephen said it felt as though he’d lost half his lungs, as though the air is only going down half way and he’s only getting half the air that he needs. Faisil described it as like having ‘itchy lungs’ and ‘gasping for breath’. Not being able to breathe out felt as if the air had ‘nowhere to go’ or was ‘stuck’ or ‘closed off’.

Mark describes how asthma symptoms can feel to him ‘like drowning in a pool’.

Mark describes how asthma symptoms can feel to him ‘like drowning in a pool’.

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If you had to describe what asthma was to someone who didn’t know, what was, how would you describe it?

Well I think the best way to describe asthma is at its worst, right, it is just like you’re drowning in a pool because you, both ways with drowning and with asthma you’re trying to fight for air. You’re trying to breathe air, you know, either with your nose or with your mouth, you want it then. And you can’t. And what makes it so much more worser is when you’ve got triple the problems like hay fever, right, which again I have, so it makes it more difficult to even to try to even try to breathe through the nose. And also the mouth as well. 

When Christine has an asthma attack she says it can feel like very hard work as you struggle with each breath.

When Christine has an asthma attack she says it can feel like very hard work as you struggle with each breath.

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It’s extremely hard work.

It’s very hard work because you’re struggling for every breath, and you can breathe in but you can’t breathe out. And because you can’t breathe out, the next breathe has got nowhere to go.

So you’re kind of trying to force air in past air that should be coming out, as it were and this is where you get this characteristic, [makes noise] sort of sound. I was very, very thin. I was very thin. I was quite seriously underweight because I was using all the calories up trying to breathe, but I did have a flat stomach, so it wasn’t all bad.

The feeling of a ‘tight’ chest is a common symptom. In some cases, people said it could feel as though a person was gripping them around the chest or sitting on them and squashing them so hard they could not breathe. Catherine compared it to a heavy weight and said that it could feel very frightening. Alice said that she sometimes fears she might suffocate during an attack

For most people these symptoms can be relieved relatively quickly by using a reliever inhaler during the attack.

Catherine describes the feeling of tightness in the chest as ‘like a huge weight’, as if someone is sitting on her chest.

Catherine describes the feeling of tightness in the chest as ‘like a huge weight’, as if someone is sitting on her chest.

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It’s like somebody’s sitting on your chest and they’ve got their hands round your throat and you can feel it. It’s like that there’s this huge weight sitting and no matter how hard you breathe in your chest wall feels like it’s not moving, at all.

In reality it probably is moving a bit but because everything, all the airway passages have narrowed so much you’re trying to force through air and there isn’t the room for it to go. And it is like you’re suffocating.

Alice feels frightened she may suffocate when she has an asthma attack but knows that the steroid inhalers will usually solve the problem, or she can use a nebuliser if she can’t manage the inhaler.

Alice feels frightened she may suffocate when she has an asthma attack but knows that the steroid inhalers will usually solve the problem, or she can use a nebuliser if she can’t manage the inhaler.

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Can you describe what it feels like having an asthma attack?

Well, obviously, yes, I mean, there’s… I would say two or three different things. One is when you suddenly notice that you’re coughing all the time, and I’m coughing because I’m short of breath, but it comes out as needing to cough. Then sometimes I’m needing to cough because mucus has built up and trying to clear that, and that’s one of the things that happen, you know, you get the inflammation in the, I suppose it’s the trachea, and also mucus production is increased. And you need to shift that so that you can breathe in or out and the coughing, you know, it’s just uncomfortable and you feel uncomfortable. But I think thanks to the steroid preventers, I don’t get the same amount of inflammation, and the absolute worst thing is, when everything is inflamed, your trachea’s closing up, you can’t breathe, and you actually can’t breathe. And I think it’s that you can’t breathe out but I’m not sure because I’ve forgotten which, which way, which way it works. But that not being able to breathe is absolutely panic making. And you don’t know whether things are going to open up again and you will be able to breathe or whether you will suffocate or your heart will stop. And I always used, also used to worry a bit about brain damage, with the lack of oxygen to my brain, I’ve given up worrying about that now, but I think it is that sense of, of suffocation that is the worst thing. One could put up with the coughing because, or I could, because I don’t feel that’s life threatening, but the thing that was so frightening was the suffocation, the inflammation and that’s why I think the steroids are such a godsend.

Is it… how easy or difficult is it to use the inhaler when you are in the middle of an attack like that, when you’re not being able to breathe?

Then I would use my nebuliser because and if I was in a very bad state, somebody i. e. my husband could help me set it up but I have a, a nebuliser and have had one for a very long time, but because that’s, you just can put the mask over your face and breathe in, that would be easier. If I’m just kind of coughing, I’ll just use the inhalers, and it’s quite easy because I think what prevents you from doing things is the panic.

When breathing becomes difficult it can be difficult to move, to think clearly or to talk, even to tell other people how you are feeling or what they could do to help. Jane Z said that when you can’t breathe you can easily begin to feel confused because you are not getting enough oxygen to the brain. Christine pointed out how this can also have repercussions for friends, relatives or work colleagues if they are with you when you are going through a bad attack – “All you can think about is drawing breath, literally. It’s much more terrifying for people around you because they can’t do anything, they’ve just got to sit and watch you”.

Susan describes how her symptoms start with coughing and tightness.

It can be difficult to think straight when she is trying to concentrate on her breathing. [AUDIO ONLY]

Susan describes how her symptoms start with coughing and tightness. It can be difficult to think straight when she is trying to concentrate on her breathing. [AUDIO ONLY]

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A lot of the time with me it starts, either I just start coughing or it’s like a bit of a tightness in my throat, like your throat is getting smaller. So I don’t tend to start wheezing until quite a lot later on until it’s quite bad. And then if I take my inhaler then it’ll just clear up quite easily, usually. But then if it gets worse it’s, it’s kind of like you’re trying to breathe through something really small, like through a straw or something. And it feels like there’s something that’s stopping you kind of breathing properly, like opening and closing your lungs.

So it’s kind of like you can’t, you just can’t get enough air out.

Like you can breathe in some, like mostly OK but then you just can’t breathe out properly. And it’s just, it’s really exhausting.

And I tend to find that I kind of, I stop thinking completely straight. I think as I’m thinking so much and I’m worried so much about my breathing that I can’t cope with other things so I can’t, I can’t always explain what’s going on and I can’t always work out what words I need to use. So I can kind of get half way through a sentence, if I’m trying to explain what’s happening to someone, I might get half way through and I just can’t remember the word that I’m after or I can’t remember where in the sentence I am because I’m concentrating so much on breathing that the rest of the things are just too complicated. 

The advice for people experiencing asthma symptoms is to try not to panic, because this can make things worse. Although most people know this is a sensible and obvious strategy, in practice it can be difficult not to panic. Asthma can be a life-threatening condition in some cases, and the fear of not being able to get your breath is very powerful. In addition, as Catherine points out, in order to make the situation better you need to be able to take a deep breath in order to inhale the medication, and ‘what’s the one thing you can’t do….take a big breath in…’. Jane Y says ‘my husband is a rock’ as he helps her to stay calm by reminding her to stay calm, sit down, concentrate on breathing and not to try to talk. Some people say that using a spacer with the inhaler can make things easier when you are having an asthma attack.

Dee explains how she can feel both physical and psychological symptoms during an asthma episode. The aim of medication is to try to avoid getting to that point. [AUDIO ONLY]

Dee explains how she can feel both physical and psychological symptoms during an asthma episode.

The aim of medication is to try to avoid getting to that point. [AUDIO ONLY]

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It’s like as if, the sensation is of constriction in your windpipe and in your lungs. It’s like you’ve got a balloon that is, you know, won’t blow up, which I guess is your lungs. The hardest thing to control, when you have an asthma attack, that you feel is getting out of your control because I suppose the thing to remember is that you might have an asthma attack, which just means you’re feeling a little bit wheezy, where I don’t know, you’ve, you know, a bit of exertion or bit of tiredness or whatever, and you know that if you then go and get the reliever you’ll be fine. But you can also get to a point where you maybe ignore that for a while and then you start to panic, so the physical feeling of being short of breath then becomes a psychological feeling of fear and panic because your body becomes really aware very quickly that you’re in danger and your, just your normal fright flight responses kick in and you you’re looking for action. You want something to happen. But your ability to take that action is diminishing by the moment because, of course, you’re not actually processing any oxygen and you need people around you to know what this looks and feels like so that people around you, family, friends, work colleagues, would be able to work out that they need to go and run and get your inhaler or they need to phone for help for you. So I suppose first it’s a physical feeling and then next it’s a psychological panic.

And of course, the whole aim of the medication is to ensure that you never get to that point.

Val explains how it feels as if her breath is ‘stuck’ when she is asthmatic and how she tries to keep calm.

Val explains how it feels as if her breath is ‘stuck’ when she is asthmatic and how she tries to keep calm.

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Sometimes it feels like…your, my breath is stuck so I can’t breathe out . Sometimes it’s wheezing, like I explained in the winter, I can walk down the road and I just can’t stop wheezing. Often it’s coughing, so I just cough and cough and cough for no reason sometimes, and anything can kind of trigger the coughing. So it’s mainly those breathlessness, coughing and wheezing…are the main symptoms.

I notice you said that you try not to panic too much…

I try not to panic. So for instance the other day I had two coughing attacks and I just kind of think ‘I mustn’t panic’, I’ve got to try and stop the coughing with the inhaler and normally I can do that. I can take the blue inhaler and stop the coughing.

So does it help to kind of remember back to know that it will subside?

Yes, absolutely, yes. Or, if I can’t, if I feel tight-chest – tight-chestedness is the other thing – if I feel tight-chested I’ll kind of think it will sort itself out. I know it will sort itself out. If I haven’t, my feeling is if I haven’t had an emergency attack by now, I’m hopefully not going to get one if I do not panic and just take the inhaler and just wait until it sorts itself out.

And sometimes that requires a fair amount of blue inhaler, but most times it will just require maybe two or three doses and it sorts itself out.

It sounds like that’s quite an important part of it. I’ve heard people say that if you get into a panic attack then it can actually exacerbate…

Yes, yes, no I think that is really important and I kind of decided I would do that from the beginning kind of reading about it and realising that panicking made it worse and anxiety made it worse. I decided very early on that the thing I mustn’t do is panic when I have an attack.

A doctor explains how anxiety can exacerbate the onset of an asthma attack.

A doctor explains how anxiety can exacerbate the onset of an asthma attack.

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There is absolutely no doubt that anxiety acts as a potent trigger for asthma. Managing it is very difficult. Because it lies as much in the management of the anxiety as in the management of the asthma. 

Some people of course get very frightened when they have an asthma attack, and that’s not surprising. It’s a very frightening thing to happen. And of course, therefore, when they feel they’re on the verge of another attack, panic may set in, and that may in fact exacerbate the likelihood of getting an attack. There are a number of different options to do it, people have tried yoga and things like that. As far as I’m concerned I’m all for people trying these things if they feel it works for them. The scientific evidence to support that is virtually absent, but it’s, any way in which anxiety can be managed better is likely in those individuals to improve their asthma control. There are a number of different options to do it, people have tried yoga and things like that. As far as I’m concerned I’m all for people trying these things if they feel it works for them. The scientific evidence to support that is virtually absent, but it’s, any way in which anxiety can be managed better is likely in those individuals to improve their asthma control.

As well as the physical symptoms of breathlessness, wheezing and coughing, some people spoke about asthma making them feel exhausted. This could be during symptoms, because of the effort of breathing, and people often mentioned feeling unable to move or even stand while it was happening. Or it could be more general tiredness and exhaustion.

Jenny has brittle asthma and can feel a sense of fatigue and exhaustion when she is experiencing an asthma attack.

Jenny has brittle asthma and can feel a sense of fatigue and exhaustion when she is experiencing an asthma attack.

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I can do things, but I get puffed and short of breath and then I go blue and, you know, and I have to be very careful that I don’t get over-tired; it’s getting over-tired makes me, can make me wheeze and also because I’ve been so ill for what, seven years now, I’m actually [coughs] at great risk of ME chronic fatigue because I get sort of over one virus and something else hits me, so and then I get too tired, my body just goes into shut down mode.

And I do have days where I am completely useless, where I just sit on the sofa and I sleep and I’ll wake up, eat something and I sleep again, you know, that’s basically all I, all I can do because my body is either fighting something or it has been fighting something.

I mean, the other week the dog wasn’t well, it was like Saturday night, half-ten, eleven o’clock at night and she needed to go to the emergency vets and I could just not – I’d had a busy day and I just couldn’t do it, I couldn’t get up off my bed to take her so my mum and dad had to take her, eleven o’clock at night and sit there for an hour at the, you know, until midnight at the vets…because I was just so physically tired and then my breathing goes off when I’m tired as well, but that, it’s not asthma breathing then that goes off, it’s fatigue breathing. But anything that upsets your breathing pattern when you are an asthmatic like me, anything that upsets the breathing pattern can trigger the asthma off.

Other people talked about a persistent cough or wheeze interrupting sleep, and creating a vicious circle where they became more and more tired. Coughing has only been recognised as a symptom of asthma in the last 20-30 years; being woken by coughing at night suggests the asthma is not well controlled. Jane Y said that she finds it helps if you have several pillows so that you are in a more elevated position for sleeping. The severity and frequency of asthma symptoms varies enormously – not everyone gets all of the symptoms and some people only experience them from time to time.

Andreane explains that not everyone experiences asthma in the same way so it’s important for health professionals to treat each person’s asthma individually.

Andreane explains that not everyone experiences asthma in the same way so it’s important for health professionals to treat each person’s asthma individually.

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Some of my attacks I don’t get breathless, I just have difficulty breathing out. How can I put it? Because some people you can [imitates someone gasping with an asthma attack] but sometimes I don’t get that, I just have a very, very, tight, tight chest. And that’s all the symptom I can get. So I’m not always, for the medical profession they have a sort of a check list, if you do this, if you do this, you do that, you do that, but not everyone meets that check list criteria every time. So I try to say to people, to the medical profession, don’t categorise a person with asthma, having standard symptoms, because each individual is separate. And their symptoms can be one or two of the same things or can be totally different.
(Also see ‘Emotions and coping’, ‘Relationships, family and friends’, ‘Support and support groups’ and ‘Managing asthma – reviews and action plans’).

Last reviewed August 2017.

 

Asthma Attack Symptoms and Early Signs of Asthma

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Does Asthma Feel Like?
• Know the Early Symptoms of Asthma
• Know the Symptoms of an Asthma Attack
• Know the Asthma Symptoms in Children
• Know About Unusual Asthma Symptoms
• Know Why Infections Trigger Asthma Symptoms
• More

Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes with increased production of sticky secretions inside the tubes. People with asthma experience symptoms when the airways tighten, inflame, or fill with mucus. Common asthma symptoms include:

• Coughing, especially at night
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness, pain, or pressure

Still, not every person with asthma has the same symptoms in the same way. You may not have all of these symptoms, or you may have different symptoms at different times. Your asthma symptoms may also vary from one asthma attack to the next, being mild during one and severe during another.

Some people with asthma may go for extended periods without having any symptoms, interrupted by periodic worsening of their symptoms called asthma attacks. Others might have asthma symptoms every day. In addition, some people may only have asthma during exercise, or asthma with viral infections like colds.

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 immediate medical help. It is important to recognize and treat even mild asthma symptoms to help you prevent severe episodes and keep asthma under better control.

See More: 10 Worst Smog Cities in America

Early warning signs are changes that happen just before or at the very beginning of an asthma attack. These signs may start before the well-known symptoms of asthma and are the earliest signs that your asthma is worsening.

In general, these signs are not severe enough to stop you from going about your daily activities. But by recognizing these signs, you can stop an asthma attack or prevent one from getting worse. Early warning signs of an asthma attack include:

• Frequent cough, especially at night
• Losing your breath easily or shortness of breath
• Feeling very tired or weak when exercising
• Wheezing or coughing after exercise
• Feeling tired, easily upset, grouchy, or moody
• Decreases or changes in lung function as measured on a peak flow meter
• Signs of a cold or allergies (sneezing, runny nose, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and headache)
• Trouble sleeping

If you have these warning signs, adjust your medication, as described in your asthma action plan.

An asthma attack is the episode in which bands of muscle surrounding the airways are triggered to tighten. This tightening is called bronchospasm. During the attack, the lining of the airways becomes swollen or inflamed and the cells lining the airways produce more and thicker mucus than normal.

All of these factors — bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production — cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty performing normal daily activities. Other symptoms of an asthma attack include:

• Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
• Coughing that won’t stop
• Very rapid breathing
• Chest pain or pressure
• Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
• Difficulty talking
• Feelings of anxiety or panic
• Pale, sweaty face
• Blue lips or fingernails

The severity of an asthma attack can escalate rapidly, so it’s important to treat these asthma symptoms immediately once you recognize them.

Without immediate treatment, such as with your asthma inhaler or bronchodilator, your breathing will become more labored. If you use a peak flow meter at this time, the reading will probably be less than 50%. Many asthma action plans suggest interventions starting at 80% of normal.

As your lungs continue to tighten, you will be unable to use the peak flow meter at all. Gradually, your lungs will tighten so there is not enough air movement to produce wheezing. You need to be transported to a hospital immediately. Unfortunately, some people interpret the disappearance of wheezing as a sign of improvement and fail to get prompt emergency care.

If you do not receive adequate asthma treatment, you may eventually be unable to speak and will develop a bluish coloring around your lips. This color change, known as cyanosis, means you have less and less oxygen in your blood. Without aggressive treatment for this asthma emergency, you may lose consciousness and eventually die.

If you are experiencing an asthma attack, follow the “Red Zone” or emergency instructions in your asthma action plan immediately. These symptoms occur in life-threatening asthma attacks. You need medical attention right away.

For more detail, see WebMD’s article Asthma Attack Symptoms.

Asthma affects as many as 10% to 12% of children in the United States and is the leading cause of chronic illness in children. For unknown reasons, the incidence of asthma in children is steadily increasing. While asthma symptoms can begin at any age, most children have their first asthma symptoms by age 5.

Not all children with asthma wheeze. Chronic coughing with asthma may be the only obvious sign, and a child’s asthma may go unrecognized if the cough is attributed to recurrent bronchitis.

For more detail, see WebMD’s Asthma in Children.

Not everyone with asthma has the usual symptoms of cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Sometimes individuals have unusual asthma symptoms that may not appear to be related to asthma. Some “unusual” asthma symptoms may include the following:

• rapid breathing
• sighing
• fatigue
• inability to exercise properly (called exercise-induced asthma)
• difficulty sleeping or nighttime asthma
• anxiety
• chronic cough without wheezing

Also, asthma symptoms can be mimicked by other conditions such as bronchitis, vocal cord dysfunction, and even heart failure.

It’s important to understand your body. Talk with your asthma doctor and others with asthma. Be aware that asthma may not always have the same symptoms in every person.

For more detail, see WebMD’s article Unusual Asthma Symptoms.

Sometimes a virus or bacterial infection is an asthma trigger. For instance, you might have a cold virus that triggers your asthma symptoms. Or your asthma can be triggered by a bacterial sinus infection. Sinusitis with asthma is common.

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infections and to call your health care provider immediately for diagnosis and treatment. For instance, you might have symptoms of increased shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or wheezing with a bronchial infection. In people who don’t have asthma, the bronchial infection may not trigger the same debilitating symptoms. Know your body and understand warning signs that an infection might be starting. Then take the proper medications as prescribed to eliminate the infection and regain control of your asthma and health.

For more detail, see WebMD’s article Infections and Asthma.

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Bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma is a very common disease. Epidemiological studies of recent years indicate that from 4 to 10% of the world’s population suffer from bronchial asthma of varying severity.

Bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma is a very common disease. Epidemiological studies of recent years indicate that from 4 to 10% of the world’s population suffer from bronchial asthma of varying severity. In children, this figure is even higher – 15%. We talked with EvroMed Clinic pulmonologist Evgenia Nikolaevna SELIVANOVOY about methods of diagnosing and treating this pathology.

Bronchial asthma is an infectious-allergic disease is a chronic lung disease in which bronchial obstruction occurs. The disease has a hereditary genetic character.

Symptoms of bronchial asthma

Cough. If you suffer from a chronic cough (lasting more than 8 weeks), be sure to consult a pulmonologist! Against the background of a prolonged cough, the risk of developing bronchial asthma is high.

Feeling of tightness in the chest, “congestion”, lack of air, as if something is preventing you from breathing.

Shortness of breath, wheezing in the chest, which may increase in a horizontal position.

Frequent colds. Often, when examined by a doctor, it turns out that the patient does not suffer from acute respiratory infections, but from asthma in combination with an allergic reaction. Asthma gives a cough, and allergies give a runny nose.

Any of the above symptoms can signal the onset of bronchial asthma. Therefore, at the slightest doubt, we recommend consulting a pulmonologist, because only a doctor can objectively assess the patient’s condition and make a diagnosis.

There are 4 degrees of severity of bronchial asthma: intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, severe persistent.

Mild persistent asthma

Symptoms occur once a week or more often, but less than 1 time per day. Exacerbations of the disease can interfere with activity and sleep. Night symptoms occur more often than 2 times a month.

Bronchial asthma of moderate severity

daily symptoms. Exacerbations disrupt activity and sleep. Nocturnal symptoms occur more than once a week.

Severe bronchial asthma

Persistent symptoms, frequent flare-ups, frequent nocturnal symptoms, physical activity limited to asthma symptoms.

Asthma therapy is selected individually, there are no universal treatment regimens. The doctor evaluates many parameters, the form, the severity of the pathology, the individual characteristics of the patient and the presence of concomitant diseases. You can’t prescribe treatment yourself on the principle of “helped by a friend” or “recommended on the Internet”! But the good news is that modern drugs are very effective, and with well-chosen therapy, you can live a full life, forgetting about seizures.

QUESTIONS TO THE DOCTOR

Is it possible to cure bronchial asthma with psychotherapy?

In some types of bronchial asthma, psychogenic mechanisms are involved, and psychotherapy is really needed for effective treatment. But not as monotherapy, but in combination with treatment by a pulmonologist!

Usually, the doctor determines the presence of a psychogenic connection by what the patient himself tells. If asthma attacks are associated with excitement, anxiety, emotional state, then the doctor may recommend a consultation with a psychoneurologist or psychotherapist.

How are asthma and allergies related?

Asthma is an infectious-allergic disease. As is clear from the definition, there is a connection with allergies. One of the most common forms of bronchial asthma is allergic. Allergies can cause the development of bronchial asthma. Also, allergens can be a trigger, a trigger for an asthma attack. Most often, bronchial asthma is associated with pollinosis (a reaction to the flowering of certain plants), with an allergy to dust and animal hair.

Such bronchial asthma can have a mild intermittent course, and disturb a person only due to the presence of an allergen. That is, only during the flowering period of a certain plant (with hay fever) or when interacting with a dog or cat (with an allergy to wool).

By the way, if you perform ASIT (allregen-specific immunotherapy) and get rid of allergies, then asthma attacks will also pass.

Do I need to change drugs for treatment?

This question has two aspects.

The first is addictive. The answer is: no, properly selected drugs can be taken constantly, they are not addictive. Bronchial receptors, which are affected by an inhalation agent, remain sensitive throughout life.

The second point is related to the fact that in recent years there has been a breakthrough in modern pharmaceuticals in terms of treating bronchial asthma, and many more effective and safe drugs have appeared. Some patients continue treatment, as they were prescribed 30 years ago, with systemic hormones, preparations of the methylxanthines group: aminophylline, theophylline, which today is considered irrelevant and ineffective.

Therefore, I would like to emphasize once again – if you have been diagnosed with the disease “bronchial asthma”, be sure to periodically visit a pulmonologist to control treatment and monitor your condition. In the first year after the diagnosis, it is recommended to visit the doctor every three months so that the doctor can choose the minimum maintenance dose of the drug. Thereafter, at least once a year.

Can asthma be cured?

It is impossible to completely cure bronchial asthma. It always remains as a chronic disease, the symptoms of which are controlled with the right therapy. The only time asthma can go away is during adolescence. During this period, a rapid hormonal restructuring of the body occurs, and a change in the hormonal background can lead to the fact that the child will have a stable remission.

By the way, in connection with a change in the hormonal background, the opposite can also happen – in people of mature age, against the background of a decrease in hormonal levels, bronchial asthma may begin.

Bronchial asthma: signs, treatment and prevention

Content

• 1 Bronchial asthma: signs, treatment and prevention
  • 1.1 Bronchial asthma disease: signs, treatment, prevention
    9010 0 1.1.1 Symptoms of bronchial asthma:
    • 1.1.2 Treatment of bronchial asthma:
    • 1. 1.3 Prevention of bronchial asthma:
  • 1.2 What is bronchial asthma?
  • 1.3 Signs of bronchial asthma
    • 1.3.1 Shortness of breath
    • 1.3.2 Dry cough
    • 1.3.3 Wheezing
    • 1.3.4 Attacks
  • 1.4 How to diagnose bronchial asthma
    • 1.4.1 Symptoms and signs
    • 1.4.2 Diagnostic measures
  • 1.5 Principles of asthma management
    • 1.5.1 Individualized care
    • 1.5.2 Condition management
    • 1.5.3 Use of inhaled medications
    • 1.5.4 Prevention of exacerbations
    • 1.5.5 Patient education

    9011 0

    • 1.6 Medicines for bronchial asthma
    • 1.7 Allergic bronchial asthma
    • 1.8 Nonallergic asthma
    • 1.9 Aspirin asthma
      • 1.9.1 Signs
      • 1.9.2 Treatment
      • 1.9.3 Prevention
    • 1.10 How to prevent an asthma exacerbation
      • 1.10.1 Avoid allergens
      • 1.10.2 Keep your home clean
      • 1. 10.3 Follow your medication regimen
      • 1.10.4 Maintain a healthy lifestyle
      • 1.10 .5 Manage your symptoms
      • 1.10.6 Don’t forget your annual check-up with a specialist
    • 1.11 Treating asthma in children
    • 1.12 Related videos:
    • 1.13 Q&A:
      • • 1.13.0.1 What is bronchial asthma?
        • 1.13.0.2 What are the symptoms of bronchial asthma?
        • 1.13.0.3 How is asthma diagnosed?
        • 1.13.0.4 How is asthma treated?
        • 1.13.0.5 Can asthma be prevented?
        • 1.13.0.6 Can beta-blockers worsen asthma symptoms?

  Learn about the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of asthma. How to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of exacerbations to live to the fullest!

  Bronchial asthma is a respiratory disease that significantly affects a person’s quality of life. It manifests itself in coughing, shortness of breath, choking attacks, and also in night attacks when the disease weakens the airways. Many people suffer from asthma around the world, but thanks to improved science, the disease can now be more easily controlled.

  Treatment of bronchial asthma should be individualized and depend on its severity. It is important to correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment. For some patients, this may be a small dose of medication, while others may require more serious medication. In the fight against bronchial asthma, it is important to monitor your health and follow the doctor’s recommendations.

  Prevention also plays an important role in the life of a person with asthma. It is necessary to monitor the level of humidity and cleanliness of indoor air, avoid contact with allergens and regularly ventilate the rooms. Some people may suffer from asthma as a result of exposure to smoke and harmful substances – such patients should avoid smoking and bad habits such as drinking alcohol.

  Bronchial asthma disease: signs, treatment, prevention

  Signs of bronchial asthma:

  Cough: occurs at night and early in the morning, may sometimes appear after physical exertion or with colds.

  Shortness of breath: occurs with physical activity, stress, exposure to allergens or cold air.

  Wheezing: occurs when exhaling and may be accompanied by heaviness in the chest.

  Treatment of bronchial asthma:

  • Inhalation preparations: glucocorticosteroids, bronchodilators, diuretics.
  • Systemic drugs: anti-inflammatory drugs, bronchodilators, antihistamines.
  • Prevention measures: weight control, active lifestyle, avoidance of contact with allergens, systematic ventilation of the premises.

  Asthma prevention:

  Asthma prevention consists of the following measures:

  1. Avoid contact with allergens;
  2. Regular ventilation of the apartment;
  3. Active lifestyle;
  4. Weight control and healthy eating;
  5. Safe storage of household chemicals and germicides.

  Various ways to prevent bronchial asthma Method Description

  Avoidance of allergens	Avoid contact with house dust, outdoor dust, animals, flowering plants, etc.
  Regular ventilation of the room	Regular ventilation of the room helps to remove tiny particles from the air that can trigger an asthma attack.
  Active lifestyle	Physical exercise, sports and regular walks in the fresh air help to strengthen the respiratory system.

  What is bronchial asthma?

  Bronchial asthma is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes, decreased patency and impaired respiratory function. With asthma, a person experiences attacks of choking, shortness of breath and coughing, which can lead to serious complications and even death.

  Asthma symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, chest wheezing and chest pressure. They can be observed separately or in combination with each other. Typically, symptoms worsen at night or during periods of weather change, and may also be triggered by exercise or stress.

  Asthma treatment aims to reduce inflammation of the bronchial tubes, widen the airways and reduce symptoms. Treatment may include the use of inhalers with bronchodilators and glucocorticosteroids, as well as the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, hospitalization and the use of oxygen may be required.

  Asthma prevention includes avoiding exposure to allergens, nicotine, environmental pollutants, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and proper diet. Prevention may also include the preventive use of drugs, such as inhalers with glucocorticosteroids or beta-blockers.

  Signs of bronchial asthma

  Shortness of breath

  Shortness of breath is the most common symptom of bronchial asthma. Patients experience a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath, a feeling of pressure in the chest, which may worsen at night or early in the morning.

  Dry cough

  Patients with asthma may experience dry cough which is aggravated by contact with allergens or other irritants. The cough may be especially violent at night or in the early morning when the bronchi are constricted and mucus secretion is difficult.

  Wheezing

  Patients with bronchial asthma may experience wheezing due to bronchial stenosis and deterioration of air permeability. Wheezing may come on suddenly and be accompanied by shortness of breath and cough.

  Attacks

  Asthma attacks are characterized by acute and intense symptoms. They can be caused by exercise, stress, weather changes, or other causes. During an attack, patients may experience severe shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing.

  • Asthma symptoms may vary from person to person.
  • It is important to see your doctor promptly if you have asthma symptoms.
  • Take care of your health and take preventive measures to reduce your risk of developing asthma.

  How to diagnose bronchial asthma

  Symptoms and signs

  Asthma presents with various symptoms, such as:

  • Frequent bouts of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
  • Rapid breathing with wheezing;
  • Feeling of tightness in the chest;
  • Cough, often runny nose and watery eyes;
  • Increased fatigue;
  • Dryness and irritation in throat and nose;
  • Night attacks of difficult breathing.

  Diagnostic measures

  Establishing an accurate diagnosis of bronchial asthma involves complex instrumental and laboratory diagnostics:

  1. Blood test for the level of immunoglobulins E;
  2. Determination of lung function (lung function) by spirometry;
  3. Manipulation of methacholine to assess lung bronchodilatory capacity;
  4. X-ray of the chest, computed tomography of the lungs – to detect a particular pathology of the respiratory system;
  5. Allergological tests – to identify possible allergic reactions that provoked the disease.

  It is important to understand that asthma is a chronic disease and self-diagnosis and treatment is not recommended. It is necessary to consult a qualified doctor and undergo a preventive examination.

  Asthma management principles

  Individual approach

  Treatment of asthma should be individualized. This means that each patient needs to choose their own set of drugs and treatments. The treatment regimen should take into account the severity of the disease, age, the presence of concomitant diseases and individual characteristics.

  Condition control

  The main goal of treatment is to control the patient’s condition and prevent exacerbations. Patients should independently monitor their condition, record data in a diary, and regularly visit a doctor to correct the treatment regimen.

  Use of inhaled medicines

  The main treatment for asthma is based on the use of inhaled medicines. They allow you to achieve maximum effect with minimal impact on the body, as they act directly on the bronchi and do not enter the bloodstream.

  Prevention of exacerbations

  In addition to the treatment of bronchial asthma, prevention of exacerbations is very important. It is necessary to avoid contact with allergens and provoking factors, regularly ventilate the premises, and monitor air quality.

  Patient education

  Patient education is an important part of treatment. Patients should know how to properly use inhalers and other medications and be able to complete monitoring diaries. This will help them control their health and prevent flare-ups.

  Asthma medicines

  Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by attacks of choking and coughing. Treatment of asthma includes the use of drugs aimed at reducing symptoms, controlling attacks and improving the quality of life of patients.

  Bronchodilators is the main class of drugs used for asthma attacks. They dilate the bronchi, improving airflow and making breathing easier. Produced in the form of inhalation aerosols or powders, which are administered through inhalers.

  • Beta-adrenergic agonists: They are the most effective means for stopping seizures. Short-acting BAMs are used in emergency cases, and long-acting ones are used prophylactically. Well-known representatives – salbutamol, formoterol;
  • Anticholinergics: Preferred for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Examples are ipratropium, tiotropium;
  • Xanthine derivatives: Used in complex forms of bronchial asthma. Representative – theophylline;

  Glucocorticosteroids is a class of drugs used to reduce airway inflammation and control asthma symptoms. They can be prescribed both inhalation and systemic. Examples are beclomethasone, fluticasone, prednisolone.

  Monoclonal antibody is a new class of drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma, which is aimed at blocking inflammatory mediators in the body. Examples are mepolizumab, benralizumab.

  Allergic bronchial asthma

  Bronchial asthma is a chronic lung disease that is manifested by asthma attacks, coughing and difficulty breathing. Allergic asthma is considered the most common type of asthma that occurs as a result of exposure to allergens in the body.

  The following methods are used to treat allergic bronchial asthma: using an inhaler to widen the airways and reduce inflammation in the lungs; taking medications, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids, which can help control the symptoms of the disease; conducting allergy tests and specific immunotherapy (vaccination notification).

  Prevention of allergic bronchial asthma includes regular ventilation of the premises, smoking cessation, regular house cleaning, use of allergen protection products, proper nutrition and strengthening of the immune system.

  Non-allergic asthma

  Non-allergic asthma is a type of asthma that is not associated with an allergic reaction. This type of asthma is caused by other environmental irritants such as chemicals, infections, or exercise.

  Treatment for non-allergic asthma includes drugs such as inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators to help widen the airways and reduce attacks. It is also important to avoid contact with environmental irritants and follow the doctor’s recommendations for disease prevention.

  • Take your doctor’s prescriptions regularly
  • Tell your doctor about any changes in your health
  • Avoid exposure to potential irritants such as chemicals or smoke successfully control their symptoms and live an active life.

    Aspirin asthma

    Signs

    Aspirin asthma (ABA) is a type of asthma that occurs in response to the use of aspirin and other drugs from the NSAID group. The main signs of AAA are:

    • Cough, especially at night and in the morning
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Noisy breathing
    • Feeling of tightness in the chest

    Symptoms may appear within a few minutes after taking aspirin or NSAIDs.

    Treatment

    Treatment of AAA includes avoidance of aspirin and other NSAIDs that are triggers for asthmatic symptoms. Instead, you can use drugs from the group of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). In addition, other asthma treatments may be used, such as:

    • Inhaled glucocorticosteroids
    • Bronchodilators
    • Sodium cromoglycate
    • Leukotriene modifiers
    • Immunotherapy

    9 0110

    Prevention

    AAA prevention includes avoiding aspirin and NSAIDs if you have been diagnosed with asthma. In addition, it is important to monitor the environment and avoid contact with allergens that are triggers for asthma.

    For the prevention of asthma in general, it is recommended:

    • Avoid smoking and harmful fumes
    • Maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet
    • Monitor the condition of the respiratory tract if you have symptoms of asthma
    • Monitor the level of environmental pollution

    Aspirin asthma PreventionTreatment

    occurs in response to the use of aspirin and NSAIDs

    avoidance of aspirin and NSAIDs, monitor the environment

    inhaled glucocorticosteroids, bronchodilators, sodium cromoglycate, leukotriene modifiers , immunotherapy

    How to prevent asthma exacerbation

    Avoid allergens

    Most people with asthma react to certain allergens, such as flower pollen, dust, mold, and tree pollen. Try to find out which allergen is causing your asthma exacerbation and avoid it whenever possible.

    Keep your home clean

    If you know you are reacting to dust or pollen, keep your home clean and tidy. Passive smoking can also affect your asthma. Get rid of smoking colleagues, friends, relatives, if possible.

    Keep your medications

    You need treatment to reduce the risk of an exacerbation. Follow the instructions given by your doctor and take all prescribed medications. If you do not notice any improvement over a period of time, talk to your doctor about dosage adjustments or changes in medication.

    Maintain a healthy lifestyle

    Experts recommend: protect your lungs from harmful substances, exercise them regularly, eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, manage stress. These recommendations may help reduce the risk of asthma exacerbation.

    Control your symptoms

    You should have a plan for what to do if your health starts to deteriorate. Make sure you understand your symptoms and know when medical attention is needed. Real health care starts with symptom control.

    Don’t forget about the annual examination by a specialist

    Bronchial asthma requires periodic examination and correction of drug therapy. Communicate with your doctor, talk about new symptoms, lifestyle changes, talk about the therapy of other doctors, and just about your doubts. The purpose of counseling is to help you know and understand your illness so that you can determine what steps you need to take to prevent it.

    Avoid allergens; Maintain a clean home; Follow medication regimen;

    Maintain a healthy lifestyle; Control your symptoms; Don’t forget your annual check-up with a specialist.

    Treatment of asthma in children

    Asthma in children is a serious disease that requires proper treatment. The main goal is to prevent seizures and facilitate respiratory processes. Treatment may include medication, physical therapy, and adherence.

    In addition, it is important to pay attention to the child’s diet and lifestyle. It is recommended to exclude heavy and fatty foods, as well as allergen foods from the diet. It is also important to carry out regular exercises to strengthen the respiratory system.

    Physical therapy, such as breathing exercises or chest massages, can also help relieve breathing and reduce inflammation.

    • Proper treatment of bronchial asthma in children requires constant medical supervision, which will help choose the most effective treatment regimen and identify the causes of attacks.
    • Strict adherence to the medication regimen and doctor’s recommendations, as well as regular checks on the function of the respiratory system.

    Related videos:

    Q&A:

    What is bronchial asthma?

    Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by periodic attacks of shortness of breath, coughing and shortness of breath. It occurs due to inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes.

    What are the symptoms of bronchial asthma?

    Asthma symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing in the chest and difficulty breathing. They can occur at different times of the day and worsen with physical activity, sudden temperature changes, stress, or the presence of allergens in the environment.

    How is asthma diagnosed?

    Diagnosis of asthma can be diagnosed with medical examinations, including patient history, physical examination, functional tests, including spirometry and peak flow, allergy testing, and chest X-ray.

    How is asthma treated?

    Treatment of asthma includes the use of inhaled beta-agonists, glucocorticosteroids, anticholinergics, mast cell stabilizers, immunomodulators, and other drugs.