Health's Book

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
o Comes in episodes
o May be worse at night or in early morning
o May go away on its own
o Gets better when using drugs that open the airways (bronchodilators)
o Gets worse when breathing in cold air
o Gets worse with exercise
o Gets worse with heartburn (reflux)
o 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