Statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 25 million Americans have asthma. This includes 8.4% of children and 7.7% of adults. Every day, 10 Americans die from asthma, and the annual economic cost burden on the economy is about $82 billion. Many people are unaware that they have asthma because they don’t suffer severe symptoms.

What is asthma?
It is a condition where the respiratory passages become narrowed and swollen, and they produce excessive mucus. This results in severe breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, and coughing. A characteristic wheezing sound is produced while breathing.

It is a chronic condition that has no permanent cure, but the symptoms can be managed. The causes are not clearly understood, but they include a combination of genetic, environmental, physiological, and psychological factors.

The different types of asthma include:

• Allergic
• Exercise-induced
• Cough-variant
• Occupational
• Night-time
• Non-allergic
• Persistent/severe

Doctors and respiratory disease specialists can help identify the type of asthma you have and provide the appropriate treatment.

Typical symptoms
Recognizing some of the unmissable signs and symptoms of asthma can help in early diagnosis and management of symptoms. Many of these symptoms may be persistent in some people most of the time. It’s essential for parents of children who are asthma patients to recognize the early warning signs in time, as the severity of the attack can escalate rapidly in children. Children usually develop asthma before they turn five, and at that age, they may be unable to communicate their feelings accurately.

Early signs may differ from person to person, and sometimes, the attack occurs without warning. But chronic sufferers learn to recognize signs 24-48 hours before an attack. Doctors use a peak-flow meter to check lung function during an attack to measure the severity.

Early signs:

• Skin irritation/eczema flare-up
• Night coughs
• Dry or sore throat
• Sneezing/coughing without apparent cause
• Fatigue
• Itching/watering in Eyes
• Headache/fever
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood changes
• Thirst and dryness
• Congested/runny nose
• Flushed/pale face
• Constant throat clearing

Warning signs:

• Tightness in chest
• Breathing difficulty
• Fast breathing
• Breathlessness/wheezing
• Difficulty in talking and walking
• Difficulty in concentrating

Medical emergency signs of attack:

• Disorientation
• Chest pain
• Severe whistling or wheezing sound while breathing
• The skin around rib-cage and neck pulled tightly in
• Trouble with walking
• Rapid heartbeat/pulse
• Flared nostrils while breathing
• Hunched shoulders
• Bluish tinge on lips and nails
• Chest/stomach and pushes out while breathing
• Phlegm while coughing
• Uncontrollable coughing
• Heavy perspiration
• Symptoms persist after inhaler is applied
• Expansion of chest during inhalation but no contraction during exhalation

It’s crucial to maintain an asthma journal to document each episode, along with a detailed description of food consumed, places visited, emotional triggers, exposure to pollution, etc. The number of school or workdays missed due to symptoms can also give your doctor clues about the severity of the condition. You can also record the number of doctor visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalization incidents, if any, in your asthma journal.