Signs and Symptoms of Asthma

Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and/or cough in recurrent episodes. Symptoms can develop slowly, or suddenly and unexpectedly, creating great distress. Dyspnea or difficult breathing is the predominant symptom and may be the most common reason patients seek urgent care. Dyspnea was found to be related to demographic variables in a predictive model of dyspnea in asthmatics. Investigations of the role of dyspnea and associated respiratory sensations in mediating the outcomes of other chronic pulmonary conditions show that episodes of increased dyspnea severity have large, independent effects on the quality of life and functional status in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It has been assumed that the same may be true for people with asthma, but this assumption has not been tested. Only aspects of acute dyspnea in asthma have been reported.