Asthma symptoms are an early indication that something is amiss with your respiratory tract. These attacks can be terrifying, making it difficult to breathe and perform physical activities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 25 million Americans have asthma. It is a common chronic condition amongst children. 1 in every 12 children has asthma.
Globally, asthma affects about 235 million people, including children and adults. Its symptoms can be well-controlled and managed by lifestyle choices and regular medications. However, in some cases, they can get worse suddenly, requiring immediate medical attention.
Read on to discover some of the common asthma symptoms and how you can manage them:
What Are Asthma Symptoms?
People can develop asthma, and it can affect them in different ways. When individuals have their asthma under control, it can have few or no symptoms. Asthma symptoms are the same for both non-allergic and allergic types.
Here are some of the most common asthma symptoms:
- Wheezing. This shrilling sound from the airways indicates that you have trouble breathing.
- Recurring or persistent coughing. This often occurs early in the morning or at night. A primary symptom of asthma is coughing, mainly in children, and may sometimes be the only sign of asthma.
- Shortness of breath. This feels like you aren’t able to get adequate air into your lungs and you may find it challenging to speak, sleep, or eat.
- Increased mucus production. The production and accumulation of phlegm or thick fluid in the airways can restrict breathing.
- Chest tightness. This creates an unpleasant sensation of pressure or heaviness in the chest, making it difficult to breathe.
- Loss of Sleep. You are not able to sleep properly through the night due to breathing issues.
- Difficulty breathing when performing physical activity. You have trouble breathing when engaging in physical activities.
Not everyone with asthma may experience all of the aforementioned symptoms. Moreover, the severity of symptoms can also differ depending on each individual.
However, you can manage your asthma by being aware of some of the asthma attack’s warning signs, avoiding things that can trigger an attack, and following your healthcare provider’s advice.
How Can You Manage Your Asthma Symptoms?
To manage your asthma, take your medicine as prescribed, and avoid things that can aggravate your symptoms or trigger an attack. Everyone has different medications and treatments when it comes to treating asthma. Asthma medicines can also have side effects. However, most of the side effects go away and are mild.
Asthma medication consists of two different types— long-term control and quick relief. With long-term medicines, you have milder and fewer attacks, but they might not help you while experiencing an asthma attack. Moreover, there are some medicines that you inhale while others are taken as a pill.
On the other hand, quick-relief medicines help you manage the symptoms of asthma attacks. Always ask your doctor about the medicines’ side effects. Also, you can control, manage, and develop an asthma action plan with help from a healthcare professional.
Stay on top of your asthma management plan and work alongside your asthma nurse or doctor to make sure you religiously take medications to control your symptoms. Also, it is imperative to make practical lifestyle choices such as not smoking, exercising, and eating healthy.
You can also benefit from asthma breathing techniques to help you manage asthma symptoms, and it can be conducive if an asthma attack occurs unexpectedly.
Nebulizers and inhalers also have advantages over oral injections and medications when it comes to managing the condition as they deliver medicine directly to your airways. Additionally, they may have fewer side effects than other asthma medications.
You may be able to resolve mild attacks spontaneously or sometimes it may also require medication, generally quick-acting inhalers. Furthermore, you can shorten more severe symptoms and attacks with appropriate treatment that includes short-acting beta agonists or oral corticosteroids.
And most importantly, it is imperative to keep track of your symptoms as it’s an essential aspect of managing and controlling asthma.
Contact The Asthma Management Experts At Imperial Center Family Medicine
While asthma can affect children and adults differently, various medications are available to manage and treat asthma. Moreover, lifestyle changes may also help alleviate asthma flare-ups. This can include exercise, stress management, or dietary changes.
Reach out to the asthma management experts at Imperial Center Family Medicine to develop a viable treatment plan to alleviate and control your asthma.