From Coughing to Wheezing: Recognizing the Signs of Asthma Beyond the Basics

Published on: 18th September 2024
Medically reviewed by: Dr Huda Hassan Khan

Asthma is a lung disease. It occurs due to narrowed and swollen airways from excess mucus. The inflammation of the lung’s lining makes it hard to breathe, causing chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Being a chronic condition, you can keep it under control through medicines, inhalers, home remedies, and lifestyle changes. Let us further discuss asthma symptoms, causes, treatment, and more.

Understanding Asthma: Causes and Triggers

Researchers have found no particular cause of asthma. However, some triggers make asthma symptoms worse:

Air pollution, living in regions susceptible to poisonous gases such as industrial areas.
Exposure to tobacco smoke, toxins, and viruses can make you vulnerable to symptoms of asthma easily.
Strong emotions such as sadness, laughter, stress, anxiety, etc.
Family history of asthma or allergic diseases indicating disturbed respiratory system.
Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Infections such as flu, cold, and sinusitis may trigger signs of asthma in adults and children.
Exercise-induced breathing issues are usually seen during playtime or tough physical activity.
Certain medications such as aspirin. Sulfites and other food preservatives in pickles, shrimp, bottled juices, and dried fruits.
Allergens like pet dander, mold, dust mites, and pollen are what causes asthma commonly.
Sudden shifts in weather from cold to dry, hot, and humid conditions.
Irritants such as perfumes, air fresheners, or cleaning solutions.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Asthma?

Due to inflammation of the bronchial tube, signs of asthma go beyond difficulty breathing, coughing fits, and tiredness. Here are some of the common and more severe asthma symptoms to note:

Heavy retraction with the area between rib and neck compressing due to breathing troubles.
Sweaty and pale face, especially during an asthma attack resulting in the skin/face/fingernails turning blue.
Snoring consistently and trouble sleeping, lead to sleeping disorders.
Less energy for activities, fatigue, and tiredness are other symptoms of asthma to consider.
Feelings of panic, nervousness, and anxiety along with extreme emotions.
Wheezing, a whistling sound because of strained breathing and blocked airways.
Coughing, especially after waking up or during sleep are also common signs of asthma.
Rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and the tendency to hyperventilate.
The inability to speak in complete sentences happens when asthma symptoms get severe.
A growing chest tightness and pain with pressure building around the ribs.

Effective Asthma Treatment Options

Asthma is a life-long condition. It does not go away but you can control the asthma symptoms by avoiding the following activities:

Quick-relief Asthma Treatment

Medicines include Short-acting beta2-agonists (SABAs), Systemic Corticosteroids, and Short-acting anticholinergics. They open the airways faster and ease breathing troubles.
Available as an injection or oral medicine, bronchodilators act quickly within minutes to widen airways by relaxing the tightened muscles. It reduces asthma symptoms and is often taken with a nebulizer.
You can also use bronchodilators with an inhaler for asthma so that a controlled dose of the medicine goes into your system at your own pace.
If you are active in sports and work a lot, then use an inhaler for asthma 20 minutes prior as it will soothe your airways.

Long-Term Asthma Treatment

Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to fight inflammation of the airways. Another option is long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs) that prevent the narrowing of the bronchial path. You can take it with inhaled steroids or corticosteroids.
You may use the hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) inhaler for asthma including with a spacer. This helps breathe the medicine in mist form and relaxes neck and chest muscles tightening.
Long-acting bronchodilators in combination with anti-inflammatory medications. Anticholinergics work in the same way to expand airways to let more air in.

Other Asthma Treatment Considerations

If you think a person is having an asthma attack, then help them use a nebulizer or inhaler for asthma immediately. Make them sit upright beforehand and check the number of puffs to administer by reading about the dosage.
Doctors can prescribe biologics to prevent severe asthma symptoms in adults. The treatment targets certain antibodies that cause the inflammation. It is provided in the form of injection or infusion.
Depending on the signs of asthma, your healthcare provider may suggest bronchial thermoplasty, a new procedure. It uses a heated electrode within the airways and reduces the muscle size in the surroundings to prevent its tightening.

What Should Asthma Patients Avoid?

Asthma is a life-long condition. It does not go away but you can control the asthma symptoms by avoiding the following activities:

Not wearing a face mask when going out during an outbreak of respiratory illness due to a contagious pathogen.
Being in closed places for a long time makes it harder to breathe.
Working in hazardous conditions that promote breathing problems.
Overexerting physically during work, play, or exercise.
Drinking too much alcohol if you already show symptoms of asthma.
Smoking or being near someone who is currently smoking.
Being in a place high in air pollution and toxins.
Using irritants and being in proximity of allergens.
Consuming food items you are allergic to, risking blockage or inflammation of airways/
Being in a space with very dry air without a humidifier.

Physiotherapy at Home by First Response Healthcare

For those managing asthma symptoms, First Response Healthcare’s physiotherapy at home service delivers vital support right to your doorstep. Our skilled physiotherapists offer specialized care to alleviate asthma symptoms through targeted breathing exercises and techniques designed to improve lung function. With Physiotherapy at Home, you can address issues like wheezing and coughing more effectively, making it easier to manage your asthma and enhance your overall well-being.

Conclusion: Keeping a Check on Asthma Symptoms

According to the Dubai Health Authority, in 2019, The International Family Medicine Conference & Exhibition(IFM) was held with the intention of delivering better healthcare services and building stronger medical tourism in the UAE. One of the agendas included was about discussing the prevalence of asthma in the Middle East.

Thus, most countries worldwide are tackling the growing concern of asthma and other respiratory diseases, which saw a spike after the recent pandemic. Thus, we should also try and manage asthma better in case the symptoms persist, and prevent the condition in the best possible way.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What Are the Early Warning Signs of Asthma?

The early warning signs of asthma are trouble sleeping, frequent coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing during laughing or exercising, etc.

Q. Can Asthma Symptoms Change Over Time?

Yes, asthma symptoms may change over time. The symptoms depend on your health, age, lifestyle, exposure to pollutants, and allergens.

Q. How Can You Tell the Difference Between Wheezing and Asthma?

Wheezing is a whistling sound when you breathe from constricted airways and is one of the common symptoms of asthma and could be a symptom of other respiratory problems too. However, asthma is a lung disease.

Q. Can Asthma Go Away Naturally?

No, asthma does not go away naturally. It is a chronic and progressive condition that requires ongoing management. Effective control of asthma typically involves medication prescribed by a physician.

Q. Can Children Develop Asthma, and How Can It Be Managed?

Yes, childhood asthma happens. It may affect children before the age of 5. Medicines and an inhaler for asthma are some of the ways to manage the condition.

References and Citations:

Dubai Health Authority – 2019 IFM Conference

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Medicines include Short-acting beta2-agonists (SABAs), Systemic Corticosteroids, and Short-acting anticholinergics. They open the airways faster and ease breathing troubles.
Available as an injection or oral medicine, bronchodilators act quickly within minutes to widen airways by relaxing the tightened muscles. It reduces asthma symptoms and is often taken with a nebulizer.
You can also use bronchodilators with an inhaler for asthma so that a controlled dose of the medicine goes into your system at your own pace.
If you are active in sports and work a lot, then use an inhaler for asthma 20 minutes prior as it will soothe your airways.