Signs And Symptoms Of Asthma (Asthma Clinical Features)

It is important to know about the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma if you or your child have asthma. If you know the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma, you would be able to prevent an asthma attack by treating your asthma properly on time. So, understanding asthma signs and symptoms (clinical features) is important.

Signs And Symptoms Of Asthma (Asthma Clinical Features)

Following are signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma:

1) Coughing:

 

• Cough due to asthma is usually worse in the morning, or in the night, making it difficult to sleep.

•  Cough due to asthma is non-productive (no sputum).

•  If a cough persists for more than 3 weeks, it should be investigated.

2)  Wheezing:

• Wheezing is a high-pitched  whistling or squeaky sound that occurs when you breathe.

• Wheezing occurs when the airways are narrowed or compressed.

• Wheezing is the most common symptom of asthma. 

• The sound of wheezing is most obvious when breathing out (exhaling), but may be heard when taking a breath (inhaling).

3)  Chest tightness:

  

• It feels like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.

• Chest tightness occurs when the airways are narrowed and the patient is unable to move air in and out of lungs.

4) Shortness of breath:

  

Shortness of breath means that you have difficulty in breathing or you feel breathless. You may feel like you can't get air out of your lungs. In medical terms, it is called "'dyspnea". Its hard to describe both for the patients and the doctors as what shortness of breath feels like. People describe it differently in the following ways:

1. I feel "air hungry".
2. I am "unable to catch my breath".
3. I feel like "Gasping for breath"
4. I feel like "Suffocation" or "smothering" 

Some things you must know about signs and symptoms of asthma

1) The signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma may occur during the day or at night; the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma may disturb your sleep if these occur at night.

2) The signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma are often worse at night or in the early morning, or in response to exercise or cold air

3) All asthma patients may not have all the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma. Likewise, if you have all the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma you may not necessarily have asthma; you may be suffering from some other disease instead of asthma. Only your doctor can tell you if you have asthma or not after examining you for asthma and doing some investigations for asthma.

4) The signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma usually start after you are exposed to asthma triggers; it means that you must avoid asthma triggers to prevent yourself from asthma attack. So knowing asthma triggers is as important as knowing asthma signs and symptoms.

5) The severity of signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma varies in different asthma patients, and even in the same patient over time.

6) Once you develop the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma, you must see the doctor, or you must at least take the asthma medicines you already have. This is because your asthma signs and symptoms would become severe with time if you don't treat them properly on time, and severe asthma symptoms can be fatal. If you have mild asthma symptoms, it doesn't mean you can't have asthma attack. Any asthma patient can have asthma attack.

7) With proper asthma treatment, its not difficult to control the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma.

Asthma classification based on severity of asthma signs and symptoms

Asthma is classified on the basis of severity of signs and symptoms (clinical features). Asthma patients are treated according to the type of asthma they have. Its easy for the patient himself to determine which type of asthma he has. Following are the types of asthma based on signs and symptoms (clinical features):

1) Mild intermittent asthma:

• In this case, the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma are present two or less than two days per week.

• The signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma last only for a few hours to a few weeks.

• The severity of signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma varies but, there are no asthma signs and symptoms (clinical features) between the attacks.

2) Mild persistent asthma:

In this case, the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma are present more than two days per week but, not every day.

3) Moderate persistent asthma:

 

In this case, the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma are present every day.

4) Severe persistent asthma:

In this case, the signs and symptoms (clinical features) of asthma are present every day, throughout the day.

Asthma Causes - What Causes Asthma (Asthma Etiology)

What causes asthma is not fully known. Inspite of advances in the medicine, we still don't exactly know the causes (etiology) of asthma.. We, however, do have some evidence about several suggested factors which may be the cause (etiology) of asthma. Whatever the cause (etiology) of asthma is, one thing is common for all asthma patients; there is constriction of the airways (the passages which transport air into and out of the lungs). Also, irrespective of the cause (etiology) of asthma, the symptoms of asthma are the same in all asthma patients.

Understanding the causes (etiology) of asthma is not only important for preventing asthma (if you don't have asthma) but, it also plays a key role in preventing the asthma symptoms from getting worse (if you already have asthma). So, understanding causes (etiology) of asthma is a must, especially if you or your child already have asthma.

The suspected causes (etiology) of asthma cause asthma in some people but, not in others. Why some people develop asthma because of these factors and not others is still not known.

Though less is known about the causes (etiology) of asthma, it is widely believed that asthma is caused by interplay between your genetics and some environmental factors (described below). It means that two factors play main role in the development of asthma:

• Your genetics

• Exposure to some specific environmental factors

Now lets throw some light on the possible causes of asthma.

Possible causes of asthma (asthma etiology)

The Hygiene Hypothesis - Asthma Causes

According to this interesting hypothesis, reduced exposure to a wide variety of different bacteria and virus types in modern societies deprives our immune system of the ability to distinguish between harmless and potentially harmful irritants. This hypothesis blames our "super-clean world" to be a possible cause (etiology) of asthma. To say this in other words "it is exposure to germs that actually prevents asthma".

This theory is supported by the fact that children living in less hygienic conditions tend to have lower incidences of asthma. 

Additionally, studies which show that upper respiratory tract infections are protective against asthma risk also tend to show that lower respiratory tract infections conversely tend to increase the risk of asthma

Genetics - Asthma Causes

Asthma runs in families which suggests that genetics may be a cause (etiology) of asthma. It means that if you have asthma it is likely that:

• One or both of your parents might have asthma.

• One or more of your siblings might have asthma.

• You may pass the asthma disease to your children.

Heredity accounts for about three-fifths of all cases of asthma. If you have asthma, your children are three to six times more at risk of developing asthma than the people whose parents don't have asthma.

Gender - Causes Of Asthma

Before puberty, asthma is more common in males than females. But after puberty, asthma becomes more common in females than females. Probably hormones are responsible for this (some hormones differ between males and females). But it is still not known which hormones affect asthma.

Respiratory Infections - Causes Of Asthma

Though the hygiene hypothesis says that reduced exposure to germs is a cause (etiology) of virus, there is also some evidence which shows that exposure to some viruses may cause asthma.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes bronchiolitis in children; after bronchiolitis some children are known to develop asthma, which suggests that Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may be a cause of asthma.

Respiratory infections such as rhinovirus, chlamydia pneumonie, and Bordetella pertussis cause asthma exacerbations.

Obesity - Asthma Causes

Obesity may be a cause (etiology) of asthma; it is supported by the facts that:

• Asthma is more common in obese and overweight people.

• Asthma is more severe in obese and overweight people.

Studies have shown that if an asthma patient loses weight, it not only decreases asthma symptoms in them but also reduce dependence on corticosteroids (asthma medications).

Vitamin D Deficiency - Asthma Causes

Though not confirmed yet, it is suggested that vitamin D deficiency may be a cause (etiology) of asthma. It is supported by two facts:

1. Asthma involves inflammation of airways, and vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Asthma is more common in people living in parts of the world with lower vitamin D intakes.Obesity
   

Air Pollution - Causes Of Asthma

It has been observed that the incidence of asthma tends to be higher in people living in a polluted environment.

Lack Of Exercise - Causes Of Asthma

Apart from other benefits, exercise makes your airways stronger, thus making it more resistant to the harmful effects of asthma triggers.

Whatever the cause (etiology) of asthma is, the signs and symptoms of asthma are the same in all patients. Likewise, the treatment (management) of asthma is the same for all asthma patients irrespective of the cause (etiology) of asthma.