How To Recognize The Signs Of Asthma
Recognizing the signs of asthma is the first step to getting treated and taken care of. Sadly, about half of all asthma cases are not properly diagnosed. This may be one of the leading causes of death among asthma sufferers: ignorance.
On the other hand, lots of people, especially children, get misdiagnosed as having asthma. It can be harmful for someone to take asthma medications if they are not actually suffering from the disease.
This is why it is so important to see a medical professional and monitor the treatment to see if it works.
Here are some signs that indicate you MIGHT have asthma:
Everybody coughs when something is in our airways that shouldn't be. It's a natural reaction when your respiratory system is irritated. But, if coughing is constant, or occurs at certain times a day, you may have asthma.
In general, if you cough about four or five times a day, you are coughing too much. If you feel a tickle in the back of your throat that you can't cough away, this might also be a sign. Also, if you wake up coughing for no apparent reason, you should talk to you doctor.
Wheezing refers to a high pitched whistling sound when you breathe. This means that something is blocking your airways, and the whistle is the sound of air going through the narrowed pathways.
It's difficult to detect wheezing because it comes and goes. You may not hear wheezing all of the time, but if you notice wheezing often, see your doctor.
This is one of the tell-tale signs of asthma. Asthma sufferers have trouble getting air. You may experience a feeling that you can't catch your breath. This is common during an asthma attack.
Shortness of breath may also occur with a feeling of tightness around the chest. Many asthma sufferers report also feeling panicky during an attack.
If you often have nasal congestion or dripping when you don't have a cold, it may be asthma. This could be caused by any number of environmental factors, such as mold or dust, as well, so see your doctor and determine the cause before you begin treatment.
Asthma sufferers often experience a feeling of tightness around the chest. This may not occur all of the time. You might feel it at night, or after exercising.
What this means is that your chest cavity has unusually low pressure. It is called "intercoastal retraction." What you are feeling is your muscles pushing into the space between your ribs.
If you experience any chest pain at all, you should see a doctor immediately to determine the cause.
One cause of asthma is genetics. There are a variety of environmental factors which can cause asthma in certain individuals, but if there is asthma in your family, you run a higher risk.
If you suffer from hay fever, rhinitis, eczema or other allergies, you may also be asthmatic and not know it. These respiratory illnesses often go hand in hand. This is why asthma is often difficult to diagnose.
If you suffer from any of the above symptoms, see your doctor. Keep a diary of your symptoms. If you keep track of when you feel shortness of breath, of when your stuffy nose comes and goes, this can help the doctor diagnose it properly. They can also determine what might be triggering your allergic reactions.
Misdiagnosis is common. After you begin treatment for asthma, check for results. If the treatment doesn't help, this is a sign that you may have been misdiagnosed. In this case, talk to your doctor about the appropriate next step.
