Dealing with Adult Asthma Symptoms

Asthma is a lung disease characterized by an inflammation of the airways. Adult asthma symptoms are very easy to recognize.

This inflammation makes the asthma sufferer’s airways smaller, therefore making it harder for air to come in and out of the lungs feely. The mechanisms that cause asthma are hard to understand and can vary from person to person. It is not uncommon for asthma sufferers to have allergies, although not everyone with allergies has asthma.

To date, there is no known direct cause of asthma. Many doctors believe that asthma can arise from a variety of factors. Some of the factors that can contribute to or cause asthma are genetics and environmental and biological triggers.

These triggers can include one’s diet, hormonal changes, allergens and infections. After exposure to an asthma trigger, the asthma sufferer’s body symptoms can progress over a period of time.

This can be hours or days. Often times, an asthma sufferer has seriously obstructed airways by the time treatment is administered. This treatment can be in the form of an oral asthma medication or medical treatment.

Asthma is a lung disease that can vary in severity from person to person. The factors that I listed above usually contribute to the severity of adult asthma symptoms.

The degree of asthma severity can range from occasional bouts of feeling breathless to a more serious condition that involves wheezing and a resistance to medication.

As you can see, asthma sufferer’s symptoms can be either mild to severe, or can fluctuate between extremes.

The following are Adult Asthma Signs and Symptoms:

 Shortness or Breath. Shortness or breath, or dyspnea is a sign of an asthma attack. This is often a very troubling symptom of asthma sufferers and can cause a lot of panic during an asthma attack. The severity of shortness of breath does not directly reflect the functionality of the asthma sufferer’s lungs. Often times, this symptom can go unnoticed. When this happens, the adult asthma sufferer can be at risk for serious and even life-threatening attacks. Adult asthma sufferers that are less conscious of shortness of breath usually tend to be those that have had asthma for a longer period of time, are older and female.

 Coughing. Coughing is also another well-recognized sign of an adult asthma attack. Often times, a nonproductive cough is the first symptom of the onset of asthma.  Tightness in the chest. Chest tightness or pain in the chest is a particularly distressing adult asthma symptom. The presence of chest tightness without the presence of other adult asthma symptoms can be an early warning sign of a more serious attack.

 Chest Pain. Chest pain is a prevalent symptom of adult asthma sufferers. Pain in the chest often occurs in three-quarters of adults suffering from asthma.

 Difficulty Talking. Difficulty talking, coupled with the feeling of tightened neck muscles is another sign of an adult asthma attack. With this symptom, talking can be very difficult or even impossible.

 Rapid Heart Rate and Sweating. Adults that are having an asthma attack may often experience an increased heart rate and profuse sweating. This is usually coupled with the other symptoms of an adult asthma attack.

If you suspect that you are suffering from adult asthma, please see a doctor immediately. Discuss with your doctor your adult asthma symptoms and any precipitating factors you think may be contributing to your asthma. Before you see your doctor, try to keep a record of your symptoms.

In your record, pay close attention to the seasons (spring, summer etc.) in which your adult asthma symptoms are more frequent. Also, try to take note of whether or not exercise, a recent illness or even exposure to cold air has caused an attack.

Let your doctor know about your family history with asthma or other allergic disorders. Adult asthma symptoms can also be caused by exposure to certain chemicals, so let your doctor know about any contact you have had with chemicals you feel have acted as an irritant to your asthma symptoms.

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