Symptoms:

• Cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production
• Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise or activity
• Pulling in of the skin between the ribs when breathing (intercostal retractions)
• Wheezing
  • Usually begins suddenly
  • Comes in episodes
  • May go away on its own
  • May be worse at night or in early morning
  • Gets worse when breathing in cold air
  • Gets worse with exercise
  • Gets worse with heartburn (reflux)
  • Gets better when using drugs that open the airways (bronchodilators)

Emergency symptoms:

• Bluish color to the lips and face
• Decreased level of alertness such as severe drowsiness or confusion, during an asthma attack
• Extreme difficulty breathing
• Rapid pulse
• Severe anxiety due to shortness of breath
• Sweating

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Abnormal breathing pattern --breathing out takes more than twice as long as breathing in
• Breathing temporarily stops
• Chest pain
• Nasal flaring
• Tightness in the chest

Signs and tests:

Allergy testing may be helpful in identifying allergens in patients with persistent asthma. Common allergens include pet dander, dust mites, cockroach allergens, molds, and pollens. Common respiratory irritants include tobacco smoke, pollution, and fumes from burning wood or gas.

The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs. Asthma-related sounds may be heard. However, lung sounds are usually normal between asthma episodes.

Tests may include:

• Arterial blood gas
• Blood tests to measure eosinophil count (a type of white blood cell) and IgE (a type of immune system protein called an immunoglobulin)
• Chest x-ray
• Lung function tests
• Peak flow measurements