Asthma: Early Symptoms

Winter has arrived and has brought wit it the mandatory sniffles, coughs, clods, allergies and respiratory diseases of which the most common is asthma.

Asthma is a condition in which the patient has oversensitive air tubes that react to a variety of allergens, viral infections, air pollution, or change in temperature and become constricted, thus leading to tightness in the chest, wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing.

The following symptoms occur hours or days before audible wheezing or before an attack is fully in progress; these early symptoms vary a great deal among individuals:

• Mood Changes:
Aggressive
Overactive
Grouchy
Tired
Easily upset

• Changes in Facial Features:
Dark circles under eyes
Pale face
Flared nostrils

• Verbal Complaints:
Fatigue
Tight chest
Chest filling up
Chest hurts
Dry mouth

• Breathing Changes:
Coughing
Taking deep breaths
Breathing through mouth

• Other Changes:
Listlessness
Hoarseness in voice
Swollen face
Quickening pulse

When one spots these early symptoms, rest and relax, drink warm liquids and use medicines as prescribed for an attack.