Asthma affects individuals in many ways. Physical
effects can range from an occasional cough to
potentially life-threatening airway
constriction so that an individual cannot breathe. The frequency
and seriousness of asthma symptoms is dependent on how
well a person’s asthma is controlled (with medicines and other
measures) as well as how severe that individual’s asthma
was to begin with.
Asthma symptoms and severity vary substantially from person to
person. Most individuals with
asthma do not have symptoms constantly. Common asthma symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Thightness in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing or wheezing at night
Asthma symptoms mean that asthma is not being controlled sufficiently,
or that an acute asthma episode may be starting. Identifying the
type, amount and time of day when the symptoms occur will help you
determine the level of severity the patient is experiencing (National
Heart, Lung, & and Blood Institute, 2002).
Select the Triggers tab to continue. |
This
learning activity was developed by Christine Pintz, FNP, MSN, coordinator
of the Family Nurse Practitioner program at the George Washington
University, in collaboration with Partnerships for Training, an
Association of Academic Health Centers program funded by the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation. |