Nearly 18 million adults in the country suffer from asthma, which is a condition wherein the airways become swollen and inflamed, causing difficulty in breathing. Often, people do not know if they are asthmatic. Listed below are a few common asthma symptoms:

• Interrupted sleep
• Coughing or wheezing
• Pale, sweaty face
• Blue lips or fingernails
• Restlessness
• Watery eyes
• Headache coupled with fever
• Runny, stuffy or congested nose

Causes
An overly sensitive immune system results in inflamed and swollen bronchial tubes, especially when exposed to some of the below-mentioned triggers. The effect of these triggers differs from individual to individual.

• Pollen
• Tobacco smoke
• mold and dust mites
• Upper respiratory infections
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Inhaling cold and dry air
• Stress

For most, the severe asthma signs and symptoms can turn worse with a respiratory infection such as a cold.

Asthma attacks are usually the result of severe asthma symptoms getting worse when left unnoticed. It can have a negative impact on our daily routine and can interrupt everyday activities such as school, sleep, work, exercise, etc. If not kept under control, it can have a significant impact on the quality of your life and can even lead to respiratory arrest and death.

What to do when you notice severe asthma signs?

• Sit up straight and try to maintain your calm
• Keep your reliever inhaler handy and take a puff every 30-60 seconds
• Even after taking 10 puffs if you don’t feel batter, dial 999 for an ambulance
• Repeat step 2 if you find the ambulance taking more than 15 minutes to arrive

Severe asthma symptoms can change over time; thus, it is important to seek regular support from the doctor in order to keep them at bay. Adjustments to the treatment plan are also necessary to keep daily symptoms under control. If not kept under control, the persistent lung inflammation can flare up anytime, causing a severe attack. It is best to seek medical support if you face any of the following severe asthma symptoms:

• Shortage of breath, especially early in the morning and night
• Tightness in the chest muscles whilst talking
• Bluish tint on lips
• Slow or slight improvement even after using a dose of a rescue inhaler
• With a peak flow meter, you see low peak flow readings

Thus, it is important to take the prescribed asthma medicines even if you are not experiencing any symptoms.