Asthma
Symptoms of asthma
Symptoms may include wheezing which is a noise made when breathing out,
although, in severe cases, it can also be heard when breathing in. Patients
tend to have difficulty with breathing which can cause great distress
and a lot of muscular effort is required to make the lungs work. There
may be a lot of anxiety associated with an episode of asthma.
In milder cases there may be a persistent, tickly cough which is worse
with exercise or in cold weather. Symptoms are often worse at night and
when lying down.
Some patients have permanent shortness of breath made worse by various
triggers such as infection or an inhaled allergen such as pollen. There
may also be a tendency to repeated chest infections which can cause further
symptoms and distress.
Diagnosis of Asthma
Diagnosis is based on the history, including family history of allergic
or breathing problems. Acute episodes are usually straightforward to
interpret but chronic, low-grade symptoms can be difficult. A peak flow
meter can measure the degree of difficulty in breathing out and is a
good indicator of the severity of an episode. These are often prescribed
for patients to use at home in order to assess the need to present for
or increase treatment. Well managed asthma involves the use of a treatment
plan which explains actions to take depending on the peak flow score.
A better assessment involves blowing into a spirometer which gives a
much broader idea of lung function. This may be available in some GP
surgeries but often involves assessment in a hospital under the care
of a chest physician.
