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Wellness Guide

8 Common Signs and Symptoms to Know

Several signs may indicate that you are having a severe asthma attack. Here are the most common ones, and what each might feel or look like.

1. Severe Wheezing

Wheezing is a common sign of an asthma attack. It’s not typically audible to you or others, but doctors can hear it through a stethoscope, says Kwong. If your asthma attack is severe, though, you may be able to hear it. “The visible signs are a high-pitched whistling or squeaking sound when breathing out,” says Dr. Hershcovitch.

Wheezing noises are often caused by the inflammation and narrowing of airways, according to MedlinePlus.

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2. A Coughing Fit — Coughing That Won’t Stop

A dry, nonproductive cough (coughing that doesn’t produce mucus) is common with severe asthma attacks, says Hershcovitch. In medical terms, this sudden, uncontrollable coughing is called paroxysmal cough, but it’s more simply known as a coughing fit. It often feels like you can’t catch your breath, and it happens when your airways are inflamed.

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3. Rapid Breathing

During a severe asthma attack, breathing can become rapid. “Feeling short of breath, as if you can’t breathe deeply or need to breathe fast to get enough air” is common, Kwong says.

Fast breathing paired with chest retractions (when skin around the neck, chest, or rib bones appears sunken when inhaling) is a medical emergency. They’re rarer in adults, but still require immediate medical attention.

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4. Feelings of Panic or Anxiety

Strained breathing can trigger feelings of anxiety or panic. This fear, alongside other asthma symptoms, may indicate a severe attack. Stress and anxiety are also common asthma attack triggers, as breathing often changes when you have strong emotions, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

5. Chest Tightness or Pressure

During a severe asthma attack, you might feel chest tightness and pressure, says Hershcovitch. “People will often be clutching their chest, leaning forward, and hunching their shoulders over to increase pressure on expiration,” or breathing out, he adds.

This feeling is different from throat tightness, which suggests other causes, says Kwong.

6. Difficulty Talking

In a severe asthma attack, speech is often broken and comes in short sentences or single words, says Hershcovitch. Difficulty speaking usually stems from shortness of breath. This type of severe asthma attack is called status asthmaticus, and it can develop over hours or days, according to Cleveland Clinic.

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7. Blue Lips or Fingernails

“Getting blue lips or fingernails is uncommon but can be a sign of a severe asthma attack,” says Kwong. “It means that a person is experiencing poor circulation or there isn’t enough oxygen content in their blood.” This bluish hue, known as cyanosis, can happen when your lungs are struggling to get enough air.

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Cyanosis is a dangerous sign of a severe asthma attack, and it requires immediate emergency care, says Hershcovitch.

8. Pale, Sweaty Face

Some people might develop a pale face and sweaty skin during a severe asthma attack. Gasping for air can be physically taxing and cause sweating, while less oxygen can cause a pale or grayish complexion.

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