Watch for These 6 Asthma Warning Signs

Mayday, mayday, mayday! A flare may be on the horizon, and it could be triggered by your body’s changing levels of condition-based asthma triggers. Even if the early warning signs of an asthma attack aren’t obvious, you can take specific measures to help prevent a flare from happening. This could save your lungs and your life.

If a child has asthma, it is crucial for you and them to be aware of an attack’s warning signs. Not everyone realizes that asthma manifests itself in a variety of ways, not just with difficulty breathing.

Asthma is a common health issue that can be experienced by children and adults. To help prevent a potentially deadly attack, be aware of the potential warning signs for an asthma attack. These include shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, difficulty talking, and difficulty swallowing.

Symptoms can come on quickly during normal daily activities. Children with asthma should learn to recognize the warning signs so they can get help quickly. Make sure their teachers know about their asthma and what to do during a medical emergency.

As your child’s airways constrict, they might notice a sudden tightening in their neck and chest muscles. This acts as an early indicator of an asthma attack. As the muscles tighten and oxygen intake slows, your child may find it challenging to get anything more than a shallow breath.

An asthma attack typically involves coughing attacks that take over the whole body. In individuals who have exercise-induced asthma, wheezing or fast breaths are standard after physical activity. While oxygen can enter the body even when coughing or wheezing, the attack may worsen over a short period and become life-threatening.

Blue lips or fingernails indicate there is a lack of oxygen in the blood. Fatigue or brain fog may follow, but ultimately, blue lips show an oncoming asthma attack. People with asthma may experience an asthma attack in 3 seconds or less, so when the signs are present, you must seek immediate relief or call 911.

Another common (but rarely considered) asthma attack warning sign is anxiety. Sudden panic is not typically a symptom of asthma (unless the individual has lost all ability to breathe). Instead, asthma is often physically triggered by anxiety or panic. In other words, if your child suddenly finds themself feeling anxious, they should consider that an asthma attack may soon occur as a result.

The body often breaks out into a cold sweat when an asthma attack is about to occur. This can stem from difficult breathing, anxiety, or strain on the body to take in oxygen. Likewise, a pale face and sweating often go hand in hand.

When the airways constrict and prevent oxygen from entering the body, it often messes with other essential functions. The brain becomes clouded, which makes it challenging to formulate thoughts and speak. Shortness of breath also causes difficulty speaking.

One of the best ways to guard against asthma attacks is monitoring your or your child’s lung health. Carefully keeping track of triggers, symptoms, warning signs, and attacks provides essential data for both you and your health care provider. Additionally, an at-home spirometry test to monitor your child’s daily lung function indicates increased and decreased lung capacity.

Empower your child to maintain their asthma by teaching them about their lung health and how to use their asthma action plan. Knowledge is the best tool people with asthma have for controlling their asthma.