Signs of an asthma attack

If you do not know whether or not you have asthma, these 4 symptoms could be signs that you do:

Coughing during the day or coughing that may wake you up at night.
Wheezing, or a whistling sound when you breathe. You may hear it more when you breathe out. It can start as a low-sounding whistle and get higher.
Breathing problems that include having shortness of breath, feeling like you are out of breath, gasping for air, having trouble breathing out, or breathing faster than normal. When breathing gets very difficult, the skin of your chest and neck may suck inward.
Chest tightness that may feel like pain, heavy weight or pressure in the chest region, making breathing difficult.

Other Warning Signs

Other early warning signs of an asthma attack are:

Being short-tempered or irritable
Feeling nervous or edgy

Danger Signs

Call 911 or the local emergency number right away if you have any of the following symptoms. These may be signs of a serious medical emergency.

You are having trouble walking or talking because it is so hard to breathe.
You are hunching over.
Your lips or fingernails are blue or gray.
You are confused or less responsive than usual.

If your child has asthma, the child's caregivers must know to call 911 or the local emergency number in case your child has any of these symptoms. This includes teachers, babysitters, and others who take care of your child.

Alternative Names

Asthma attack - signs; Reactive airway disease - asthma attack; Bronchial asthma - attack

References

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Asthma management guidelines: focused updates 2020. Updated February 4, 2021. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/asthma-management-guidelines-2020-updates. Accessed February 9, 2024.

Viswanathan RK, Busse WW. Management of asthma in adolescents and adults. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 52.

Patient Instructions

Review Date 2/3/2024

Updated by: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.