The most common asthma symptoms are:

Coughing, especially at night, with exercise, or when laughing Trouble breathing A tight feeling in the chest Wheezing a squeaky or whistling sound

Sometimes a cough that won't go away is the only symptom of asthma. Asthma symptoms often happen at night and in the morning, but they can happen any time. They get worse when you are around your asthma triggers. Free asthma screenings are being scheduled in communities across the country. During a screening, you'll answer questions about your breathing, wheezing, coughing, itchy eyes and runny nose, take a simple breathing test that involves blowing into a tube, and meet with an allergist to discuss your results. Is asthma a psychological disorder? Asthma is not a psychological or emotional disorder, but sometimes a physical display of strong emotion such as shouting, crying, laughing or rapid breathing may contribute to an asthma episode. Panic can prevent a person with asthma from relaxing and following instructions properly, which is essential during an attack. Medical scientists have found that behaviors associated with strong emotions can cause bronchial tubes to constrict, which may provoke or worsen an attack. A chronic disease, such as asthma, can cause emotional strain. Depression may set in when those with asthma believe they cannot participate in normal activities. As a leading cause of work and school absences, asthma can have a significant effect on livelihood, education and emotional well-being. Is asthma life-threatening? In severe and poorly controlled cases, asthma can be life-threatening, and the death rate and prevalence of asthma has increased significantly since the late 1970s. Deaths occur more frequently in adults. If there is a single factor leading to severe or fatal asthma attacks, it appears to be a delay in administering appropriate drug therapy. Working in partnership with an allergist, having an action plan, recognizing the triggers and early warning signals of an impending attack, and using a peak flow meter to detect the degree of bronchial obstruction, can all contribute to a decrease in the frequency and severity of attacks

Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes with increased production of sticky secretions inside the tubes. People with asthma experience symptoms when the airways tighten, inflame, or fill with mucus. Common asthma symptoms include: Coughing, especially at night Wheezing Shortness of breath Chest tightness, pain, or pressure Still, not every person with asthma has the same symptoms in the same way. You may not have all of these symptoms, or you may have different symptoms at different times. Your asthma symptoms may also vary from one asthma attack to the next, being mild during one and severe during another. Some people with asthma may go for extended periods without having any symptoms, interrupted by periodic worsening of their symptoms called asthma attacks. Others might have asthma symptoms every day. In addition, some people may only have asthma during exercise or asthma with viral infections like colds. Mild asthma attacks are generally more common. Usually, the airways open up within a few minutes to a few hours. Severe attacks are less common but last longer and require immediate medical help. It is important to recognize and treat even mild asthma symptoms to help you prevent severe episodes and keep asthma under better control.

Know the Early Symptoms of Asthma Early warning signs are changes that happen just before or at the very beginning of an asthma attack. These signs may start before the well-known symptoms of asthma and are the earliest signs that your asthma is worsening. In general, these signs are not severe enough to stop you from going about your daily activities. But by recognizing these signs, you can stop an asthma attack or prevent one from getting worse. Early warning signs of asthma include: Frequent cough, especially at night Losing your breath easily or shortness of breath Feeling very tired or weak when exercising Wheezing or coughing after exercise Feeling tired, easily upset, grouchy, or moody Decreases or changes in lung function as measured on a peak flow meter Signs of a cold or allergies (sneezing, runny nose, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and headache) Trouble sleeping If you have early warning signs or symptoms of asthma, you should take more asthma medication as described in your asthma action plan. Know the Symptoms of an Asthma Attack An asthma attack is the episode in which bands of muscle surrounding the airways are triggered to tighten. This tightening is called bronchospasm. During the attack, the lining of the airways becomes swollen or inflamed and the cells lining the airways produce more and thicker mucus than normal. All of these factors -- bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production -- cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty performing normal daily activities. Other symptoms of an asthma attack include: Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out Coughing that won't stop Very rapid breathing Chest pain or pressure Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions Difficulty talking Feelings of anxiety or panic Pale, sweaty face Blue lips or fingernails