The key to controlling asthma is knowing how to spot the early warning signs of an asthma episode. These are known as "prodomal" symptoms, and some may occur a day or two before an attack. There are not always easy to recognise because warning signs are not the same for everyone, and they may change from attack to attack.

Some most common warning signs are:

__ Chest tightness or a heaviness of the chest

__ General difficulty in breathing

__ Wheezing

__ Coughing

__ It should take longer to exhale

__ Feeling of not exhaling enough air
    before you need to inhale again

__ Lungs feel over-inflated

__ Breathing is fast and very shallow

__ Skin at base of throat sucks inwards

__ Upper chest is raised for maximum inhalation

__ Fatigue

__ Watery, red or glassy eyes

__ An itchy, scratchy, or sore throat

__ Sneezing

__ Irritability

__ Feeling that your head is blocked up

__ A change in the color of your face

__ Dark circles under your eyes

__ Restlessness

__ Nose is blocked

__ Mouth is open more frequently

__ Sighing and yawning more often

__ Dark shadows under your eyes

__ Rubbing the end of your nose a lot

__ Poor sleep patterns

__ Nightmares or vivid dreams

__ Dry and itchy Skin

__ Increased thirst

__ Loss of appetite

__ Increased urination

__ Low grade fever

__ Changes in Behaviour

__ A runny nose

__ Fatigue

__ Low Peakflow


Acute Signs include:

__ Difficulty talking

__ Difficulty walking

__ Disorientation

__ Cyanosis (blue lips or fingers)

__ The wheeze starts to get less but there is
    no improvement in your ability to breathe

__ Disorientation


If these symptoms develop, your asthma needs urgent attention.