Symptoms of difficulty breathing in asthma

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Symptoms of difficulty breathing in asthma

It is important to know the symptoms of difficulty breathing in asthma.

Mild difficulty breathing

You are having mild difficulty breathing if:

• Your breathing is slightly faster than normal.
• Your skin color is normal.

Moderate difficulty breathing

Call a health professional if you or your child has symptoms of moderate difficulty breathing, such as:

• Obviously breathing faster than normal.
• Tiring quickly during talking or eating. You may have to catch your breath during eating. The difficulty during eating may lead to poor nutrition.
• Using your abdominal muscles to assist breathing. The abdominal wall collapses inward instead of expanding outward when you breathe in.
• Having skin color—especially on the face, hands, and feet—that is pale to slightly gray, or lacy purple and pale (mottled). However, your tongue, gums, and lips remain pink.

Severe difficulty breathing

Call 911 or other emergency services if you or your child has symptoms of severe difficulty breathing, such as:

• Breathing very fast. Children usually grunt with each breath. Shortness of breath can interfere with the ability to speak smoothly.
• Appearing anxious and being unable to eat because it's too hard to breathe.
• Using the neck, chest, and abdominal muscles to breathe; the skin between, above, and under the ribs collapses inward with each breath. The person also may open his or her nostrils wide when breathing in.
• Taking longer than usual to breathe out and sometimes having a high-pitched, musical sound when breathing in.
• Sitting up, leaning forward, or sitting with the nose tilted up as if sniffing the air.
• Having skin color that is persistently pale, gray, bluish, or mottled, including the tongue, lips, earlobes, and nail beds.

Credits

Last updated:	May 15, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman