Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are characteristic of asthma. Caused by either the mucus buildup or the spasm in the airways, the cough may be either full and loose, or dry and hacking. Like most asthma symptoms, the severity of coughing may vary during an attack tending to be milder early on and progressively more debilitating later. When an attack is over and the narrowed airways start reopening, sufferers may occasionally find themselves coughing up tiny tube-shaped mucus plugs.

Wheezing is perhaps the hallmark of asthma, plaguing virtually all asthmatics. A wheeze is the sound created by air when it is forced through abnormally narrowed breathing tubes. Wheezing can fluctuate from mild to severe during an attack and may be heard on both inhaling and exhaling. Curiously, some asthmatics become so accustomed to their own chronic wheezing that they hardly notice it until they perform some activity that raises their usual, baseline rate of breathing.

Finally, shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is another characteristic asthma symptom. When severe, it may be accompanied by profuse sweating and a panicky feeling of choking or gasping for air.

The time it takes for a severe asthma attack to develop varies and is generally unpredictable. Sometimes it takes hours and other times days. But no matter how long it takes, the overall course is typified by a relentless worsening of symptoms. For this reason it is important to become familiar with your own pattern of symptoms so that therapy may be initiated early when the airway problems are more easily reversible. For those with a history of severe attacks, prompt medical attention may be crucial.