Warning signs
You may have warning signs hours before a flare-up begins.
Everyone's warning signs are different. Check the signs
that happen to you.
Wheezing
- Getting out of breath easily
- Tightness in the chest
- increased coughing and mucus
- Drop in peak flow meter reading
- Breathing faster than normal
- A fast heart rate
- Other
When an asthma flare-up is happening, you may have:
- Wheezing-a whistling noise when you breathe
- Cough
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- More mucus with coughing
Danger signs. Get help right away if:
- It's hard to talk
- Breathing is hard and fast
- Lips or fingernails are gray or blue
- Nose opens wide when breathing
- Ribs and neck muscles show when breathing
- Heart rate is very fast
- It's hard to walk
- Rescue (quick-relief) medicine is not helping
- Peak flow reading is in the red zone (below 50%
of personal best)
