What is it like to have asthma?

Many symptoms: Asthma is a narrowing of the small airways called bronchioles, due to allergen, viral infection, exercise, temperature changes, etc. Usually starts with dry cough, which becomes frequent and repetitive followed by wheezing, shortness of breath and then increased work of breathing. These symptoms often worsen until treated. Sometimes they occur rapidly within a few minutes or can take few days.

Variable: The most common symptoms are cough, wheeze, chest tightness and/or shortness of breath that is recurrent and worse at night and with cold air, exercise, infections and with allergy triggers. Symptoms can be mild to severe. Symptoms can be intermittent or persistent. Some people never have an "attack." there are about 5000 fatalities per year from asthma.