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Symptoms of bronchial asthma
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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[Symptoms of the period of bronchial asthma suffocation
The period of heat (suffocation) has the following symptoms. There is a feeling of lack of air, compression in the chest, pronounced expiratory dyspnea. The breath becomes short, the exhalation slow, 2-4 times longer than the inspiration, accompanied by loud, prolonged, wheezing, audible at a distance. The patient takes a forced position, sits, leaning forward, leaning his elbows on his knees, or leaning his hands on the edge of the table, the bed, catching the air. It is almost impossible to talk, the patient is concerned, frightened. The face is pale, with a cyanotic shade, covered with a cold sweat. The wings of the nose swell when inhaled. The chest cell in the position of maximum inhalation, the muscles of the shoulder girdle, back, abdominal wall participate in the breath.
Intercostal spaces and supraclavicular fossa are retracted when inhaled. Neck veins swollen. During an attack, a cough with a very difficult to separate viscous, thick sputum is observed. After the sputum is gone, breathing becomes easier. Above the lungs are percussion sounds with a tympanic tinge, the lower borders of the lungs are omitted, the mobility of the pulmonary margins is limited, against the background of weakened breathing during inspiration and especially on exhalation, many dry wheezing sounds are heard. The pulse is rapid, weak filling, the heart sounds are muffled. The attack of asthma can go into asthmatic status, which can end with coma and even the death of the patient.
Symptoms of reverse development of an attack
The period of reverse development of the attack has a different duration. In some patients, the attack ends quickly without complications, in others - it can last several hours and even days with the preservation of shortness of breath, malaise, weakness. After the attack, patients want to relax, some of them are hungry, thirsty.
Cough Asthma
When analyzing the clinical picture of bronchial asthma, remember the so-called cough variant of the disease. With this form of bronchial asthma, there is no typical clinic of suffocation, and with auscultation of the lungs there are no dry wheezes or very scanty physical signs are determined. The only characteristic sign of the disease is a paroxysmal suffocating cough, especially often occurring at night. During an attack of a cough, dizziness may occur, sweating is observed, a cyanosis of the face is possible. For the diagnosis of a cough variant of bronchial asthma, peak peak expiratory flow should be monitored, and the positive effect of the evening (preventive) intake of bronchodilators should be taken into account.
Of great importance is the determination of the severity of an attack of bronchial asthma. This is taken into account when providing care to a patient and determining his / her ability to work.
Signs of the period of forebears
The period of precursors occurs in a few minutes, hours, sometimes days before the attack and is manifested by the following symptoms: vasomotor reactions from the mucous membrane of the nose (abundant separation of watery secretion), sneezing, itchy eyes and skin, coughing, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, excessive diuresis, often changes in mood (irritability, mental depression, gloomy premonitions).