What are unusual symptoms of asthma?

Asthma sufferers often have a number of unusual asthma symptoms, so talk to your doctor if you experience these.

1. You have a chronic, persistent cough. A cough is your body's normal defense system at work. It's trying to expel irritants, such as pollen, smoke, and mucus from your lungs. A cough could stem from a cold or sinus infection that led to post-nasal drip, which can last up to several weeks.

2. You're constantly getting bronchitis or had it frequently as a child. When you have bronchitis, your bronchial tubes, which carry oxygen to your lungs, become irritated and inflamed. When this happens, they make mucus and you cough because your body is trying to get rid of it. Having bronchitis often as a child may increase the likelihood of developing asthma as you get older.

3. You're always clearing your throat. Your throat, nasal passages, and sinuses are lined with mucus membranes. If something irritates them, you produce even more mucus. When the mucus gets stuck in your throat, it's a natural reaction to try to clear it. The membranes in your throat may not be the only ones that are irritated.

4. You get wheezy whenever you get a cold. Another sign of asthma is wheezing, especially when you have a cold. (Wheezing is a whistling or squeaking sound that air makes when it has trouble making it through your lungs.)

5. You wheeze or cough after exercise. Exercise is a common trigger for asthma. If you find after exercising you're wheezing and coughing quite a bit, it could be asthma. For some people, exercising in cold weather may cause this reaction.

6. You feel winded with light exercise. Do you feel tightness in your chest and/or winded after even light exercise? Do you have to sit down and catch your breath before you can continue? Unless you're really out of shape, it could be a sign of asthma.

7. You frequently cough at night. People who have asthma tend to cough when they're trying to sleep. The reason is that your airways naturally narrow a bit at night. When you have asthma, your airways are already narrowed. If they narrow even a little further, breathing becomes more difficult.

8. You're always tired. If your airways are swollen, you have to work harder to breathe, which can make you tired.

9. You often lose your voice. Losing your voice frequently is probably not a symptom of asthma by itself, but when you seem to be hoarse and have some of the other symptoms, it's worth further investigation with your healthcare provider.

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