Did you know that being aware of the early warning signs of asthma and allergies can help you tackle these situations better? The truth is that treating any kind of allergy or asthma is easier when you can detect the warning signs. But early warning signs may be different for different patients and they can even vary for each asthma attack. So, you can make a note of the symptoms inside an asthma diary. This way you will find that there are some common symptoms that precede every asthma attack.

What are the early warning signs of asthma and allergies? Asthma is brought on by bronchial tube inflammation accompanied by sticky secretions within the tubes. So, when you notice the following signs, you can expect an asthma episode to start soon.

• Coughing partially during the night
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness, pressure, or pain
• Wheezing
• Changes in sputum
• Sneezing
• Itchy and watery eyes
• Inchy or sore throat
• Dark circles
• Moodiness and weakness
• Feeling exhausted
• Feverish
• Not sleeping well
• Difficulty speaking
• Clammy skin
• Sweating
• Paleness
• Anxious
• Excitable
• Headache
• Faster heartbeat

Some people with asthma may not experience any of these afore-mentioned symptoms for long periods but these spells are interrupted by a periodic deterioration of the symptoms and these episodes are called asthma attacks. However, others may have some of these symptoms every day.

Early warning signs of asthma and allergies are basically changes that occur just prior to an attack. These signs can start appearing even before the most common symptoms start and these are indications that your asthma or allergy is worsening. While these signs are not that acute that you have to put a break on your regular chores, you can at least prevent an attack from happening once you can detect the signs, or prevent it from getting worse.

Allergies are essentially exaggerated immune reactions to allergens or environmental triggers. Allergies are quite common in North America with almost 50 million people suffering from these. The common signs for allergies are:

• Nasal congestion
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Watery itchy eyes
• Scratchy and sore throat
• Sneezing
• Cough because of postnasal drip
• Throat clearing
• Itchy ears and mouth
• Breathing changes
• Skin rash
• Hives
• Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
• Chest tightness
• Swollen lips and tongue
• Flushed skin
• Confused or anxious
• Low blood pressure
• Anaphylaxis which is a sudden severe allergic reaction that may lead to death if not treated at once

Early warning signs of asthma and allergies if left undetected and untreated, may lead to progressive worsening of symptoms. With the worsening of symptoms, the patient will face greater difficulties in carrying out daily activities or in sleeping. Such symptoms include further wheezing, a cough that does not stop, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. When the symptoms turn severe the patient can no longer do his regular activities and these symptoms are noticeable in life-threatening asthma attacks. These demand immediate medical assistance. Such symptoms are very rapid breathing, severe wheezing, non-stop coughing, chest pains, inability to exhale fully or catch your breath, anxiety, and panic feelings, sweaty face, difficulty in talking, and blue fingernails or lips. This shows you why it is necessary to be able to identify the signs that are likely to bring in an allergy or asthma attack and get help before it is too late.