If you have asthma, the airways bringing air in and out of your lungs become tight, restricting the flow of air, leading to shortness of breath and wheezing.
Most people with asthma can control it successfully with medications and lifestyle changes. But some with severe asthma can still experience the aforementioned symptoms regardless of what they do.
If you experience any of the following, you may want to see your doctor about severe asthma.
You have asthma symptoms at night
Having asthma symptoms at night is one of the telltale signs you may have severe asthma. Experiencing shortness of breath and wheezing at night is fairly typical of asthma that’s not well controlled.
If you frequently wake up in the middle of the night to use your inhaler, that could mean you have severe asthma.
You’re using your rescue inhaler often
The first step after someone is diagnosed with asthma is to put them on what’s called a rescue inhaler.
Most patients will only need to use their rescue inhaler every once in a while to effectively control symptoms. But if you’re using your rescue inhaler at least once every week, it could be an indicator your asthma might be more severe.
Related: 5 Top Products for Asthma Sufferers on Amazon
Stepping up treatments isn’t helping
If additional treatments are required beyond the rescue inhaler for relief, like a steroid inhaler, that could be a precursor to severe asthma.
People with milder asthma get their condition under control within a few weeks of starting the inhaled steroid. But a smaller percentage of people can really struggle to find that comfortable combination of therapies. This can lead to long-acting inhalers that open the airways, allergy medication, steroid pills, biologics, and other treatments.
But if your asthma is severe, symptoms may persist despite all these treatments.
Fortunately, new medications are available that address inflammation caused by white blood cells, called eosinophils, and many people with severe asthma report they’re finally getting their symptoms under control with these therapies.
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