Spooky Season, Scary Asthma Symptoms

It's October, and for many, that means getting ready for the fun kind of fright: costumes, haunted houses, and spooky movies. But for millions of people, a much more serious and real-life scare is a constant companion—asthma. The simple, everyday reality of an asthma diagnosis and managing its symptoms can be genuinely terrifying.

While there are many different symptoms of asthma, and people can find out they have the condition in various ways, some experiences stand out as particularly frightening.

What is the scariest symptom of asthma? We’ve rounded up articles, stories, and forums from our community to explore their most frightening symptoms and severe asthma exacerbations.

Under attack

One of the scariest parts of having asthma is an unexpected, sudden asthma attack. Asthma attacks can be triggered by so many things: trees, grass, mold, smoke, animal dander—and that big trigger—stress. It’s important to be in tune with your body and warning signs, while also ensuring you are prepared for an attack or exacerbation at any moment.

Here are some articles written by our patient leaders about their experiences with scary asthma attacks:

• The Scariest Moment
• Wait, Is This An Asthma Attack?
• The Night Asthma Nearly Had Its Wicked Way With Me

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, can be a scary sign of asthma. There are many reasons why you may be short of breath, but whatever the cause, it may indicate a problem that needs attention.

Here are some articles written by our patient leaders about their experiences with shortness of breath:

• How Does It Really Feel?
• For Those With Asthma, What Is Normal Breathing?
• Why "Just Breathe" Just Doesn't Work

Chest tightness

People describe chest tightness as “band-like,” a “heavyweight” or “feeling really tight.” Chest tightness, along with chest pain, can be scary for asthma patients because it can also be a sign of heart disease, digestive problems, and other lung problems.

We’ve compiled some personal experiences with chest tightness and pain from patient leaders and our community members below:

• What Is Chest Tightness?
• My 26-Year-Old Daughter Suffers From Chronic Silent Chest Asthma
• Chest Pain and Asthma Attacks: Signs and Response

Asthma in the dark

Did you know that 75 percent of people with asthma reported having an increase in symptoms at night?¹ It can be extremely frustrating and scary to experience nighttime asthma symptoms and can prevent people from getting a good night's sleep.

In this article, we asked our Facebook community which asthma symptoms they experience most frequently at night. Here are some highlights:

• "I am now having hot ginger tea with lemon a little while before I go to sleep.”
• “I also find myself propped up on a lot of pillows. Can't lay flat at all.”
• “Using saline nasal spray daily, as well as a humidifier in my bedroom, has been so important to prevent mucus.”

What is the scariest symptom of asthma to you?

Asthma symptoms can be scary all year round, and not just around Halloween. Join the community conversation about scary symptoms and complications.