Asthma symptoms vary from person to person. You may have infrequent asthma attacks, have symptoms only at certain times — such as when exercising — or have symptoms all the time. Asthma signs and symptoms include:

1. Shortness of breath.
2. Chest tightness or pain.
3. Wheezing when exhaling, which is a common sign of asthma in children.
4. Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing.
5. Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu.
Worsening include:

1. Asthma signs and symptoms that are more frequent and bothersome.
2. Increasing difficulty breathing, as measured with a device used to check how well your lungs are working (peak flow meter).
3. The need to use a quick-relief inhaler more often.
For some people, asthma signs and symptoms flare up in certain situations:

1. Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry.
2. Occupational asthma, triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gases or dust.
3. Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste, or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets (pet dander).