There are plenty of known triggers for asthma attacks. Each person with asthma reacts to a different set of triggers. Identifying which triggers apply is important if asthma attacks are to be prevented. The condition varies a great deal from one person to another. Symptoms range from mild to moderate to severe and can be life-threatening.
Attacks can be only occasional or frequent.
The symptoms of asthma are a major cause of time lost from school and work and sleep disturbances. However, with proper treatment these symptoms can almost always be controlled. Sometimes the only symptom is a chronic cough which may occur only at night or during exercise. Some people think they have recurrent bronchitis, since respiratory infections usually settle in the chest in a person predisposed to asthma. There are certain warning signs of an impending attack.