Cough, worse particularly at night Recurrent wheeze Recurrent difficult breathing Recurrent chest tightness.
Symptoms occur or worsen at night, awakening the patient.
Treatment with asthma medication can be beneficial and diagnostic. Tobacco smokers and elderly patients frequently suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with symptoms similar to asthma. Yet they may also have asthma and benefit from treatment. Improvement in PEF after asthma treatment is diagnostic. Workers who are exposed to inhalant chemicals or allergens in the workplace can develop asthma and may be misdiagnosed as having chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.