Symptoms of asthma include inflammation of the bronchial tubes and increased production of sticky secretions. Asthmatics experience symptoms when their airways tighten, become inflamed, or fill with mucus. These symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain, tightness, or pressure. However, not everyone with asthma experiences the same symptoms. It is possible that you will not have all of these symptoms, or that you will experience different symptoms at different times. There may also be variations in asthma symptoms from one asthma attack to the next, with mild symptoms during one attack and severe symptoms during the next. A person with asthma may experience extended periods without any symptoms, interrupted by periodic worsening of their symptoms. Some people suffer from asthma symptoms every day. Furthermore, some people only develop asthma when exercising, or when they are infected with viruses like the flu. The most common type of asthma attack is mild. It usually takes a few minutes to a few hours for the airways to open up. There are fewer severe attacks, but they last longer and require immediate medical attention. Even mild asthma symptoms need to be recognized and treated to prevent severe episodes and better manage asthma.