There are many types of bronchial problems. These can range from minor infections to serious diseases. As a result, there are numerous bronchial symptoms that can signal that a person may have problems that need to be attended. These include wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood.
Wheezing and shortness of breath are two common bronchial symptoms that can accompany numerous conditions. These two bronchial symptoms also are commonly mistaken for being synonymous, while in reality they are quite different. Shortness of breath refers to impaired or labored breathing. A person may experience this when engaged in certain activities, but can also experience it while at rest. It can be triggered by allergens such as chemical odors, pollen, or fur.
Wheezing refers to whistling and rattling sounds that occur when a person breathes. This also may or may not occur when a person is active. It can even occur when a person is sleeping. Although many people suffer from both of these bronchial symptoms, a person who wheezes may not suffer from shortness of breath and a person who suffers shortness of breath may not wheeze.
Coughing is common, especially during certain seasons. It usually is not a reason that warrants concern. In some instances, however, it needs to be added to the list of bronchial symptoms. It can be an indicator of conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. This may be the case if the cough is chronic. A chronic cough can be defined as one that has persisted for several weeks or one that has grown progressively worse over an extended period of time.
It also can be cause for alarm when coughing sounds abnormal. Such sounds include coughs that can be described as barking or those that seem to originate deep in the chest. Attention also should be paid when coughing causes mucous discharge. Mucous is a thick, slimy substance which often is a primary indicator of some type of infection.
Tuberculosis is a disease that can take several forms and can be very serious. It often involves symptoms that people do not associate with bronchial problems such as fatigue, weight loss, and night sweats. Other more specific bronchial symptoms that can alert a person of tuberculosis include harsh chest pains and the coughing up of blood.
Cyanosis is another of the bronchial symptoms that normally indicates one of the more serious conditions. This is a condition that causes the skin to appear blue. This happens when there is an inadequate amount of oxygen in the blood.