ABSTRACT
Symptoms of asthma are important parameters used by patients and health
care providers to assess disease severity and control. Appropriate recognition of symptoms plays a pivotal role in guided self-management, as the
accuracy of symptom perception may affect both morbidity and mortality
from this condition. Patients with poor perception of episodic changes in
lung function may underestimate the severity of an exacerbation, underuti-
lize anti-inflammatory medication, and delay seeking care. Conversely,
patients with heightened perception of airway narrowing may overutilize
health care services and medication, and encounter deleterious side effects
as a result. Dyspnea is one of the most common symptoms of asthma. Knowledge of the mechanisms of dyspnea in asthma is crucial for optimal
individual patient management and may help identify patients at risk of fatal
asthma (FA) or near-fatal asthma (NFA).
