Some doctors and healthcare professionals refer to “silent asthma,” but you’ve probably had difficulty pinpointing its definition. While this term has made its way into medical practice jargon, it is not generally regarded as a medical term.
There are a few reasons why people refer to “silent asthma.” To understand their meaning, you need to know about “silent symptoms.” Let’s look at the various terms used to describe asthma and asthma symptoms and see what “silent asthma” really means.
What Is Silent Asthma?
Silent asthma does not have a clear definition. It isn’t a diagnostic term and is probably used off-the-cuff by some healthcare professionals to refer to silent symptom asthma.
Silent symptom asthma refers to asthma symptoms that don’t make audible noise. Things like coughing or wheezing would not fall into this category. The most common silent symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath and tightness in your chest. Although, these two symptoms on their own are rarely enough to diagnose asthma.
Other “silent symptoms” of asthma may include:
- Fatigue
- Shallow breathing
- Frequent yawning
- Insomnia
- Respiratory infections such as colds
However, these are not technical symptoms of asthma, but rather possible side-effects of asthma when it isn’t properly treated.
What Is Silent Chest Asthma?
Another term used in conjunction with silent asthma is silent chest asthma. This term refers to a specific type of asthma attack called status asthmaticus. The symptoms of this attack vary but may include:
- Inflammation of the airway
- Little to no wheezing (silence)
- Difficulty breathing
- Hard to detect
Since the symptoms of silent chest asthma are hard to detect, they can be challenging to diagnose. However, left untreated, it can be life-threatening. If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of silent chest asthma, consult your healthcare professional.
What is Aluna?
Aluna is an innovative, scientifically accurate, and portable spirometer cleared by the FDA.
This device and management program is designed to help adults and children, five years and up, monitor their lung function and take control of their respiratory health.
Aluna automatically tracks your FEV1% over time. You can also monitor your symptoms, medication, exercise, and environmental factors.
With the Aluna app, you can easily share your lung health data with your healthcare professional.
Aluna seeks to shed light on asthma and other lung diseases by providing accurate and reliable data for healthcare providers and patients.
Be sure to ask your healthcare professional about Aluna and how this device can benefit you.
