Asthma feels like difficulty breathing caused by narrowed and inflamed airways, often accompanied by several characteristic sensations:

• Shortness of breath : You may feel breathless or as if you cannot get enough air in or out, making breathing feel like hard work or like trying to breathe through a narrow straw

• Chest tightness : This can feel like a band tightening around your chest or a heavy weight pressing down, sometimes described as someone sitting or gripping the chest very tightly

• Wheezing : A whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe out, caused by air moving through narrowed airways

• Coughing : Often persistent, it may worsen at night or early morning, and can be triggered by exercise, allergens, or irritants

During an asthma attack, these symptoms intensify with severe wheezing, rapid breathing, chest pain or pressure, and difficulty talking or performing normal activities. People often feel panic or anxiety due to the struggle to breathe

. In summary, asthma feels like a combination of tightness, wheezing, coughing, and breathlessness that can vary in severity and come and go, sometimes worsening at night or with triggers like exercise or allergens