What Does an Asthma Cough Sound Like?

Coughing, hacking, wheezing, barking: Coughing is a nuisance no matter what it sounds like. But if you’re one of the 262 million people worldwide who suffer from asthma, coughing can take on a whole new meaning.¹ That’s why we’re here to answer the question: What does an asthma cough sound like?

Let’s explore what asthma coughing sounds like, how to distinguish it from other types of coughs, and effective strategies for relief.

What Does an Asthma Cough Sound Like?

An asthma cough may sound like a hacking or barking cough, or a high-pitched whistle or wheeze. These sounds stem from constricted airways, which limit the amount of air that can enter and leave the lungs.

How Can I Tell If My Cough Is Caused by Asthma?

Your cough may be caused by asthma if it’s persistent, recurring, worse at night and early in the morning, and accompanied by other asthma symptoms, including:²

Wheezing (a whistling or rattling sound when you exhale)
Chest tightness
Shortness of breath

Asthma symptoms, including coughing, tend to be provoked by exercise, cold air, allergens, and rapid breathing. If your cough often occurs with these factors, you could be dealing with an asthma cough.

Is an Asthma Cough Always Dry?

No, an asthma cough isn’t always dry. Some people with asthma experience a wet cough with mucus.

Asthma causes airway inflammation, which can stimulate increased mucus production.³ As your airways produce more mucus in response to the swelling, you may experience a wet cough that brings up phlegm.

With this in mind, you can’t determine whether a cough is asthma-related based only on whether it’s wet or dry: Both wet and dry coughing can be caused by asthma. To determine the difference between coughs, consider cough triggers and other symptoms that occur with the cough. When in doubt, visit your doctor for a professional evaluation, especially if your cough lasts longer than a week.

What Triggers an Asthma Cough?

Common asthma cough triggers include exercise, cold air, allergens, pollutants, respiratory infections, stress, and rapid breathing from crying or laughing.

Exercise is a prevalent asthma trigger because it increases your body’s need for oxygen, causing you to take faster, deeper breaths.⁴ As your breathing speeds up, your airways become drier and colder, potentially leading to irritation.
Cold, dry air often triggers asthma symptoms, including coughing, because it can irritate your airways. It causes the moisture in your airways to evaporate faster, leaving them dry and prone to inflammation.
Allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites can cause inflammation in your airways as your immune system attacks the perceived threat. In fact, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergens are the most common asthma trigger.⁵
Air pollutants like pollution and tobacco smoke have been shown to cause or worsen asthma symptoms and compromise lung function.⁶
Respiratory infections like the common cold and flu can cause coughing on their own, without the presence of asthma. However, these infections can also exacerbate asthma symptoms, making people with asthma more likely to develop serious complications or require hospitalization from the flu.⁷
Stress prompts your body to release cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream. These hormones are intended to prep your body for a fight-or-flight scenario, so they tense your muscles, ramp up your heart rate, and elevate your blood pressure. Unfortunately, this can narrow your airways and contribute to airway inflammation, which may trigger asthma coughing.⁸
Rapid breathing from strong emotional responses, like crying and laughing, can tighten the muscles around your airways. This causes them to narrow, which may flare up your asthma symptoms.

Can an Asthma Cough Get Worse at Night?

If your asthma symptoms worsen after dark, you’re in good company: Up to 75% of people with asthma report that their symptoms are more severe at night.⁹ Asthma coughing often gets worse at night because of a combination of factors, including:

Natural circadian changes to your airways⁹
Sleeping positions, as lying down increases the pressure on your airways and can make breathing more difficult
Increased mucus and acid production, which can irritate your throat and cause asthma flare-ups¹⁰
Increased exposure to indoor allergens, like pet dander and dust mites, which are known asthma cough triggers

What Are the Best Ways to Manage an Asthma Cough?

The best ways to manage an asthma cough are to adjust your lifestyle to avoid asthma triggers and talk to your doctor about asthma medications, like prescription inhalers, that may work for you.

Avoiding asthma triggers like cold air, allergens, pollutants, and stress can go a long way toward preventing an asthma cough. While it’s impossible to avoid these triggers at all times, lifestyle modifications like monitoring pollen counts, using an air filter, and implementing stress management strategies can help you live comfortably with asthma.
Asthma medications are a crucial symptom management tool for people with asthma. Everyone diagnosed with asthma should at least have a rescue inhaler to alleviate sudden breathing problems from an asthma attack. Your doctor can prescribe a personalized treatment regimen to manage your asthma symptoms, which may include inhaled corticosteroids to reduce airway inflammation.¹¹

So, what does an asthma cough sound like? Whether it’s a sharp bark or a high-pitched wheeze, asthma coughing deserves prompt attention to alleviate airway inflammation. If you experience asthma symptoms, contact your doctor for an evaluation and treatment plan to prevent future flare-ups.