What would you consider when assessing a patient for severe asthma symptoms?

When assessing a patient for severe asthma symptoms, the presence of wheezing is a key indicator of airway obstruction and bronchoconstriction. Wheezing occurs when air flows through narrowed airways, and it is commonly associated with asthma exacerbations. Observing wheezing helps to determine the severity of the asthma attack; more pronounced wheezing often correlates with more significant airway restriction.

In a patient experiencing severe asthma symptoms, the assessment would focus on respiratory distress signs, including wheezing, stridor, or the absence of breath sounds, which are crucial for evaluating the severity of the condition. Identification of these respiratory sounds is essential for guiding immediate treatment decisions and interventions.

While other factors such as blood pressure, heart rate, and sweating may provide additional information about a patient's overall condition or stress levels, they are not as directly indicative of the status of an asthma attack as wheezing is. Thus, the presence of wheezing is the most relevant factor when specifically assessing severe asthma symptoms.