Connect with others who understand.

Sign up Log in
Resources
About MyAsthmaTeam
Powered By

Types of Asthma

Medically reviewed by Allen J. Blaivas, D.O.
Written by Kelly Crumrin
Updated on May 3, 2021

Each case of asthma is categorized in two different ways: by what triggers symptoms and by the severity of symptoms. Classifying the type of asthma is part of the process of diagnosing asthma. Knowing what type of asthma you have allows your allergist to recommend the best asthma treatment options for your individual situation.

In all types, symptoms of asthma can include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and trouble breathing. When the only symptom of asthma is a dry cough, it may be referred to as cough-variant asthma.

Asthma Types by Trigger

Symptoms of asthma can be triggered by a wide variety of substances, situations, and underlying health conditions. It is possible to have more than one type of asthma.

Allergic Asthma

Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma, comprising about 60 percent of asthma cases in the United States. Allergic asthma is most prevalent in early childhood and becomes less prevalent with age. Only about 30 percent of adult-onset asthma cases are allergic asthma.

Allergic asthma is caused by an overreaction of the immune system in response to a normally harmless substance, known as an allergen. Allergens vary widely between people, but some of the most common allergies involved in allergic asthma are to pollen, furry pets, mold, cockroaches, and dust mites.

Some people with allergic asthma are advised to undergo immunotherapy to desensitize the body to the allergens that cause asthma.

Nonallergic Asthma

Nonallergic asthma is more prevalent in adults, peaking in late adulthood. Nonallergic asthma makes up about 70 percent of cases of adult-onset asthma.

In people with nonallergic asthma, it can be more difficult to identify what triggers symptoms. Nonallergic asthma can be triggered by many different substances and situations, including stress, strong emotions, medications, food additives, cold air or changes in the weather, and air pollution involving nonallergenic irritants such as vehicle traffic emissions or smoke.

Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB)

Most people with asthma — approximately 90 percent — will experience EIB, also known as exercise-induced asthma. For some people, a cough is the only symptom of EIB.

Anyone, even people without asthma, can become short of breath after strenuous exercise. In people with EIB, exercise triggers bronchoconstriction — the narrowing of airways in the lungs. The result is an attack of asthma symptoms that may begin during physical activity, worsen for a few minutes after activity is stopped, and last for about 30 minutes. Some people with EIB experience milder, late-phase symptoms which start a few hours after exercise and last for up to a day.

Occupational Asthma

People who work in jobs where they are exposed to airborne irritants, such as fumes or dust, may develop occupational asthma. Occupational asthma accounts for 15 percent to 23 percent of adult-onset asthma cases in the U.S.

Other types of asthma may also be worsened by workplace exposure to irritants. Encountering irritants on the job is associated with as many as 15 percent of cases of disabling asthma symptoms.

If your asthma symptoms began when you started a job, improve when you are away from your job, and become worse when you are at work, you may have occupational asthma. Professions identified with a higher risk for occupational asthma include bakers, farmers, laboratory workers, and those who work in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, metals, plastics, and wood products.

Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a pulmonary disorder that can include emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Asthma and COPD are separate lung conditions, and both can make it difficult to breathe. People diagnosed with asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) experience the features of both asthma and COPD.

People with ACOS tend to experience more frequent and severe symptoms, as well as reduced lung function. Having both COPD and asthma can complicate diagnosis of breathing problems and lead to one condition or the other being missed. COPD is most commonly diagnosed in people ages 50 to 74 who are current or former cigarette smokers.

Aspirin-Sensitive Asthma

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a condition that causes asthma, sinus problems including nasal polyps, and a sensitivity to aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen. About 9 percent of adults with asthma and 30 percent of those with both asthma and nasal polyps are believed to have AERD.

In people with AERD, taking NSAIDs triggers asthma symptoms, nasal congestion, sinus pain, and sometimes flushed skin, abdominal pain, or vomiting. Drinking alcohol also causes a respiratory reaction in about 75 percent of those with AERD.

Eosinophilic Asthma

Eosinophils are one type of white blood cell that fights infections and parasites in the body. In people with eosinophilic asthma, an excess of eosinophils promotes inflammation in the airways that leads to asthma symptoms. High levels of eosinophils may also play a role in AERD. Eosinophilic asthma can develop at any age, but is most often diagnosed in adults between the ages of 35 and 50. People with eosinophilic asthma do not usually have allergies.

In addition to common asthma symptoms, people with eosinophilic asthma may have chronic nasal and sinus inflammation and nasal polyps. Eosinophilic asthma is often severe. Eosinophilic asthma may be treated with biologic therapy, a class of medications produced using biotechnology and proteins derived from living cells.

Read more about treatment options for asthma.

Asthma Types by Symptom Severity

In addition to categorization by asthma triggers, each case of asthma is classified by the frequency of symptoms and how much they impact the activities of daily life. In adults and children aged 5 or older, doctors will also consider forced expiratory volume (FEV) — the result of a lung function test. FEV measures the amount of air that can be exhaled in a forced breath.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program has established the criteria described below for classifying asthma severity.

Intermittent Asthma

Intermittent asthma is diagnosed in cases where asthma symptoms:

  • Do not interfere with normal activities
  • Occur two days a week or less
  • Cause nighttime awakenings two nights a month or less
  • Result in FEV greater than 80 percent

Mild Persistent Asthma

Mild persistent asthma is diagnosed in cases where asthma symptoms:

  • Limit daily activities to a mild degree
  • Occur more often than two days a week, but not every day
  • Cause nighttime awakenings up to three or four times a month
  • Result in FEV greater than 80 percent

Moderate Persistent Asthma

Moderate persistent asthma is diagnosed in cases where asthma symptoms:

  • Limit daily activities to some degree
  • Occur every day
  • Cause nighttime awakenings more than once a week, but not every night
  • Result in FEV between 60 percent and 80 percent

Severe Persistent Asthma

Severe persistent asthma is diagnosed in cases where asthma symptoms:

  • Limit daily activities to an extreme degree
  • Occur every day, throughout the day
  • Cause nighttime awakenings more than once a week, often every night
  • Result in FEV less than 60 percent

The classification of asthma severity is used by health care providers to determine which asthma medications are most appropriate. Your asthma classification can change over time. It is important to remember that it is possible to have a severe asthma attack no matter how your asthma is classified.

Condition Guide

Updated on May 3, 2021

A MyAsthmaTeam Member

They are disgusting abusive sadists

February 17, 2023
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.

You'll also get the latest articles directly to your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

Subscribe now to ask your question, get answers, and stay up to date on the latest articles.

Get updates directly to your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Allen J. Blaivas, D.O. is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Sleep Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Learn more about him here.
Kelly Crumrin is a senior editor at MyHealthTeam and leads the creation of content that educates and empowers people with chronic illnesses. Learn more about her here.

Related Articles

A dry, nonproductive cough may be the only symptom of cough-variant asthma. People with cough-v...

What Is Cough-Variant Asthma? Sound, Symptoms, and Treatment

A dry, nonproductive cough may be the only symptom of cough-variant asthma. People with cough-v...
There’s no cure for asthma, although many people diagnosed as children no longer have symptoms ...

Does Childhood Asthma Go Away?

There’s no cure for asthma, although many people diagnosed as children no longer have symptoms ...
Identifying and avoiding triggers for children with asthma can make a huge difference in their we...

4 Foods That Can Trigger Asthma: Could It Be Food Allergies?

Identifying and avoiding triggers for children with asthma can make a huge difference in their we...
When you look up potential asthma triggers, you likely won’t find alcohol on the list. However, m...

Alcohol and Asthma: Can Some Drinks Be Triggers?

When you look up potential asthma triggers, you likely won’t find alcohol on the list. However, m...
Eosinophilic asthma is a severe form of asthma that involves high levels of inflammatory cells kn...

What Is Eosinophilic Asthma?

Eosinophilic asthma is a severe form of asthma that involves high levels of inflammatory cells kn...
Asthma is a very common chronic disease that affects 1 in 12 children under the age of 17 in the ...

Asthma in Infants: Symptoms, Triggers, Diagnosis, and More

Asthma is a very common chronic disease that affects 1 in 12 children under the age of 17 in the ...

Recent Articles

Here are four ways to save money on medications.

4 Ways To Reduce the Cost of Medication (VIDEO)

Here are four ways to save money on medications.
MyHealthTeam does not provide health services, and if you need help, we’d strongly encourage you ...

Crisis Resources

MyHealthTeam does not provide health services, and if you need help, we’d strongly encourage you ...
Asthma attacks can come at any time and occur anywhere — at school or work or while traveling. De...

Asthma Medical ID Bracelets: 3 Benefits

Asthma attacks can come at any time and occur anywhere — at school or work or while traveling. De...
Have you been feeling not quite yourself but not quite sure why or when this started? Because the...

Asthma and Mental Health: Depression, Anxiety, and More

Have you been feeling not quite yourself but not quite sure why or when this started? Because the...
Asthma can make it hard to stay active when physical activity triggers asthma symptoms.A study of...

7 Role Model Athletes With Asthma

Asthma can make it hard to stay active when physical activity triggers asthma symptoms.A study of...
Welcome to MyAsthmaTeam — the place to connect with others living with asthma. This video will w...

Getting Started on MyAsthmaTeam (VIDEO)

Welcome to MyAsthmaTeam — the place to connect with others living with asthma. This video will w...

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more: