Word Origin & History. aphorism 1520s (especially in ref. to the Aphorisms of Hippocrates), from M.Fr. aphorisme, from L.L. aphorismus, from Gk. aphorismos definition, pithy sentence, from aphorizein to mark off, divide, from apo- from + horizein to bound..
All of these factors -- bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production -- cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty performing normal daily activities. Other symptoms of an asthma attack include: Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out.
Breathing Difficulty Symptoms. Signs of severe breathing difficulty include a rapid respiratory rate, wheezing, rib retractions, nasal flaring, and cyanosis. A person with severe breathing difficulty uses the neck and chest muscles to breathe. In someone with asthma, breathing difficulty occurs with wheezing. In someone with heart disease, difficulty breathing worsens during exercise.