Which condition is characterized by severe breathing difficulties and episodes of coughing and wheezing?

The condition characterized by severe breathing difficulties, along with episodes of coughing and wheezing, is asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes recurrent breathing problems, which are often triggered by allergens, respiratory infections, or physical exertion. The inflammation leads to narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe, and is commonly accompanied by wheezing sounds due to the turbulent airflow.

Individuals with asthma may also experience coughing, especially at night or early in the morning, and this cough may be worse when airways are inflamed. The episodic nature of asthma is a significant factor, as symptoms can vary considerably in frequency and severity over time.

While chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are also associated with breathing difficulties, they tend to present differently. Chronic bronchitis involves a persistent cough with mucus production, emphysema primarily involves damage to the lung's air sacs leading to breathlessness, and COPD is an overarching term that includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema, typically not characterized by the episodic wheezing found in asthma. Thus, the specific symptoms of coughing and wheezing during episodes directly align with asthma's characteristics.