DH couldn't breathe last night. Could it be asthma?

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He has had an irritating dry cough for ages (irritating to me anyway). last night he was asleep then coughed then couldn't breath afterwards. was hacking and coughing and making weirdy noises. After legging it up the stairs I made him sit down, shouted at him to stop being ridiculous and made him drink some water. He went a bit blue and I was about to call an ambulance when he finally got back to normal. carried on coughing for a bit. I stayed awake till he went to work and he's been ok since.
He wasn't wheezing as such, just making a lot of noise trying to breathe.
Have forced him to make an appointment for the Drs for tomorrow. Am wondering if it was just a nightmare, panic sort of thing or if the coughing means it is something real. what do you think?

I have asthma and coughing is my main symptom. Have only had the wheezing, terribly chest tightness thing once. He should definitely get checked out.

It could have been reflux perhaps?

Though when I was diagnosed with croup a couple of weeks or so ago it was difficult to breathe - very noisy and wheezy, particularly as I tried to cough and during the cough. But I was very poorly in general.

it could be but could also be whooping cough if he has paroxysms of coughing and then struggles to breathe after - and if he's fine in between.