Understanding Asthma Attacks
Asthma is an increasingly common health condition in modern society. You’ve almost certainly heard of it. But if you’ve never experienced an asthma attack, you probably don’t know what goes on during one. If you suspect you have asthma, or just want to know more about it, here’s some important information.
Symptoms of an asthma attack include shortness of breath, coughing and a wheezing or whistling sound in your chest. This is a severe condition, and can be fatal if you don’t learn to manage it.
What causes an asthma attack? It can vary depending on the individual. Well known triggers include allergic substances like pollen, dust, environmental pollution, chemicals and smoke. In fact, allergies and asthma are very closely related. Things like a change in the atmospheric pressure, cold air, exercise or a common cold virus can also trigger asthma symptoms.
An asthma attack takes place within the air passage to your lungs. The opening and closing of your airways are controlled by a specific muscle. You don’t have any control over this muscle; it’s totally automatic. But allergens or the other factors that were pointed out above can cause it to constrict. When you have an asthma condition, the muscle reacts disproportionately to the the triggers, thereby causing an attack.
When the muscle tightens, the airway narrows. As well, a build up of mucus takes place, and at the same time the lining becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Normally, mucus in the airways is perfectly natural since it assists in the movement of air into the lungs. But when you’re experiencing an asthma attack, the production of mucus increases, thereby filling the air passages.
This sticky mucus makes it very difficult to breathe. The asthma attack won’t end until the mucus is cleared away. So it’s essential that you manage your symptoms quickly with a medication that has been prescribed by your doctor.
Sometimes an attack will last just a few minutes. A severe attack, though, can go on for hours or days. There will be intervals where you might not experience any symptoms, but they will soon return if you don’t receive the proper medication.
If you suspect you might have asthma, it’s essential that you visit your doctor immediately. He or she will run some tests to diagnose the situation. They will also try to pinpoint the cause of your attacks. When you’ve established the factors that trigger your attacks, it’s critical that you do your best to avoid them. In order to avoid asthma attacks in the future, close medical supervision and a strong commitment to using the proper asthma treatments are essential. Never ignore the symptoms, because an asthma attack can be life threatening.
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