Understanding Asthma Attacks
It seems like asthma is becoming ever more prevalent these days. No doubt you’ve heard about it. But unless you actually suffer from the problem, you might not know what actually transpires during an asthma attack. If you’ve just been diagnosed with the condition, here are some facts you should know.
There are several typical symptoms of an asthma attack. These include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. It’s a serious situation, and can lead to death if untreated.
So what is it that sets off an attack of asthma? It’s different for everyone. Some of the most common triggers are allergens such as dust, pollution, pollen, cigarette smoke and perfume. 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.
The site of an asthma attack is the airways leading to the lungs. There’s a muscle located outside the airway that controls when it opens and closes. 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. If you suffer from asthma, the muscle tends to overreact to the irritants, and you’ll experience an asthma attack.
If the muscle tightens up, the air passage becomes constricted. As well, a build up of mucus takes place, and at the same time the lining becomes inflamed and starts to swell. The presence of mucus in the air passages is completely normal, because it helps the flow of air from the lungs. However, during an asthma attack, mucus production increases considerably, and it clogs the airway.
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. However, a severe attack can last for hours or even days. You might experience a period of time without symptoms, but without proper treatment they’ll be back.
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. As well, they’ll try to figure out what’s triggering the attacks. Once you know what your triggers are, it’s essential that you avoid them as much as possible. You’ll need to work closely with your doctor and follow the prescribed asthma treatments if you want to prevent future attacks. Never ignore the symptoms, because an asthma attack can be life threatening.
