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.
So what is it that sets off an attack of asthma? It can vary depending on the individual. Some of the most common triggers are allergens such as dust, pollution, pollen, cigarette smoke and perfume. Indeed, allergies and asthma often go hand in hand. There are also other factors that can set off an asthma attack, including exercise, cold air, pressure changes, and viral infections.
An asthma attack takes place within the air passage to your 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. However, it can be caused to tighten by certain irritants or external conditions, as mentioned earlier. If you suffer from asthma, the muscle tends to overreact to the irritants, and you’ll experience an asthma 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. 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.
It’s hard to breathe when this accumulation of mucus is present. The asthma attack won’t end until the mucus is cleared away. That’s why it’s so important to treat your symptoms immediately with a prescribed medication.
Attacks are often only a few minutes in duration. 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. Once you know what your triggers are, it’s essential that you avoid them as much as possible. In order to avoid asthma attacks in the future, close medical supervision and a strong commitment to using the proper asthma treatment are essential. The attacks can be deadly, so don’t ignore your symptoms.
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Tags: allergies, allergy induced asthma, asthma