When Asthma Attacks


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when everyday asthma turns into an attack

What's the first clue that your everyday asthma is getting worse and you are on your way to having an asthma attack? The whistling sound you make when you breathe (i.e., wheezing)? A tight grip around your chest? A cough? People may have different warning signs, so it's key to know your own red flags. It's also important to monitor your peak flow. By monitoring your peak flow, you can tell when your asthma may be worsening and when an attack is about to happen. Most people with asthma have one or more of these classic signs when their asthma is getting worse:

Wheezing. A loud whistling sound that's usually heard when you breathe out.
Coughing. A cough or hack that may not go away and often occurs or is worse at night.
Chest tightness. Feels like a rope is tightening around your chest.
Shortness of breath. Like you're trying to breathe through a straw—or worse, like you can’t catch your breath at all.

These symptoms can kick in or get worse when you come into contact with one of your triggers. For some people, it's a blast of cold air, dust, or even perfume. Others find that their asthma gets worse during certain seasons, like the spring, when pollen levels are high. Still others have more trouble with their asthma when they're getting over a cold or while exercising.

So how can such tiny particles like pollen have such a big effect? Your lungs react as if they are at war with these things. When you cough or wheeze at the start of an attack, it's just a sign that your lungs are trying to fight off what your body thinks is an invader. Here's a description of what really happens deep within the airways of your lungs during this fight:

CONSTRICTION. The muscles around the airways of the lungs squeeze together or tighten. This tightening is often called constriction, and it can make it hard for you to breathe the air in or out of your lungs.
INFLAMMATION. The airways in the lungs redden and swell when an attack begins. Your healthcare professional may refer to this redness and swelling as "inflammation." The swelling can reduce the amount of air that your lungs can take in.

When all these things are going on in your airways, it gets harder for you to breathe, and that's how you lose your breath. But the bottom line on asthma is this: it can be a quiet, sneaky condition that's always with you. Your airways may be inflamed and constricted, whether you can feel it or not. That's why it's so important to treat asthma every day—even when you're feeling fine—because there is increasing evidence that, if left untreated, asthma can cause long-term loss of lung function.

It's also important to be aware that there are tools you can use to keep your asthma from sneaking up on you. Ask your healthcare professional about breathing tests that measure how well your lungs are working and if you may need more help to keep your asthma under control. Your healthcare professional can also show you how to test your breathing at home using a "Peak Flow Meter."

By following the daily treatment plan your healthcare professional provides, you can help stop attacks before they start! You should also be prepared and know what to do if you do have an attack.

Daily treatment helps ensure easy breathing, not just today but for your whole life.