Understanding Asthma Attacks
Posted by GuestW on May 10, 2009 in Treatments • No commentsIt 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.
Symptoms of an asthma attack include shortness of breath, coughing and a wheezing or whistling sound in your chest. It’s a serious situation, and can lead to death if untreated.
What causes an asthma attack? It’s different for everyone. Some of the most common triggers are allergens such as dust, pollution, pollen, cigarette smoke and perfume. Indeed, many attacks are actually caused by allergy induced asthma. 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. It’s completely reflexive, so you can’t control it voluntarily. 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.
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. As long as the excess mucus is in place, the asthma attack won’t stop. That’s why it’s so important to treat your symptoms immediately with a prescribed medication.
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. Tests will be run in order to make an accurate diagnosis. 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 remedies are essential. The attacks can be deadly, so don’t ignore your symptoms.
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