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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’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, 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. 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. However, it can be caused to tighten by certain irritants or external conditions, as mentioned earlier. When you have an asthma condition, the muscle reacts disproportionately to the the triggers, thereby causing an 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. Normally, mucus in the airways is perfectly natural since it assists in the movement of air into 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.

Attacks are often only a few minutes in duration. 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.

It’s important to check with your doctor right away if you think you have asthma. Tests will be run in order to make an accurate diagnosis. As well, they’ll try to figure out what’s triggering the 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. The attacks can be deadly, so don’t ignore your symptoms.

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