Why asthma attacks?

Why asthma attacks?

An  asthma attack is a  sudden worsening of asthma symptoms caused by the tightening of muscles around your  airways (bronchospasm). Duri... 20:41:00

An  asthma attack is a  sudden worsening of asthma symptoms caused by the tightening of muscles around your  airways (bronchospasm). During the  asthma attack, the lining of the airways  also becomes swollen or inflamed and thicker mucus -- more than normal -- is produced. All of these factors -- bronchospasm, inflammation,  and  mucus production -- cause symptoms of  an asthma attack such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath,  and difficulty performing normal daily activities. Other symptoms of an asthma attack may include:

1. Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
2. Coughing that won't stop
3. Very rapid breathing
4. Chest tightness or pressure
5. Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
6. Difficulty talking
7. Feelings of anxiety or panic
8. Pale, sweaty face
9. Blue lips or fingernails
10. Or worsening symptoms despite use of your medications

Call Emergency line if you have any of these symptoms.

Some people with asthma may go for  extended periods without  having an asthma attack or other symptoms, interrupted by periodic  worsening of their symptoms, due to exposure to asthma triggers or  perhaps from  overdoing it as in exercise-induced asthma.

Mild  asthma  attacks are generally more common.Usually, the airways open up within a few minutes  to a few hours after treatment. Severe asthma attacks are less common but  last longer and require  immediate  medical   help. It is important to recognize and treat even mild symptoms of an asthma  attack to help  you prevent severe episodes  and keep asthma under control.

Asthma Medication 1

Without immediate Asthma medicine and asthma treatment, your breathing may become more labored, and wheezing may get louder. If you use a peak flow meter during an asthma attack, your reading  will probably be less than your personal best.

       As your  lungs continue to tighten during the asthma attack, you may be   unable to use the peak flow meter at all. Gradually, your lungs may tighten so much during the asthma  attack  that there is not enough  air  movement to produce wheezing. This is sometimes called the "silent chest," and it is a dangerous sign. You  need to be taken to a hospital immediately with a severe asthma attack. Call 911 for help. Unfortunately, some people  interpret the disappearance of wheezing during the asthma attack as a sign of improvement and fail to get prompt emergency care.

       If you do not  receive adequate treatment for an asthma  attack, you may eventually be unable to speak and can develop a bluish coloring around your lips. This color change, known as "cyanosis," means you have less and less oxygen in your blood. Without immediate  aggressive  treatment in an emergency room or intensive care unit, you may lose consciousness and eventually die.

How Do I Recognize the Early Signs of an Asthma Attack?

Early  warning signs are changes that happen just before or at the very   beginning of an  asthma attack. These  changes  start before the well-known symptoms  of  asthma and are the earliest signs that your asthma is  worsening.

In general,  these early asthma  attack symptoms are not severe enough  to  stop you from going about your daily activities. But by recognizing these signs, you can  stop an asthma attack or prevent one from  getting worse.

Early warning signs of an asthma attack may  include:

1. Frequent  cough, especially at night
2. Reduced peak flow meter readings
3. Losing your breath easily or shortness of breath
4. Feeling very tired or weak when exercising
5. Wheezing or coughing during or after exercise (exercise-induced asthma)
6. Feeling tired, easily upset, grouchy, or moody
7. Decreases or changes in lung function as  measured on a peak flow meter
8. Signs of a cold or allergies (sneezing, runny  nose, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and headache)
9. Trouble sleeping  with nighttime  asthma

The severity of an asthma attack  can escalate rapidly, so it's  important to treat these symptoms immediately  once you recognize them.

Asthma Medication 2

Asthma medication plays a key role in how well you control your  condition. There are  two main types of treatment, each geared toward a specific goal. 

1. Controller medications are  the most important because they prevent  asthma  attacks. When you use these drugs, your  airways are less inflamed and less likely  to react to triggers.
2. Quick-relief medications -- also  called rescue medications -- relax  the muscles  around your airway. If you have to use a rescue medication more than twice a  week, your asthma isn’t well-controlled. But  people  who have exercise-induced asthma may use a  quick-acting med called a beta-agonist before a  workout.

The right medication should  allow  you to live an active and normal life.  If your asthma symptoms aren’t controlled, ask  your doctor to  help you  find a  different treatment that works better.

Long-Term Control Medications

These drugs  are  taken daily over a long time to get your asthma under control and keep it that way.

The most  effective ones  stop airway inflammation. Your doctor may suggest you combine an anti-inflammatory drug with other drugs such as:

• Long-acting beta-agonists. A beta-agonist is a type of drug called a bronchodilator, which opens your airways.  

• Leukotriene modifiers  block chemicals that cause  inflammation.

• Mast cell stabilizers  curb the release of chemicals that cause  inflammation.

• Theophylline is a  bronchodilator used to prevent nighttime  symptoms.

• An immunomodulator is an  injection given if you have moderate to severe asthma  related to allergies that doesn’t respond to inhaled certain  drugs.

Asthma | Cought | Infections | Leukotriene modifiers | Immunomodulator | Drug