Asthma Attack

Asthma attack is a condition when the airways are blocked and muscles are tightened due to excessive swelling. There is unnecessary collection of mucus in the airways causing difficulty in breathing, thereby producing a whistling like sound when inhaling and exhaling, continuous coughing, shortness of breath, tightening of muscles in the neck causing acute pain. The affected person starts sweating and the face loses its color. He experiences a lot of panic and anxiety and has difficulty in talking. These bouts of attacks differ from a mild one lasting for some time to extreme conditions lasting for several days. The chronic ones need medical attention immediately or it could prove to be quite dangerous.

If the asthma attacks are not treated immediately breathing becomes more and more difficult. At a point the lungs will be depressed to the extent that there is no movement of the air, which is a dangerous situation. Some people misinterpret the stopping of wheezing, thinking that the attack has subsided but it could be that the supply of air is almost stopped. This condition can lead to patients being unable to talk. Their lips may attain a bluish color which indicates that the body is not receiving enough oxygen for the blood to flow. They can become unconscious and may even lose their lives.

Asthma attacks are even characterized by sharp increases in heartbeats. The person may start feeling restless. Shortness of breath causes lot of distress to the patient which could lead to a life risking situation. Some people may have prolonged periods of this disease without showing any signs of an attack, which may become worse, as they may be exposed to an asthmatic prone element or from excessive physical exercise.

An asthma attack cannot be ignored at any cost. If caution is not taken then a mild attack can lead to a severe persistent one. There are various medicines to prevent these attacks from becoming deadly. Patients can take the help of inhalers, some which are meant for providing instant relief. Some medicines are meant for curing severe cases which has a longer lasting effect.