An Asthma Attack – Wheezing and Shortness of Breath

An asthma attack also known as a flare or an asthma episode is a state where the patient feels a shortness of breath interrupting his/her well-being, requiring medication or other forms of intervention to regulate and control normal breathing again. Learn how to stop asthma attack before it happens.

Asthma attacks accompanied by wheezing (production of a whistling or rattling sound) occur in situations where air is unable to flow unrestricted, due to impediments present in the bronchial passages. Wheezing at the initial stage of the attack occurs during exhalation but as the attack progresses, it may occur as the patient both inhales and exhales. With further progress of the attack, the wheezing may stop – this is usually indicative of complete blockage of the small airways; which is an extremely grave condition.

Too Much Mucus, Inflammations or Constricted Airways

Constricting, swollen, or mucus lined airways when exposed to triggering events like the presence of allergens like exercise, cold air or some kind of emotional stress, respond by producing asthma attacks. Children are usually found to have attacks due to extremely common triggering events such as viral illnesses and common colds. If the airways develop an increased responsive sensitivity to stimuli, asthma attacks become chronic and recurring. This is characterized by inflammation, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, sporadic obstruction of the air passages, as well as increased production of mucus.

The numbers of asthmatics in developed countries are increasing and as many as 1/4th of urban children are said to suffer from asthma attacks. A person in the midst of a severe attack may turn blue because of the depletion of available oxygen in the lungs. He/she may also experience pain in the chest and sometimes perhaps even lose consciousness that could lead to a respiratory arrest or greater still, death. Though a severe attack is thus life threatening, few signs of asthma are ever manifested in between attacks.

A doctor treating an asthmatic might be required to study his/her patient’s clinical history along with taking a complete examination. They must remember to consider alternative possibilities before diagnosing someone an asthmatic. Anyhow, the most effective treatment for asthma is to identify the triggers that cause it to occur (including pets, aspirin, etc) and then preventing exposure to these triggers.

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