Asthma is a long-term disease of the lungs. This disease narrows and inflames air passageways, making breathing difficult. Some asthma symptoms are mild, but when they get severe, it's called an asthma attack. Other names for an asthma attack include an exacerbation and a flare-up. There is no cure for asthma, but knowledge about what happens during an asthma attack and treatments can help patients better manage the disease and live normal lives.
Inflammation
People with asthma have inflamed airways, which carry air into and out of the lungs. These airways are sensitive to irritants, and they can become more inflamed when exposed to triggers. These triggers, such as cigarette smoke, pollen, mold and dust mites, can cause airways to become more inflamed.
Muscle Tightening
When the airways react to an asthmatic trigger, the muscles that surround the airways contract and tighten. When these muscles tighten, the airways become smaller. Because the airways become smaller, less air can be breathed through them, resulting in less oxygen reaching the lungs. The tightening of the muscles can also result in additional swelling of the airway walls, contributing to the reduction in size of the airways.
Breathing
When airways become smaller, breathing becomes more difficult. This can result in wheezing sounds coming from the airways. This can also result in coughing.
Mucous
During an asthma attack, airway walls can produce more mucus than usual. This adds to the narrowing of the airways, making breathing even more difficult.
Chest Tightness
In addition to increasing difficulty with breathing, a feeling of tightness in the chest can develop during an asthma attack.
Severe Attack
A severe asthma attack can result in respiratory arrest, a condition in which breathing stops. This can lead to death.
Treatment
Prescribed treatments for asthma help to reduce the symptoms of asthma. They help open airways so that breathing can return to normal.
