During an asthma attack, the airways in the lungs swell and inflame, causing the breathing or bronchial tubes to narrow, according to the MayoClinic.com. A person may cough, wheeze and have trouble breathing during an asthma attack. Asthma attacks can be triggered by a variety of irritants such as pets, pollen, tobacco smoke, respiratory infections or cold, dry air. Most asthma attacks are mild and can be treated promptly with medication, but an asthma attack can become more serious, requiring prompt emergency treatment or hospitalization.
Inference with Normal Activities
An asthmatic attack can interfere with normal everyday activities such as sleep, school, work or exercise, according to the MayoClinic.com. An asthma attack can not only impact a person's well-being and quality of life, it can also disrupt the lives of the people around them. Serious asthma attacks can precipitate an endless cycle of trips to the emergency room, which can be financially and physically taxing on the body and the bank account. Asthmatic people are more likely to experience asthma attacks when they are stressed than when they are experiencing a sense of calm.
Bronchiolitis
Repeated asthma attacks can lower the immune system and cause a condition called bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis occurs when oxygen is prevented from circulating in and out of the lungs due to inflammation of the airways, according to the website Health Central. This condition is primarily caused by the respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, but it can also be caused by other viral infections such as rhinovirus, influenza or the human metapneumovirus, according to the website Kids Health. People with asthma may experience an asthma attack when the infection irritates and inflames the small passages in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Respiratory Failure or Death
In severe cases, an asthma attack can lead to respiratory failure or death, according to the MayoClinic.com. Approximately 4,000 deaths occur in the United States each year as a result of an asthma attack, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. People who have a prolonged or severe asthma attack may experience respiratory failure and possibly death as a result of respiratory muscle fatigue and the inability to breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Asthmatic women over the age of 40 and those who experience a delay in asthma treatment are more prone to suffer respiratory failure or death, according to the website Health Newsflash.
