What is asthma attack?

During an asthma attack, the airways swell and narrow. This makes it hard to breathe. Severe asthma attacks can be dangerous. But you can help prevent these attacks by keeping your asthma under control and treating symptoms before they get bad. Symptoms include being short of breath, having chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. Noting and treating these symptoms can also help you avoid trips to the emergency room.

If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.

When you have an asthma attack, airflow to the lungs is reduced.

During an asthma attack:

• It may be hard to breathe. You may feel short of breath. And your breathing may be rapid or shallow.
• You may feel like you can't take a deep breath (chest tightness). Children with chest tightness may complain of a stomachache.
• You may make whistling noises when you breathe (wheezing).
• You may cough.

Asthma symptoms may start suddenly or happen up to several hours after you have been exposed to triggers, such as tobacco smoke or animal dander. In some cases, symptoms may not occur until 4 to 12 hours after contact. Although severe attacks may seem to occur suddenly, they usually occur after several days of increasing symptoms.

Quick-relief medicines are given to relax the airways so you can breathe easier. Corticosteroid medicines are used to reduce inflammation. They may be inhaled or given as pills or a shot. Some asthma attacks may need treatment in the hospital. You may get extra oxygen or help with breathing if needed.

There's no certain way to prevent asthma. But you can reduce your risk of asthma attacks by avoiding things that cause them. For example, don't smoke. Try not to exercise outside when it's cold and dry. And stay inside when pollution levels are high. Using your asthma controller medicine helps prevent asthma attacks.

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, when they occur, and your past health. You will have a physical exam. A breathing test may be done to find out how well your lungs work.

• Follow your asthma action plan to prevent and treat attacks. If you don't have an asthma action plan, work with your doctor to create one.
• Take your asthma medicines exactly as prescribed. Talk to your doctor right away if you have any questions about how to take them.
  • Use your quick-relief medicine when you have symptoms of an asthma attack. Some people need to use quick-relief medicine before they exercise to prevent asthma symptoms. Albuterol is a quick-relief medicine that is often used. In some cases, a certain type of controller inhaler is used as a quick-relief medicine. Ask your doctor what to use for quick relief.
  • Take your controller medicine. If you have symptoms often, you will likely need to take it every day. Controller medicine usually includes an inhaled corticosteroid. The goal is to prevent problems before they occur.
  • If your doctor prescribed corticosteroid pills to use during an attack, take them exactly as prescribed. It may take hours for the pills to work, but they may make the episode shorter and help you breathe better.
  • Keep your quick-relief medicine with you at all times.
• Talk to your doctor before using other medicines. Some medicines, such as aspirin, can cause asthma attacks in some people.
• If you have a peak flow meter, use it to check how well you are breathing. This can help you predict when an asthma attack is going to occur. Then you can take medicine to prevent the asthma attack or make it less severe.
• Do not smoke or allow others to smoke around you. Avoid smoky places. Smoking makes asthma worse. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
• Learn what triggers an asthma attack for you, and avoid the triggers when you can. Common triggers include colds, smoke, air pollution, dust, pollen, mold, pets, cockroaches, stress, and cold air.
• Avoid infections such as COVID-19, colds, and the flu. Wash your hands often. Talk to your doctor about getting a pneumococcal vaccine. If you have had one before, ask your doctor if you need a second dose. Get a flu vaccine every fall. Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.

Asthma attacks are caused by:

• Long-term (chronic) inflammation in the tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes). Inflammation leads to overreaction (hyperresponsiveness) of the tubes to triggers.
• Tightening of the smooth muscles in the bronchial tubes, causing the airways to become smaller. This reduces airflow in and out of the lungs.
• Extra mucus produced by the mucous glands in the bronchial tubes. This can occur in some people who have asthma and can interfere with airflow.

Anything that makes your asthma or breathing worse can cause an asthma attack.

It may be things that you are allergic to, such as:

• Pollen.
• Dust or dust mites.
• Pet dander.
• Cockroaches.
• Mold.

Other things can cause an asthma attack too, such as:

• Cigarette smoke, air pollution, and chemicals.
• A cold, the flu, or another type of upper respiratory infection.
• Exercise. Many people with asthma have symptoms when they exercise.
• Dry, cold air.
• Medicines, such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or beta-blockers.
• Changes in hormones, such as during the start of a woman's menstrual blood flow or pregnancy.

When asthma symptoms suddenly occur, it's called an asthma attack. It's also called an acute asthma episode, flare-up, or exacerbation. Attacks can be brief (about an hour) or last for several days. They may be seasonal (similar to hay fever) or occur during any season.