What is an asthma attack?
An asthma attack is a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms caused by the tightening of muscles around your airways (bronchospasm). During the asthma attack, the lining of the airways also becomes swollen or inflamed and thicker mucus — more than normal — is produced. All of these factors — bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production — cause symptoms of an asthma attack such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty performing normal daily activities.
An asthma attack is when the airways abruptly tighten, causing difficulty breathing. Asthma attacks can be triggered by infections, such as a cold or bronchitis, or from environmental causes, such as inhaling airborne irritants. Some people experience asthma attacks as a result of exercise, but this is uncommon.
When we breathe, air flows into our lungs through airways. During an asthma attack, the muscles surrounding the airways tighten and the lining gets inflamed and irritated and begins to fill with mucus. The airways become so small that air has a hard time getting in and out. This causes coughing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. Asthma attacks can be mild and last only a little while, but they can also be very serious and can even cause death. If you have asthma you should know when it’s time to seek immediate emergency medical care.
An asthma attack happens in your body’s airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branches of a tree are smaller than the tree trunk. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucus that your body produces clogs up the airways even more. The attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Some people call an asthma attack an episode.
