How To Tell If You’re Having An Asthma Attack
An asthma attack usually begins when common asthma symptoms suddenly worsen. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), these symptoms can include:
WheezingShortness of breathA feeling of tightness in your chestFatigueCoughing at night or early morningWaking up during the night with breathing difficulty
If these symptoms become severe or more frequent, you may be having an asthma attack, which can turn dangerous. If an attack reaches the point where you’re unable to breathe while walking or talking, you should go to an emergency room for treatment. “An asthma attack feels like you’re trying to breathe underwater,” says Melissa McDonald, of Houston, who has been living with allergic asthma since age 4. If you’ve never been diagnosed with asthma but think you may have this condition or think you have experienced an asthma attack in the past, you should talk with your doctor. You will need to get an accurate diagnosis and then develop a written asthma action plan so that you know what to do in the future. If you’re experiencing asthma symptoms that last more than two days a week or are awakening from asthma at least two nights a month, you should be taking medication, says Robert F. Lemanske Jr., MD, head of the Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology and a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.
What Causes Asthma Attacks?
Having asthma is like having a touchy airway, says Richard Castriotta, MD, director of the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. This airway — i.e., the bronchial tubes that usher air in and out of our lungs — overreacts to a large number of irritants that don’t bother other people, he explains. Some doctors also describe an asthma attack as an “asthma exacerbation.” That’s because the airways may become tightly constricted during an asthma attack. But constriction isn’t the only problem — these airways also become inflamed and swollen. The exact cause of asthma is not known, but it’s probably a combination of genetic risk and environmental factors. Asthma attacks often occur in response to “triggers,” or elements in your environment that increase the irritation in your airways. Triggers vary from person to person. You may be able to tell immediately if something causes asthma symptoms, or you might need to be tested for allergies to find out what’s causing your symptoms. According to the AAAAI, some of the most common asthma triggers are:
Smoke (from sources like tobacco, wood, and incense)OzoneNitrogen dioxide from gas heaters and stovesDust mites or cockroachesMold or mildewPet danderExerciseStrong emotionsStress
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What Can I Do About Asthma Attacks?
The best way to manage an asthma attack is to prevent them from ever occurring. Here’s how:
Eliminate triggers. Once you know what triggers your asthma, do your best to avoid those things, according to the AAAAI. You might have to be more rigorous about keeping a clean house or avoiding smokers, for instance.Take your asthma meds exactly as directed. These drugs may prevent an asthma attack even if you can’t avoid triggers. When researchers looked at health data from 32,172 Medicaid patients in Texas who had asthma, they found that people who followed their doctors’ recommendations for using a controller medication were less likely to have a flare of symptoms. The study, published in the December 2015 issue of the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, stresses the importance of working with your health care provider so that you understand when to use controller medications and when to use rescue inhalers.Treat asthma symptoms early. At the first sign of worsening symptoms, try to get away from any triggers in your environment and use your prescribed rescue medications, such as an albuterol inhaler.Get additional help. If your asthma symptoms get worse or increase in number and you have been unable to prevent a full asthma attack, call your doctor’s office or go to the nearest emergency room for medical help. If you’re taking extra puffs of a rescue inhaler but it’s not relieving your symptoms, Dr. Lemanske says, you should go to the ER or dial 911.
Asthma attacks can’t always be prevented, but with guidance from your doctor, you can learn to respond quickly to manage them. When talking with your health care provider, be sure you understand the limitations of home treatment and at what point you must get emergency medical attention.
