A Helpful Guide To Asthma.
When it comes to living with asthma, having access to the right information is essential. Use the helpfil resources below to educate yourself and others about asthma.
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What do you need to know about Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system in which the airways occasionally become constricted and inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus often in response to one or more asthma triggers. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant such as an allergen, tobacco smoke, moist air, cold or warm air, perfume, pet dander, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. This narrowing of the airway causes symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. The airway constriction responds to bronchodilators. Between episodes, most patients feel well but can have mild asthma symptoms and they may remain short of breath after exercise for longer periods of time than the unaffected individual. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of asthma remedies and environmental changes.
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. Other symptoms of an asthma attack include:
- Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
- Coughing with Asthma that won't stop
- Very rapid breathing
- Chest pain or pressure
- Tightening neck and chest muscles, called retractions
- Difficulty talking
- Feelings of anxiety or panic
- Pale, sweaty face
- Blue lips or fingernails
Or worsening symptoms despite use of your medications or asthma treatment.
Some people with asthma signs may go for extended periods without having an asthma attack or other symptoms, interrupted by periodic worsening of their symptoms, due to exposure to asthma triggers or perhaps from overdoing it during exercise-induced asthma.
Mild asthma attacks are generally more common. Usually, the airways open up within a few minutes to a few hours after treatment. Severe asthma attacks are less common but last longer and require immediate medical help. It is important to get the correct asthma diagnosis and treat even mild asthma symptoms of an attack to help you prevent severe episodes and keep asthma under control.
What Happens If an Asthma Attack Goes Untreated?
Without immediate asthma medicine and asthma treatments, your breathing will become more labored, and wheezing may get louder. If you use a peak flow meter during an asthma attack, your personal best reading will probably be reduced. As your lungs continue to tighten during the asthma attack, you will be unable to use the peak flow meter at all, especially if it is an acute asthma attack. Gradually, your lungs will tighten so much during the asthma attack that there is not enough air movement to produce wheezing. This is sometimes called the "silent chest," and it is a dangerous sign. You may need to be taken to a hospital immediately with a severe asthma attack. Unfortunately, some people interpret the disappearance of wheezing during the asthma attack as a sign of improvement and fail to get prompt emergency care.If you do not receive adequate treatment for an asthma attack, you will eventually be unable to speak and will develop a bluish coloring around your lips. This color change, known as "cyanosis," means you have less and less oxygen in your blood. Without immediate aggressive treatment in an intensive care unit, you will lose consciousness and eventually die.
How Do I Recognize the Early Signs of an Asthma Attack?
Changes that happen just before or at the very beginning of an asthma attack are early warning signs. These changes are the earliest signs that your asthma is worsening and they start before the well known symptoms of asthma. You can stop an asthma attack or help prevent one from geting worse by recognizing these signs. Generally though, these asthma attack symptoms are usually not severe enough to stop you from going about your normal daily activities.
Early Warning Signs of an Asthma Attack include:
· Reduced peak flow meter readings
· Shortness of breath losing your breath easily
· Coughing and/or wheezing after exercise or exercise induced asthma
· Changes or decreases in your lung function as measured on a peak flow meter
· Frequent cough, especially at night
· A feeling of weakness or feeling very tired when exercising
· Feeling grouchy or moody, tired or easily upset
· Having trouble sleeping with night time asthma
· Signs of allergies or a cold (runny nose, sneezing,nasal congestion, cough,sore throat and headache)It is very important to treat these symptoms immediately once you recognize them, as the severity of an allergy induced asthma attack can escalate rapidly.
What Do I do if I Have an Asthma Attack?
Above all, stay calm. If you or someone you know is experiencing an asthma attack and the symptoms are not improving after following the asthma action plan, you must contact your asthma Doctor and follow the "Red Zone" or emergency instructions. Immediate medical attention is necessary.
Additional Resources for Asthma
Asthma - MedlinePlus
Comprehensive information about asthma, the chronic disease which affects one's lung airways.
What Is Asthma? - NHLBI
Describes the chronic disease of asthma which affects the lung airways and cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble in breathing. From the diseases and conditions index of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute [NHLBI].
Asthma Center - MayoClinic
Comprehensive patient information about asthma in children and adults. Includes symptoms, treatments, asthma management, inhalers, and other medications.
What are the bloggers saying about Asthma ?
Asthma And Allergy information at a glance. Asthma can be very serious if not monitored and certain precautions aren't taken. Those who experience someone else having an asthma attack find the experience just as frightening. ... source..
All these information are handy for you and your doc to track the benefits and loopholes of the present treatment. As we all know asthma is not a fatal disease if proper care is taken. Medical record indicates that 90% of asthma related ... source..
There are many factors in regards to asthma information that must be taken into account when discussing the matter of asthma, and with so much asthma information out there, it can be hard to understand even the basics of the disease. ... source..
Improving Performance in Practice Asthma Initiative Selected for Spread by Alliance for Pediatric Quality. Advertisement: source..
News about Asthma
This week's issue of the prestigious medical journal the Lancet is devoted to research findings on asthma. But the editorial accompanying the studies is what caught my eye. In no uncertain terms, the authors of the editorial paint a dismal picture ... source..
This week's issue of the prestigious medical journal the Lancet is devoted to research findings on asthma. But the editorial accompanying the studies is what caught my eye. In no uncertain terms, the authors of the editorial paint a dismal picture ... source..
This week's issue of the prestigious medical journal the Lancet is devoted to research findings on asthma. But the editorial accompanying the studies is what caught my eye. In no uncertain terms, the authors of the editorial paint a dismal picture ... source..
This week's issue of the prestigious medical journal the Lancet is devoted to research findings on asthma. But the editorial accompanying the studies is what caught my eye. In no uncertain terms, the authors of the editorial paint a dismal picture ... source..
This week's issue of the prestigious medical journal the Lancet is devoted to research findings on asthma. But the editorial accompanying the studies is what caught my eye. In no uncertain terms, the authors of the editorial paint a dismal picture ... source..
This week's issue of the prestigious medical journal the Lancet is devoted to research findings on asthma. But the editorial accompanying the studies is what caught my eye. In no uncertain terms, the authors of the editorial paint a dismal picture ... source..
Looking for more information on Asthma ?
Try some of the other pages in this section: Asthma Asthma Action Plan,