One in 11 children in the UK has asthma while around 8% of adults in the USA have asthma (Also refer to our other health articles on What is Asthma? and Treatment of Asthma).
Nearly half of all asthmatics have experienced an asthma attack. An asthma attack can be triggered by allergens such as smoke, air pollution, dust, irritant chemicals, exercise, change in weather and stress.
As such it is important for parents with asthmatic children and people with asthma to recognise signs of poor asthma control AND of an asthma attack.
During an asthma attack, there is a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms due to the tightening of muscles around the airways (known as bronchospasm). The lining of the airways becomes swollen with the production of thick mucus resulting in the following symptoms:
Severe wheezing
Coughing
Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
Chest tightness or feeling of pressure
Tightening of the neck and chest muscles
Feelings of anxiety or panic
Pale and sweaty face
Blue lips or fingernails (known as cyanosis)
Watch a video ‘What to do during an Asthma Attack’
Self Monitoring
Do monitor your asthma control by checking
your peak flow regularly as this gives you a direct measurement of your
lung function. An asthma attack can
escalate rapidly and as such it is important to recognise the early signs of
poor asthma control and they include
Disclaimer. TELEME blog posts contains general information about health conditions and treatments. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such.
If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.
