Asthma is an increasingly common breathing disorder that affects both adults and children; if you or your child has asthma, it is important that you be aware of the acute asthma symptoms associated with a severe attack. Recognizing acute severe asthma attack symptoms in the early stages can make all the difference in treating this serious, sometimes even life-threatening condition. Asthma affects the airways in three distinct ways. During an asthma attack, the muscles that surround the airways contract, making it more difficult for air to pass through them freely. This is known as airway obstruction, and it causes shortness of breath, and in some cases, wheezing. Many asthma patients also experience inflammation of the soft tissue inside the bronchial passages; the airways become swollen and often fill with a thick mucus. Asthma sufferers also tend to experience airway irritability at even the slightest trigger, such as pollen, dust or animal dander. There are several different classifications of asthma, with allergic asthma being the most common. Allergy asthma symptoms range from mild to severe. Signs of an asthma attach include shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing. Mild to moderate asthma attack symptoms can generally be treated with an asthma inhaler such as Proventil, a bronchodilator inhaler which relaxes the muscles surrounding the air passages.
While mild asthma attack symptoms can generally be treated at home with a Proventil inhaler or anti-inflammatory medications, acute allergy
asthma symptoms are much more serious and may require emergency treatment. An acute asthma attack, also known as status asthmaticus, can lead to respiratory failure if it is not treated in time. Shortness of breath, a blueish tinge to the lips, and the inability to speak in complete sentences can indicate a severe asthma attack. The patient may exhibit breathlessness even while lying down, or may stand and stretch in an attempt to open the blocked airways. In addition, a person having a severe asthma attack may be confused or agitated and unable to focus. Status asthmaticus may be diagnosed if the patient does not respond quickly to a bronchodilator or corticosteroid inhaler; this is a potentially life-threatening condition that is considered a medical emergency. Asthma patients having a severe, acute asthma attack may be treated with an asthma nebulizer or injected epinephrine. In some cases, a ventilator may be necessary to provide oxygen until the lungs recover and the patient is able to resume breathing on his or her own. Doctors recommend that a Proventil inhaler be used at the first sign of acute asthma symptoms; in many cases, early intervention can reduce the need for an emergency room visit or a longer hospital stay.
