It seems like asthma is becoming ever more prevalent these days. You’ve almost certainly heard of it. But unless you actually suffer from the problem, you might not know what actually transpires during an asthma attack. If you suspect you have asthma, or just want to know more about it, here’s some important information.

There are several typical symptoms of an asthma attack. These include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. It’s a serious situation, and can lead to death if untreated.

What causes an asthma attack? It’s different for everyone. Well known triggers include allergic substances like pollen, dust, environmental pollution, chemicals and smoke. Indeed, many attacks are actually caused by allergy induced asthma. Things like a change in the atmospheric pressure, cold air, exercise or a common cold virus can also trigger asthma symptoms.

An asthma attack takes place within the air passage to your lungs. The opening and closing of your airways are controlled by a specific muscle. You don’t have any control over this muscle; it’s totally automatic. But allergens or the other factors that were pointed out above can cause it to constrict. When you have an asthma condition, the muscle reacts disproportionately to the the triggers, thereby causing an attack.

When the muscle tightens, the airway narrows. It also gets clogged with mucus and the lining becomes swollen and inflamed. Normally, mucus in the airways is perfectly natural since it assists in the movement of air into the lungs. However, during an asthma attack, mucus production increases considerably, and it clogs the airway.

It’s hard to breathe when this accumulation of mucus is present. The asthma attack won’t end until the mucus is cleared away. So it’s essential that you manage your symptoms quickly with a medication that has been prescribed by your doctor.

Attacks are often only a few minutes in duration. However, a severe attack can last for hours or even days. You might experience a period of time without symptoms, but without proper treatment they’ll be back.

If you suspect you might have asthma, it’s essential that you visit your doctor immediately. Tests will be run in order to make an accurate diagnosis. As well, they’ll try to figure out what’s triggering the attacks. When you’ve established the factors that trigger your attacks, it’s critical that you do your best to avoid them. You’ll need to work closely with your doctor and follow the prescribed asthma remedies if you want to prevent future attacks. The attacks can be deadly, so don’t ignore your symptoms.