An asthma attack is much more than just feeling winded after exercise and needing to catch your breath. Asthma is a chronic condition that affects 25 million people in the U.S. and involves the airways becoming irritated and inflamed. Asthma attacks happen when the symptoms worsen to the point where a person feels like they are unable to breathe.
What Does it Feel Like?
“Asthma attacks can be very stressful on the body,” says Mili Shum, MD, an allergist and immunologist at University of Utah Health. “During an asthma attack, bronchospasms can occur, where the airways get narrow and reduce the amount of airflow.”
During an asthma attack, you may:
- Feel like you can’t take a deep breath
- Experience chest tightness or pain
- Have trouble sleeping or talking due to breathlessness
- Have a whistling or wheezing sound when you breathe
- Cough persistently
Some people have silent asthma, meaning they may not cough or wheeze during an attack, but still experience the other symptoms. Silent asthma attacks can become more severe because early signs might be missed.
What Triggers an Attack?
Several different factors can lead to an asthma attack, and they vary from person to person. They include:
- Environmental allergens like pollen, pet dander, cockroaches, dust mites, and mold
- Respiratory infections including upper respiratory illnesses, COVID-19, influenza, the common cold, and pneumonia
- Pollutants or chemicals in the air
- Smoke, including cigarette smoke
- Very hot or very cold temperatures
- Physical activity
If you know you have asthma, you can keep it under control and prevent asthma attacks by avoiding your triggers, taking preventive medications, or treating underlying allergies with allergy shots or a daily allergy pill.
What Should I Do During an Attack?
An asthma attack can be scary and uncomfortable, but try to remain calm. Be sure you always have your prescribed quick-relief medications—like an albuterol inhaler, for example—with you, and that you know how to use them.
“A mild asthma attack usually resolves easily with treatment,” Shum says. “However, an asthma attack can become life-threatening if the symptoms are severe and are not relieved with a rescue inhaler.”
If someone around you is having an asthma attack, help the person sit upright and encourage them to use their usual form of treatment. If you are trained on how to properly administer their medication, provide assistance if needed. Stay with them until the attack eases. If they do not have their quick-relief medication, or the attack worsens, call 911 or take them to an emergency room.
The following symptoms are signs of a severe asthma attack that require emergency medical attention immediately:
- Lips or fingernails turning purple, blue, or gray
- Confusion
- Feeling of breathlessness gets worse
- Breathlessness that is not relieved with medications
Asthma is a manageable condition. Be sure to always be armed with your medications and know the warning signs of an oncoming attack for prompt intervention.