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An asthma attack is a sudden decline in quality of asthma attack symptoms induce by kindling and a narrowing of the flight path . This can make breathing difficult and , in stern event , be life - threatening .

Asthma bear on hundreds of millions of hoi polloi worldwide , and attacks can be spark off by allergens , respiratory infections , cold-blooded airwave , exercise or thorn , such assmokeand befoulment . But what actually fall out inside the body during an asthma blast ?

a man coughs and clutches his chest during an asthma attack

Three factors combine to drive the symptoms of asthma attacks.

" There are two cardinal physiologic changes during an asthma attack attack , " saidDr . Allen Dozor , a professor of pediatrics and sectionalization chief of pulmonology , allergic reaction and quietus medicine at New York Medical College .

The first is bronchospasm , Dozor told Live Science . During an asthma attack , the bronchi of the lungs — the passage that connect the windpipe to the lungs — spasm and narrow , making it difficult to breathe .

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A diagram of two bronchial tubes. The one on the left has an open airway, whereas the one on the right is constricted and inflamed.

During an asthma attack, the airways become inflamed, constricted and filled with mucus, making breathing difficult.

The second change , he say , isinflammationin the airway , which is how the dead body react to allergen or pollutant we breathe in . " Inflammation is quite complicated , but we now spot that some patients with asthma have very modest lighting and some have massive fervour , " Dozor clarify .

In addition to bronchospasm and inflammation , mucus product can play a rolein asthma attack . The lung produce thick mucus , which clog the narrow down airways and make breathing more difficult . multitude with asthma typically have ongoing flight path inflammation , which leads to inveterate lift mucous secretion production , as well as a node of the air passage lining over time . Plus , during an asthma approach , there is a forgetful - terminus rush in mucous secretion yield spark off by rabble-rousing chemicals and molecules , such ashistamineand leukotrienes , which are made by immune cell .

These three factor — bronchospasm , inflammation and mucous secretion — combine to make breathing moil , leading to thehallmark symptoms of an asthma flack , including wheezing , shortness of breath , coughing and chest tightness .

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When the airway begin to close , the body struggles to get enough oxygen . In mild cases , this may ensue in breathlessness and coughing , but in more severe attacks , oxygen levels can put down importantly , leading to lightheadedness , mental confusion and even a departure of cognisance . If untreated , a severe bronchial asthma attack can be disastrous .

The most immediate treatment for an asthma attack is arescue inhaler , which typically containsalbuterol , a chemical compound that quickly relaxes the airway muscle and intercept the release of some chemical substance involved in the hypersensitivity reaction . For more knockout eccentric , adrenal cortical steroid , which suppress excitement , may be give orally or through an IV . In emergency situations , atomic number 8 therapy or mechanically skillful ventilation may be required to help people breathe .

Prevention of asthma attack attack involve deflect the trigger of these three mechanism that drive mass ’s symptom .

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" Prevention is one of the most important aspects of asthma care,“Dr . James Lyons , a family medicine medico with expertise in asthma and a aesculapian consultant for Synergy Houses , recite Live Science in an email . " The estimable way to avoid severe attacks is to identify and understate exposure to triggers , whether allergens , smoke , cold air , or substantial odors . "

to boot , preventative medications that control asthmalower the risk of bronchospasm , inflammation and mucus production . These include inhaled corticosteroids , to snuff out inflammation and help counter mucous secretion production , and long - act beta - agonist , which help relax the airway . Some inhalers compound multiple medications to help stave in off attack .

" perplex to a ordained medicinal drug regime — especially for those with dogged asthma attack — is also key , " Lyons enjoin .

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This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer aesculapian advice .

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