Asthma Symtoms: Anatomy Of An Asthma Attack

Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness that is increasingly on the rise. For those of you who are not familiar with the symptoms of Asthma, it causes inflammation and constriction of the muscles surrounding the bronchial airways in a human body, thus making it difficult, and in some cases, almost impossible to breathe.

As someone who has lived with Asthma all my life, I have always felt that it was important to educate parents of children who may be developing Asthma or Asthma-like symptoms. I realize that modern medicine has come a long way in preventing and treating Asthma, but, unfortunately, Asthma is something that cannot cured. And for this reason, it is better to be prepared for the eventuality of a major Asthma attack and its effects on you child.

What is my child going through during an Asthma Attack? The answer to this question depends on the severity (strength) of the attack. Let me explain what Asthma attacks were like for me as a child (prior to the amazing medicines available today).

Phase 1 – Asthma Attack:

Asthma attacks would usually strike when I was excessively tired, run down or suffering from a cold. The attack would begin with a slight tightness in my chest, just enough to cause some minor coughing. As the tightness becomes stronger, a slight wheeze would begin and soon after that, my breathing would become more labored. Once my breathing became labored, I knew that a full-blown attack was on its way. In a matter of one or two minutes, the wheezing becomes louder and I would begin to find it harder to get air in and out of my lungs. It was like they were being squeezed, or someone, very heavy, was lying pressing down on me.

Phase 2 – The Bomb Goes Off:

In a matter of seconds I realize that I am really struggling to get air in or out. Thats when it hits — 100% pure panic! Things start to speed up. The amount of oxygen I am receiving is dropping and I start to feel dizzy, weak and desperate. I start to sweat, my lips turn blue, my face turns pale and all I can do is try to breathe.

Phase 3 – A Plea For Help:

I often had to suffer through Asthma attacks on my own, so I say “God bless anyone who attempts to help.” Even though there is nothing much you can do, once the attack hits this phase, just the thought of someone attempting to help gives the person suffering from the attack hope.

Very Important: If you don’t have Asthma medicine or the medicine isn’t working, seek medical help. Until then, here’s what you can do to help.

What You Can Do To Help:

Stay as calm as you can. Don’t add to the panic that your child is already feeling.
Focus on his or her breathing and try to walk them through the attack.
If you haven’t already set up a vaporizer – DO IT NOW!
If its winter and you have the house to hot and dry, try to cool it down. The dryness can trigger Asthma attacks. Caution: Don’t make it to cool, that frigid air can cause attacks.
If it is summertime and the humidity is high, turn the air conditioning down. When you’re having an attack the feeling of cooler air is like someone placing an oxygen mask on your face.
Most importantly, try to relax them and keep them comfortable. The struggle for air is all theirs, but you can make that struggle more bearable calming the fear and anxiety.

What You Should NEVER Do:

Never smack a person having an asthma attack on the back. Believe me, this does not help! I can’t tell you how many times people tried this.
Never shrug it off as some kind of emotional “It’s all in your head” situation. That was a common misconception when I was a child. On the contrary, your child is struggling for oxygen and scared to death! At no other time in his or her life do they need you more than right then. The emotion you are witnessing is fear.
Never Panic. You are the source of your child’s strength. Let them know that it will be all right.

What Causes The Shortness of Breath? When you have an Asthma attack, your body is over-reacting to what would normally be an allergic reaction to pollen, dander, dust, frigid air, etc. and when your body over-reacts, it does it in a big way. The muscles surrounding the airways in your lungs (Bronchial Tubes) begin to spasm (see illustration below) and constrict. At the same time, normal mucus production that is created to keep the linings of your airways moist, begin to overproduce mucus. When you combine these two events, it affectively closes off your airways (no air in and no air out).

Asthma Attack Illustration

According to research 80% of children and 50% of adults suffering from asthma also have some kind of allergy. The key to preventing asthma attacks is to find out what that allergy is and finding ways to prevent it from triggering more attacks.

I hope this helps those look after Asthma sufferers. I know they will appreciate the fact that you know a little more about what they are going through.

For more information visit:

National Heart And Lung Institue

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html

National Institute of Health

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asthma.html