CATCHING A BREATH

Normal breathing involves taking air into the lungs and then expelling it.  A person with asthma often has trouble with this critical part of transferring oxygen to the blood.  During an asthma attack, airways tend to constrict and trap air in the chest, making it more difficult to exhale.  When the amount of air expelled is less than what is inhaled, there is not enough room in the lungs for a completely new breath. The more air is trapped in the lungs, the more difficult it becomes to take the next breath.  Muscles in the chest get tired quickly from the extra effort required to breathe.  Asthma medications in proper dosages can usually overcome this type of breathing problem.

P.S.  When oxygen saturation in the blood is measured at less than 90 percent, the person is probably having some type of breathing problem.

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