WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ASTHMA ATTACK?

Normally, when you breath in and out, the muscles around your airways are relaxed. During an asthma attack, three things happen. First, the muscles surrounding the airways tighten and cause your airways to narrow (called a bronchospasm). Next, the lining of the airways becomes swollen, allowing even less air to pass through. Finally, during the attack your body produces extra mucus, which can clog airways. These three factors coincide and can make airways very narrow, severely restricting breathing. Some patients experience chest tightness or pain. You may hear a wheezing sound when you breathe out, and you may even feel faint, dizzy, or lightheaded due to lack of oxygen. The symptoms may worsen at night and cause difficulty sleeping.

P.S. The causes of asthma are still unclear, but certain risk factors mean some people are more likely to develop asthma than others: allergies, genetics, respiratory infections, and exposure to certain environmental factors can all play a role.

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