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A "trigger" or triggering event often precedes an Asthma attack. Each person may have different triggers, but some common ones are: cold air, hot or cold drinks, smoke or pollutants, perfumes, colognes, or strong odors (such as cooking odors), sinus drainage into the throat, lung infection, etc.
An asthma attack may have no warning signs, or a person may experience tightness or wheezing in the lungs. For a large number of people, coughing is their only symptom before and during an asthma attack.
An asthma attack can hit when a person is sleeping (often triggered by gastric reflux, another medical condition), during or after exercise, or after one of the triggers listed above.
During an asthma attack, the smaller airways constrict. This can also affect the major airways, the bronchi. Since asthma can cause inflammatory changes in the airways, many people live with constricted airways even when they are not having an acute "attack".
Although a previous answer stated that the person is "okay after an asthma attack", that is not quite true! First, any person can die during their very first attack -- or during any attack. It depends on the severity of the asthma condition, the severity and duration of the immediate "attack" and whether they are able to have medication administered quickly or have no medication to take.
Most diagnosed asthmatics are prescribed an "inhaler". An inhaler is a small hand-held cannister that delivers a precise amount of medication in one or two "puffs". Some asthmatics also use a machine called a nebulizer when at home. A nebulizer delivers a liquid form of medication with the machine creating an air compression so that the liquid is changed into a vapor or vaporous state. The person breathes, as normally as possible, through the mouth and a mouth piece that's connected to tubing which connects to the machine. Whether using an inhaler or nebulizer, the person may still cough and wheeze during the treatment. Note: The time a nebulizer machine is running is called a "breathing treatment".
As a second part of this discussion, there are two types of inhalers. One is a long-acting medication, often with steroid included. This kind is used once a day, usually. The other type of inhaler is often called a "rescue inhaler". The medication in it is designed to literally "rescue" a person's respiratory status by quickly opening the airways. This medication doesn't contain any steroid, but instead has medication that acts directly on the airway tissues. If the rescue inhaler does not stop an asthma attack, then the person would need to go to the E.R., often by ambulance.
The heart rate, pulse, and blood pressure can initially rise during an asthma attack. These symptoms along with the medication in a rescue inhaler can cause a bad headache, among other problems like anxiety, feeling jittery, and even cause panic. But, if an asthma attack is severe or gone on too long, the heart rate, pulse, and blood pressure begin to drop and can drop to dangerous levels if the person cannot get air and becomes unconscious.
Any person who experiences one asthma attack or inability to get air in or out of the lungs needs to be examined by a doctor, even if the 'attack' stops on its own. Asthma is one condition of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. In COPD, the biggest problem is that a person cannot completely expel air -- so CO which is carbon dioxide is rising in the bloodstream and can affect the organs and brain. In addition, because the lungs are still partly filled with old air (carbon dioxide), the person cannot inhale new air that contains oxygen. The lungs only have a certain "capacity" to hold a certain quantity of air-- whether O2 (oxygen) or CO (carbon dioxide) or a mixture of both.
If a person can't get old air out and bring new air in, it results in the body starting to shut down. The person will (usually abruptly) become unconscious. The brain will strive to protect brain cells and critical functions of lungs and heart / blood flow. But without new air getting into the lungs, the next phase if there is no outside help is the person will go into respiratory arrest--- there is no longer attempts to breathe. If respiratory arrest continues more than just a FEW minutes, this can trigger cardiac arrest-- the heart stops pumping. if there is no intervention within 4 minutes of respiratory arrest, the person can die. Studies show that, typically, a person can live even if they only receive chest compressions to keep blood circulating through the body. BUT the main reason that most people will live if they receive chest compressions is that the blood still contains some oxygen. But, in asthmatics, the blood may have already dropped off all the carbon dioxide for the lungs to expel but since the person can't breathe, and is now unconscious, chest compressions may not keep the asthmatic alive. For this reason, it is imperative to call paramedics during a severe asthma attack and before the person becomes unconscious.
Paramedics can administer medications to open the airways while performing CPR. Asthmatics should wear a Medic-Alert bracelet or necklace so paramedics know the person has asthma.
In any event... to say that a person is just okay when they've had or are having an asthma attack is very misleading. ANY asthma attack CAN kill.
What else can I help you with?
What happens During an asthma attack a person's respiratory passages become?
During an asthma attack, a person's respiratory passages become narrowed and inflamed
You want to do a 5th grade science fair project demonstrating what happens during an asthma attack?
yes
What happens during a asthma attack?
your tummy hurts and it is hard to breath and its really unpleasent so ok there is your anwser!
How is breathing during an asthma attack?
Hard.
What happens to a person's airways after an asthma attack?
you become an idiot.
What happens to your temperature when having a asthma attack?
text i may
How do you get experiencing serve asthma?
Your question reads like you want asthma. You don't. When an attack happens you can't breathe and people have died with an attack.
What happens if you leave asthma untreated?
the worst is you can have an asthma attack, and die. but if you do you can grow out of asthma!!!!!!!!! i should know i use to have it, not any more
How many times do you breathe during a asthma attack?
Whilst having an asthma attack you would normally breathe about 97 times a minute.
What is normal breathing to the breathing during an asthma attack?
normal breathing is nice and easy while breathing during an asthma attack is difficult and doesnt allow you to fully use your airways.
Why are asthma attacks considered as medical emergencies?
Because people are unable to breathe and can suffocate during an asthma attack
What causes a asthma attack?
An asthma attack may be triggered by irritants such as dust or pollen
