Asthma is an affliction many people live with every day. In a few words we can describe it as the inability to breath due to the closing of the air passages into the lungs. If left untreated it can be fatal and even when treated an asthma attacked may be triggered by many different factors causing discomfort and difficulty breathing. One of the most important factors that trigger an asthma attack is air contamination, something we all have to live and deal with permanently. Here you will find three early warning signs that will indicate the outset of an asthma crisis so you can take medication before it becomes a problem with serious consequences.
There is no age for asthma, children, teenagers and adults are affected by it. It is almost impossible to generalize on the elements that generate a crisis because each person affected by asthma reacts to different elements in the atmosphere. The majority of asthma crisis are triggered by airborne particles that cause the lungs to close so as not to allow the allergen to continue entering the bronchi. There are so many things in the air that it is difficult to determine what causes a crisis, but examples of them are dust, perfume, pollen, wood smoke and many others that with time the person affected learns to identify and stay away from them.
Many of these triggers are unavoidable which is why it is imperative that a person with asthma takes his or her medication as prescribed. Even then, a crisis may start at any moment and these are the initial symptoms that should prompt you into action. It is very important that even if a person affected by asthma takes his or her medication as prescribed by a doctor, that they keep it handy at all times. Coming in contact with an allergen in large amounts may start a crisis even if the person is medicated. The daily dose prescribed by doctors is enough to prevent mild crisis not for emergency relief. In case of a serious crisis, having your medication at hand will give you time to find medical attention.
The first signs to watch for are nasal congestion that was not there minutes earlier and sneezing. Large quantities of mucus are released into the nose from the sinuses to prevent the irritating agent to descend into the lower airways. The eyes start to water because the throat and nose are irritated and need to get rid of whatever is causing the discomfort and finally you start sneezing in an effort to expel everything that is stuck to the mucus. All this can happen in a few seconds or it make take minutes, this depends on the amount of the allergen in the air you are breathing.
After the sneezing the affected person will start coughing. This is a sign that the allergen has reached the lungs and they are trying to get rid of it. Coughing contracts the lungs and expels air with a lot of pressure which is the way the body protects itself and tries to force the irritant from the bronchi. If something is not done within a few minutes since the coughing episodes begin, the person may experience muscular pains on the chest because of the effort made while coughing. Medication at this point will reopen the lungs and may stop the crisis for the time being. Asthma medication contains substances that force the lungs to reopen so air can circulate again.
The third sure sign of an oncoming asthma attack is a wheezing sound that can be heard every time the person tries to take a breath. As the muscles surrounding the airways tighten to close the way into the lungs, respiration becomes difficult. The inability to swallow enough air with each breath forces the person to breath rapidly producing chest pains and pressure. This is the beginning of an asthma attack, If after a few minutes of taking medication these continue, the best thing to do is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The medication is either not working properly or the amount of allergen already in the lungs is too much for the medication to stop the lung’s defense tactics.
An asthma crisis can crawl upon you at anytime and anywhere it is very important to always be prepared and to learn the early symptoms of an oncoming attack. Even if it is permanently under control, it can flare up in minutes putting your life in danger. Constant medication and medical supervision will allow you to live a normal life but it is also very important that you are always aware of your surroundings and especially the times and places when and where you feel a crisis coming. Avoiding these in the future will reduce the chances of attacks and will also help you identify the elements that trigger these attacks.
Cesar A Batres Mejia
