Asthma flare-ups: symptoms, causes and treatment

During an asthma attack, sometimes called an asthma attack or asthma attack, symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness get worse. People with asthma may go several days or more without noticing any symptoms and then have sudden attacks.

The severity of seizures can range from mild to severe and can be an emergency. A good asthma treatment plan will reduce asthma attacks and enable you to stop them when they occur.

Learn more about asthma attacks, including signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment.

What is an asthma flare-up?

During an asthma attack, asthma symptoms get worse. You may have only one or two symptoms, or you may have several symptoms. Circadian rhythms (your body’s internal clock) can also change the secretion of hormones, which is why some health care experts find that asthma gets worse at night in some people.

Another sign that you are having an asthma attack is that your inhaler is not working as well as it normally does. You may notice that you need to take more fast-acting asthma medicine than usual. Nighttime asthma symptoms are also a typical sign of an asthma exacerbation.

Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is assessed using a peak flow meter, which measures how well your lungs are working and can monitor your asthma symptoms. For a peak flow meter to be useful during an asthma attack, you must know the recommended normal range. Talk to your health care provider about how to determine this.

Mild ignition

During a mild asthma attack, you may experience coughing, wheezing, or mild breathing difficulties. You should be able to walk around normally and speak in complete sentences.

Moderate flammability

During a moderate asthma attack, you will have symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing while speaking, exhaling, or lying down. You may feel like you are straining your neck to take a deep breath. Your PEF reading can be between 50% and 80% of your personal best.

Severe flammability

During a severe asthma attack, your PEF reading may be less than 50% of your best. Breathing will be difficult, and it may be difficult to talk, walk, or even move much. You may feel confused, anxious, confused, or sleepy.

symptoms

When your asthma symptoms worsen, some signs and symptoms are worth paying attention to:

Warning signs

Early warning signs of an asthma attack may include:

• Cough
• Rapid breathing
• shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest
• Wheezing (a high-pitched squeaking or whistling sound when breathing)
• Nocturnal asthma symptoms that did not occur before the crisis

You may also notice that you have to use your asthma medications more frequently to achieve the same effect.

Severe symptoms

In some cases, asthma can become a medical emergency. If left untreated, asthma flare-ups can lead to respiratory failure and even death. Symptoms of an acute asthma attack include:

• Chest retractions
• Confusion, disorientation, agitation, panic, and/or drowsiness
• Cyanosis (when the lips, face, or nails turn blue, gray, or white)
• Difficulty sleeping due to breathing problems
• Difficulty speaking or walking
• Severe tightness in the chest
• Very rapid breathing
• You feel a little relief from your rescue inhaler
• Inability to exercise
• Constantly expanding the chest
• Rapid nasal movements
• Uncontrollable cough

Call 911 right away if you have any of these severe asthma symptoms.

Causes of asthma flare-ups

There are many reasons why asthma symptoms may appear at certain times. Some of the most common asthma triggers include:

• Allergens, such as pollen, dust, mold, pests, or pet dander
• Cold air and harsh weather conditions
• He practices
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic condition in which stomach acid moves into the esophagus and results in symptoms such as heartburn
• Irritants, such as smoke or fumes
• Respiratory infections
• pressure
• Strong emotions, which can change breathing patterns
• Strong smells
• Viral infections, such as influenza

In addition to the above, some of the most common asthma triggers in children include:

• common cold
• Crying and laughing
• Playing or running vigorously

How to treat an asthma flare-up

To treat (and prevent) asthma attacks, start by making a plan with the help of your health care provider. The Asthma Action Plan is a step-by-step guide to monitoring asthma symptoms, as well as preventing, managing and treating asthma attacks. Include details about your medical history, allergies, medications, and emergency contacts so you can get help right away if needed.

If your child has asthma, you can distribute the Asthma Action Plan to his or her teachers, school administrators, family, friends, and health care providers.

In addition to creating an asthma action plan, here are some steps you can take to treat an asthma attack:

Take quick relief medications: Many people with asthma take quick-relief medications, usually through an inhaler, to immediately open and relax the muscles in the airway. These “BronchodilatorsThese are usually short-acting beta agonists (SABAs), such as albuterol.

Increasingly, combination inhalers containing a fast-acting and long-acting bronchodilator called formoterol (eg Symbicort a combination of budesonide and formoterol) are being prescribed as daily control medications and to treat asthma attacks.

AirSupra (albuterol and budenoside) is also used for this purpose and has been shown to reduce the severity of exacerbations, including reducing emergency department visits and hospitalizations. If you have any questions about which inhaler you should use during a flare, talk with your health care provider.

Take control medications: People with persistent asthma symptoms may take control medications — usually inhaled steroids — to reduce lung inflammation. You may also need to take it on a regular basis to prevent asthma attacks. Your health care provider may temporarily prescribe oral steroids to treat persistent asthma attacks.

In January 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Airsupra (albuterol and budesonide). Airsupra is a combination of SABA and an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) to treat severe asthma symptoms and prevent future asthma attacks.

See a specialist: If your asthma symptoms persist, your health care provider can refer you to a specialist (such as an allergist) to identify and treat the root cause.

When to seek emergency care

Severe asthma attacks should be treated before they become a medical emergency. Here are some signs that you need to seek emergency care for your asthma symptoms right away:

• Usual medications, such as a rescue inhaler, do not relieve symptoms.
• Your PEF readings are very low, especially after using fast-acting asthma medications.
• It is difficult to walk, talk, sleep, exercise, and/or think clearly due to breathing difficulties.
• Your chest tightness or pain becomes severe.
• Appearance of signs of cyanosis, a condition caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. Cyanosis may cause discoloration and discoloration of the skin around the eyes, mouth, nails, and fingertips. Your skin color may turn blue, gray, purple, or white, depending on your skin.

How to prevent asthma flare-ups

You can do your best to prevent an asthma attack before it starts. Because many asthma symptoms are caused by asthma triggers, you should:

• Monitor your symptoms to find out your asthma triggers (if you don’t know them already). Record your PEF readings regularly and keep a record of your symptoms.
• Avoid exposure to allergens, irritants and pollutants. For example, you can control pet dander at home if you have pets. If you have seasonal allergies, consider wearing a mask and closing doors and windows when pollen counts are high.
• Stop smoking, if you haven’t already.
• Get a seasonal flu vaccine, especially if illnesses worsen your asthma symptoms.

Develop a business plan

Your Asthma Action Plan is a step-by-step guide to managing and treating your asthma symptoms. In addition to providing information for you, your health care providers, and your family and friends about what to do during a mild, moderate, or severe asthma attack, your asthma action plan should include:

• Your medical history, including allergies and associated medical conditions
• Contact information for your loved ones, the emergency department, your health care provider, and any other relevant people
• Information about your medications, including dosage, frequency, and instructions on how to take them in an emergency

Take medication

Take your asthma medications on time and as prescribed. If you use a rescue inhaler, be sure to bring it with you wherever you go. If your health care provider prescribes preventive control medications, take them even when you don’t have asthma symptoms.

If you have co-occurring medical conditions, treating them can also help relieve asthma symptoms. For example, many people with asthma also have esophageal reflux and obstructive sleep apnea (where you stop and start breathing repeatedly during sleep).

Taking GERD medications, eating an GERD-friendly diet, and using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for sleep apnea can help you manage your asthma, too.

summary

Asthma is a chronic medical condition that causes symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness due to inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs. Asthma attacks occur when asthma symptoms worsen.

Seizures can be mild, moderate, or severe. They are usually triggered by common asthma triggers, such as pollutants, irritants, allergens, odors, stress, infections, diseases, weather changes, and strong emotions.

To treat asthma attacks, you can take quick-acting asthma medications (usually through an inhaler) and, if prescribed, oral corticosteroids or other medications that fight inflammation in asthma. If symptoms worsen, it is important to seek emergency medical treatment.

You can prevent asthma attacks by avoiding triggers, creating an asthma action plan, and taking your asthma medication as prescribed.

A word from Verywell

If your asthma symptoms get worse, it’s important to treat them right away. In severe cases, asthma can lead to respiratory failure, which can be fatal. Seek emergency help if your asthma attack is persistent or has reached the point where it feels out of control.