The early signs of an asthma attack could leave you reaching for your inhaler, but did you know identifying the start of an attack could save your life?
While most of us with asthma can lead a healthy life never experiencing an attack, there are some sufferers whose life could be threatened.
Most sufferers experience common signs of asthma including a tightening of the chest, a wheezing sound as you breathe fits of coughing and a shortness of breath.
During an attack the lining of your airways becomes inflamed and the muscles will contract causing difficulty in getting air to your lungs.
An attack can be managed with medication in your own home and your airways will open up a short time after treatment starts.
But in some, more severe cases an asthma attack can endanger your life. Although less common, asthma attacks can last for hours and can be so dangerous that you need to get professional medical attention as quickly as possible.
As a serious attack takes hold you may be unable to speak and, due to the lack of oxygen circulating around your body, your lips may become blue. In these cases failure to seek medical help quickly may result in the loss of consciousness and eventually death.
Most of us will never experience a severe asthma attack, particularly if you regularly take the correct medication for the condition. But it is important for every asthma sufferer to understand the early signs to prevent asthma symptoms from developing into a life-threatening attack.
Frequent coughing most common at night, shortness of breath and a low reading on a peak flow meter could be among the first signs of an asthma attack. Other warning signs include fatigue, wheezing, a change your mood and difficulty in falling asleep. Signs of allergy or cold including nasal congestion, headaches and a sore throat could also point to the start of an attack.
So whether you experience mild of more severe asthma attacks, keeping an eye open for early signs will help you suppress an attack before it hits.