What is asthma?
Asthma is a respiratory condition in which the airway becomes inflamed, narrow and swells, and produces extra mucus making it difficult to breathe. Asthma severity can range from mild to life-threatening. An asthma attack can be triggered by many things including, cold air, physical activity, air irritants, certain medications, stress, airborne allergens, respiratory infection, sulfites, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Inhalers are often used to treat and prevent asthma symptoms. Asthma cannot be cured, but with medication can be controlled.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
Symptoms of asthma can vary from person to person but common symptoms include:
- Chest tightness or pain
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing when exhaling, which is a common sign of asthma in children
- Coughing
- Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
When to seek emergency care.
Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening so you should speak with your doctor and determine a plan of action if symptoms worsen. You should seek medical treatment if:
- Shortness of breath or wheezing rapidly gets worse
- There is no improvement after using a quick-relief inhaler
- You have shortness of breath doing minimal physical activity
So sweet and took great care of my son. Added bonus is the WARM blankets provided in the rooms! 🙂
– Karyn
