Asthma Attacks Alpha Nutrition Health Education
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An asthma attack is any shortness of breath which requires either medication or some other form of intervention for the asthmatic to breathe normally again. Wheezing is often associated with the attack - whistling or rattling sounds occur when air flows through obstructed airways. Wheezing starts with exhalation, or breathing out, but as the attack progresses, wheezing may then be heard both while inhaling and exhaling. If the attack progresses further, the asthmatic may stop wheezing as small airways become completely blocked.
The asthmatic's airways are hyper-reactive. In response to stimuli, the airways may become obstructed by:
- constriction of the muscles in bronchi and bronchioles, narrowing the airway
- inflammation and swelling of the airway with obstruction of air flow
- increased mucus production which can obstruct the airway.
Exhaling through obstructed airways is difficult and stale air remains in the lungs after each breath. This decreases the amount of fresh air which can be taken in with each new breath, and less oxygen is available. This decreased supply of oxygen makes an uncontrolled asthma attack potentially life-threatening.
Treatment Strategy
The three basic treatment choices are:
- Remove the Cause of Asthma
- Treat the symptoms
- Alter the host to be more tolerate of the causes
