Acute Asthma Attack at 50

Hi Tammy117,

Did your doctor diagnose you with asthma? If not, it's important to make sure you get an accurate diagnosis so you can begin to work on an asthma treatment plan that's best for you.

I don't think antibiotics help asthma. Asthma is not caused by a bacterial infection. It is a chronic disease, often linked to allergies.

An asthma attack usually looks like this:

• You wheeze when you exhale (or breathe out).
• Your breath is short. Shortness of breath is a major source of distress in patients with asthma. Some patients are not even aware that they are experiencing shortness of breath. Such patients are at particular risk for very serious and even life-threatening asthma attacks, since they are less conscious of symptoms. Those at highest risk for this effect tend to be older, female, and to have had the disease for a longer period of time.
• You cough. In some people, the first symptom of asthma is a nonproductive cough (nonproductive means there's no phlegm or muscus).
• Your chest may feel tight or painful.
• Your neck muscles may tighten, and talking may become difficult or impossible.
• Your heart might race.
• You may sweat a lot.
  

If asthma is not controlled, you could have symptoms like this very frequently. Asthma must be controlled or it can interfere with your daily life. It can also permanently damage your lungs.

Please see your doctor and make sure that what you are experiencing is asthma and not some other illness. You also want to get the right medications to help you control the condition.