What is a Severe Asthma Attack?

A severe asthma attack (not to be confused with severe asthma) is an asthma attack that is really bad. The medical term for this is status asthmaticus, or an asthma attack that is unresponsive to attempts to correct it.

Such an attack is caused when the muscles surrounding your air passages spasm and squeeze your airways so air can get in but not out.  Increased sputum production may cause mucus plugs that also block air passages.

A severe attack may include any of the following:

• Uncomfortable coughing

• Chest tightness

• Wheezing (or no wheezing)

• Chest pain

• Unable to speak in full sentences

• Leaning on things to breathe

• Need to sit or stand to breathe

• The need to keep shoulders raised to breathe

• Sucking in stomach when inhaling

• Bluish tinge around lips and fingertips

• Feeling panicked

• Confusion

• Unable to concentrate

• Inability to decide what action to take

• Anxiety, may be severe anxiety

• Retractions, nasal flaring, grunting (common in children)

• Peak flow readings less than 60 percent

You may not experience all or only some of these symptoms, as they tend to vary from person to person. Still, when you experience these they are signs that you must take immediate action.

You should work with your asthma physician to create a plan to help you determine what action to take.  Usually this will involve the following:

• Immediately get away from what is triggering your asthma

• Immediately refer to your asthma action plan, if you have one

• Immediately use your rescue medicine as directed (all asthmatics should have rescue medicine nearby at all times)

• Call your physician, have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room, or call 911

Still, the best way to prevent severe asthma attacks is to prevent all asthma attacks.  The best way to do this is to obtain good asthma control, which can be obtained by following these ten simple steps.