Introduction
Acute bronchospasm caused by asthma is also referred to as an asthma attack. Bronchospasm means your air passages become narrowed. The narrowing is caused by inflammation and tightening of the muscles in the air tubes (bronchi) in your lungs. This can make it hard to breathe and cause you to cough or breathe loudly (wheeze).
What are the causes?
Possible triggers include:
Animal dander from the skin, hair, or feathers of animals.
Dust mites contained in house dust.
Cockroaches.
Pollen from trees or grass.
Mold.
Cigarette or tobacco smoke.
Air pollutants such as dust, household cleaners, hair sprays, aerosol sprays, paint fumes, strong chemicals, or strong odors.
Cold air or weather changes. Cold air may trigger inflammation. Winds …show more content…
This condition may be diagnosed based on:
Your medical history.
Your symptoms.
A physical exam.
Tests to check for other causes of your symptoms or other conditions that may have triggered your asthma attack. These tests may include:
Chest X-ray.
Blood tests.
How is this treated?
The goal of treatment is to open the airways in your lungs and reduce inflammation. Most asthma attacks are treated with medicines that you breathe in (inhale). These medicines may be inhaled through an inhaler or a nebulizer, and may be:
Quick relief or rescue medicines, such as bronchodilators.
Controller medicines, such as inhaled corticosteroids.
If you have a moderate or severe asthma attack, you may be treated with steroid medicines by mouth or through an IV tube. Steroid medicines reduce inflammation in your lungs.
If your asthma attack was caused by a bacterial infection, you will be given antibiotic medicines.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. Keep your medicines up-to-date and available.
If you are more than 24 weeks pregnant and you are prescribed any new medicines, tell your obstetrician about these medicines.
Avoiding
Acute bronchospasm caused by asthma is also referred to as an asthma attack. Bronchospasm means your air passages become narrowed. The narrowing is caused by inflammation and tightening of the muscles in the air tubes (bronchi) in your lungs. This can make it hard to breathe and cause you to cough or breathe loudly (wheeze).
What are the causes?
Possible triggers include:
Animal dander from the skin, hair, or feathers of animals.
Dust mites contained in house dust.
Cockroaches.
Pollen from trees or grass.
Mold.
Cigarette or tobacco smoke.
Air pollutants such as dust, household cleaners, hair sprays, aerosol sprays, paint fumes, strong chemicals, or strong odors.
Cold air or weather changes. Cold air may trigger inflammation. Winds …show more content…
This condition may be diagnosed based on:
Your medical history.
Your symptoms.
A physical exam.
Tests to check for other causes of your symptoms or other conditions that may have triggered your asthma attack. These tests may include:
Chest X-ray.
Blood tests.
How is this treated?
The goal of treatment is to open the airways in your lungs and reduce inflammation. Most asthma attacks are treated with medicines that you breathe in (inhale). These medicines may be inhaled through an inhaler or a nebulizer, and may be:
Quick relief or rescue medicines, such as bronchodilators.
Controller medicines, such as inhaled corticosteroids.
If you have a moderate or severe asthma attack, you may be treated with steroid medicines by mouth or through an IV tube. Steroid medicines reduce inflammation in your lungs.
If your asthma attack was caused by a bacterial infection, you will be given antibiotic medicines.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. Keep your medicines up-to-date and available.
If you are more than 24 weeks pregnant and you are prescribed any new medicines, tell your obstetrician about these medicines.
Avoiding