TAKE CONTROL - Coping with an Asthma Attack   Home | Asthma Assistant | Glossary | Disclaimer   Is it Asthma | Society & Self | Take Control | Treatment or Cure | Quality Living

If you have had an asthma attack you will know how very frightening and even dangerous they can be. Every year about 1500 people in the UK and 5000 people in the US die from an asthma attack. Hundreds of thousands of others end up in hospital or off work or school because of their asthma. An asthma attack is when the common symptoms of asthma, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness, become much worse, particularly the shortness of breath. They rarely happen out of the blue; most of the time they follow a period of uncontrolled asthma or are preceded by warning signs such as a runny nose or itching of the upper body. The warning signs can vary from person to person and even in one person from one attack to another. A sure sign that you are having an attack is if you use your reliever inhaler and it does not work. Most asthma attacks can be prevented by knowing the signs to look for in advance; home monitoring and your doctor or nurse can help you gain this knowledge. If you do have a bad asthma attack, it is essential that you know exactly what to do and at what point you should seek help. You can obtain more detailed information by going to the commonly asked questions below. What is an asthma attack? Can I prevent an asthma attack? What are the warning signs? What should I do in an asthma attack? How do I know when to get help?

Topic "Take Control" Updated 14th August 2003

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