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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffDuring an asthma attack, also called an asthma exacerbation, your airways become swollen and inflamed. The muscles around the airways contract, causing your breathing (bronchial) tubes to narrow. During an asthma attack, you may cough, wheeze and have trouble breathing. An asthma attack may be minor, with symptoms that get better with prompt home treatment, or it may be more serious. A severe asthma attack that doesn't improve with home treatment can become a life-threatening emergency.
The key to stopping an asthma attack is recognizing and treating an asthma flare-up early. Follow the treatment plan you worked out with your doctor ahead of time. This plan should include what to do when your asthma starts getting worse, and how to deal with an asthma attack in progress.
- Mangan JM, et al. What do patients need to know about their asthma? http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 26, 2010.
- Krouse JH, et al. Asthma: Guidelines-based control and management. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2008;41:397.
- Fanta CH. Treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 26, 2010.
- Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm. Accessed Oct. 26, 2010.
- Li JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 4, 2010.
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