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What is an asthma attack?
Medically reviewed by
Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical lead
What to do in an asthma attack
Knowing the signs of an asthma attack and what to do is important if you or someone you know lives with asthma. It’s also a really good idea to learn how to respond to an asthma attack if you encounter one, as this could save a life. A severe asthma attack that does not get better with conventional asthma treatment could become a life-threatening emergency.
- If you are having an asthma attack, you should sit upright and avoid lying down. Concentrate on taking slow and steady breaths and try to remain calm.
- You should immediately follow the emergency steps outlined in your personal asthma action plan, using your prescribed quick-relief medication as directed by your healthcare provider. If you don’t have your prescribed medication, your symptoms worsen after use, or you feel concerned at any point, you must call 911 or your local emergency services immediately.
- If emergency services are delayed, continue to follow the instructions in your action plan. Once your symptoms have stabilized, see your doctor or asthma nurse for a follow-up assessment as soon as possible.
If someone you know is having an asthma attack, then you should help them follow the above steps.
Because asthma management plans are tailored to individual needs, you should consult a clinician to understand exactly what steps to take during an attack based on your specific prescription.
How can friends and family help?
Friends and family should know how to help asthma patients in the event of an emergency. Speak to the people you spend time with about your asthma condition so that they are aware of it and can help you if needed.
Writing up your action plan to deal with an asthma attack and sharing it with people close to you will help them know what to do if you have an attack in their presence. Keeping a copy on your phone is also highly recommended.
What causes asthma attacks?
Understanding what triggers your asthma attacks could help you prevent them, however, it’s possible for everyone to have different asthma attack triggers, so it can be difficult to fully understand what causes them.
That being said, one of the main asthma attack causes is poorly managed asthma, so working with a clinician to make sure your condition is well-controlled could potentially save your life.
Other common triggers of asthma attacks include infections, allergies, air pollutants, medicines, strong emotions, the weather, exercise, mould or damp air. Following your prescribed management plan and knowing your triggers will help you to control your symptoms and reduce the risk of an asthma attack in the future.
Signs of an asthma attack
When the symptoms of asthma worsen for a short and intense period, this means you are having an asthma attack. Asthma attacks can come on gradually or suddenly. Therefore, in some cases, especially when the attack is gradual, you’ll have time to ask yourself ‘am I having an asthma attack?’ Knowing how to recognize an asthma attack can help you or someone you know seek medical care promptly.
Common symptoms of an asthma attack include:
- wheezing
- coughing
- a tight chest
- being too breathless to talk, eat or sleep
- a rapid heart rate
- faster breathing
- drowsiness
- exhaustion
- dizziness
- confusion
In severe cases, the attack could cause people to have blue fingers or lips and to faint.
If you notice the signs and symptoms of a severe asthma attack and your emergency management steps aren’t working, then you should call 911 to get the help you need.
What is a slow onset asthma attack?
Gradual asthma attacks are also known as a slow-onset asthma attack. Most people associate asthma attacks with a quick and sudden occurrence, so being aware of slow-onset attacks is also important.
These gradual attacks are associated with a progressive difficulty to breathe. Fortunately, unlike sudden onset asthma attacks (which can become serious within minutes), people who experience a slow onset attack will have more time to seek help or follow their prescribed action plan to manage their symptoms.
What happens in an asthma attack?
In order to understand what happens in an asthma attack, we need to understand a little about the biological makeup of the lungs. The lungs are complex organs that have a specific structure that allows them to work efficiently.
Inside the lungs, the larger airways are lined with cartilage, so they don’t collapse. However, the smaller airways (bronchi and bronchioles) lack this support. Muscular tubes make up the smaller airways and many mucus-secreting cells are located within their lining.
When you have an asthma attack, your airways become inflamed and swollen. This will lead to the muscles around the airways contracting and an increased production of mucus. This will block up the smaller airways that contain the mucus-secreting cells and lack cartilage support. Contractions and mucus secretions will narrow the bronchial (breathing) tubes, which obstruct airflow and make it harder to breathe. Therefore, many people will struggle to catch their breath, experience a tight chest and will wheeze and cough when they are having an asthma attack.
Is there asthma attack treatment?
There is no cure for asthma at present but getting the right asthma medication can help you control your symptoms so you can live normally and have an active lifestyle.
Asthma management involves different categories of treatment, including ongoing preventative therapies, short-term acute medications, and non-drug management strategies. During an attack, specific prescription options are used as directed by a healthcare professional. If these options don’t successfully stabilize your breathing, immediate hospital care is required.
What asthma attack treatment is given in the hospital?
When you go to the emergency department (ER), the first thing you will have to do is register. If you are taken in by ambulance, a member of the team will register you. This will include personal details, like your name, address and reasons for your visit to the ER. Some hospitals will have a separate ER for children.
Once you are registered, a healthcare professional will carry out an assessment to determine the appropriate medical interventions. Hospital care typically involves specialized classes of clinical medications and non-drug supportive therapies administered under medical supervision
For the medical team to get a clear understanding of your symptoms, they may arrange scans or X-rays. The results will allow doctors to rule out or treat infections, blockages, heart failure, pulmonary fibrosis (lung scarring) and tumours. Once you have been discharged from the hospital, you should book an appointment with your family doctor or an asthma nurse soon after.
How to prevent asthma attacks
If you want to know how to stop an asthma attack, the best thing you can do is prevent it from happening in the first place.
- If you notice your asthma symptoms are getting worse, don’t ignore them. This can be the first indication that your asthma is poorly managed.
- Check your own medication technique regularly. You should also attend a regular asthma review with your doctor or asthma nurse where they check on your technique as well.
- If you’re prescribed any other medication for another condition, check that it is suitable for people with asthma.
- If possible, try and identify what it is that triggers your asthma symptoms and avoid it as much as you can.
- Living a healthy lifestyle by exercising often, eating a healthy diet, not smoking and keeping up with recommended routine immunizations can also reduce the risk of an asthma attack.
- Speak to friends and family about your condition so that they can help you pick up on any concerns.
- Is your asthma action plan up to date? If you’re unsure, speak to your doctor or asthma nurse.
Reference Popover #ref1
Treated trusted source
Jayasooriya, S.M., et al. (2025).
Asthma: epidemiology, risk factors, and opportunities for prevention and treatment. PubMed, 13(8).
Reference Popover #ref2
Treated trusted source
Ismaila, A.S., et al. (2013).
Clinical, economic, and humanistic burden of asthma in Canada: a systematic review. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 13(1).
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