What Happens During an Asthma Attack?

What happens during an asthma attack?

When I talk to people in the community, I always say it is like a triple threat. There is airway inflammation where the airway lining becomes red, swollen, and narrow. Then you have bronchoconstriction, where the muscles that encircle the airway tighten up and spasm, further constricting the airway. There is also airway obstruction. As the airway tightens and narrows, it can be very difficult to get air in and out of the lungs, especially out. Airway hyperresponsiveness occurs when the muscles that encircle the airway respond more vigorously and quickly to smaller amounts of allergens and irritants. In addition, secretions (mucus production) within the airway lining increase during an asthma attack.