"I couldn't breathe. I was really frightened!"

An asthma attack is a frightening experience for everyone concerned, whether it is the first or hundredth time it has occurred. It is a gasping, painful struggle to get air into and out of your lungs.

Asthma symptoms vary in severity from occasional mild bouts of breathlessness to daily wheezing that persists despite taking large doses of medication. Asthma can be a dangerous condition because it interferes with Gas Exchange, and can therefore stop the continuous supply of oxygen and the removal of excess carbon dioxide. Without effective treatment during an attack, exhaustion may worsen respiratory function, and in rare cases, a life-threatening situation known as status asthmaticus can occur.