From a non-asthmatic, it is hard to really understand what they go through during an attack.

During an episode where the person’s asthma acts up, it is known as an attack. It comes on suddenly and the muscles tighten around the airway. This is known as a bronchospasm. The lining of the airway also becomes inflamed and swollen creating thicker mucus. All of this combined can make breathing incredibly difficult if not life threateningly impossible.

Here are some rather vivid and colorful descriptions of how asthma attacks are experienced from those who have them.

“I cough so intensely that I can’t breathe at all”
Many of us can identify having had a severe cold with a cough at some point in our lives. Bouts where you cough so hard your lungs feel like they are completely empty and you cannot take in any air. This is similar to what asthmatics feel.

“As if there is a pillow pressed over my face”
You feel suffocated. Unable to take air in your nose or mouth.

“My chest feels tight and heavy”
This one is usually how I feel when my asthma is acting up. For me, an asthma attack feels like I am wearing a really tight corset while trying to breathe through a coffee stirrer straw. I personally don’t wheeze and my chest gets really tight like I am wearing a corset that is four sizes too small. When the airways constrict it leads to the tight feeling.

“I am short of breath and can hear wheezing”
As the airway tightens and constricts the less air can flow. The less air flow the more of a wheezing gasping noise will be made by the small amount of air being forcefully pulled in.

“There is an elephant sitting on my chest”
Standing, sitting, laying down, it doesn’t seem to matter. It feels like a heavy weight is constricting your breathing.

“Fish out of water”
As we breathe air, fish can only breathe in water. It feels like you may drown.

Asthma is more treatable than ever today. Management is key. If you are in Lee County, Florida please visit www.ipalc.org/find to find a physician who can assist you with managing your asthma symptoms.