Recognising an Acute Attack

Even mild asthmatics can have severe attacks and therefore it is important to recognise the early signs so that you can take appropriate action.
The Warning Signs:

Your reliever is no longer as effective and you need to use it more frequently that every three hours

The wheeze starts to get less but there is no improvement in your ability to breathe

You have real difficulty in speaking

You start to go a blue – gray colour, especially around the lips and fingertips. This is a condition called cyanosis and indicates that you have insufficient oxygen

You become frightened

Thinking clearly becomes difficult

Every breath becomes increasingly difficult

See the Emergency Section for dealing with severe attacks. Never ignore an attack in the hope that it will get better and go away.