Fact Checked
Last updated on Dec 19, 2025.
Knowing the signs of an asthma attack and what to do is important if you or someone you know suffers from asthma. It’s also a really good idea to learn how to treat 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 someone you know is having an asthma attack, then you should help them follow the above steps.
The above advice is not applicable for those who take SMART or MART treatment. You should speak to a doctor or specialist for advice on what to do if you are taking this treatment and have an asthma attack.
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.
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 keeping on top of your medication could potentially save your life.
Other common triggers of asthma attacks include infections, allergies, air pollutants, medications, strong emotions, the weather, exercise, mold, or damp air. Taking your asthma medications properly and knowing your triggers will help you to control your symptoms and reduce the risk of an asthma attack in the future.
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 control their symptoms and get through the attack safely.
Common symptoms of an asthma attack include:
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 the steps to stop the attack aren’t working, then you should call 911 to get the help you need.
What's 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 the necessary steps to relieve their symptoms.
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.
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.
If you have an asthma attack, the initial treatment is found in the form of a reliever inhaler. This contains medication that can help you to breathe more easily. If your reliever inhaler doesn’t reduce your symptoms during an asthma attack, then you’ll need to go to the hospital.
When you go to the ER (Emergency Room), 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 nurse or doctor will carry out a pre-assessment. The assessment will determine your treatment, which may include a nebulizer or steroids.
A nebulizer allows you to inhale liquid medication in the form of a mist, while steroids help to calm and reduce swelling and inflammation, easing the symptoms of an asthma attack. Steroids are usually given in the form of a liquid or tablets. In urgent cases, they will be administered through a cannula (a small tube in a vein in the back of your hand) or injected into a vein.
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 tumors. Once you have been discharged from the hospital, you should book an appointment with your doctor or specialist soon after.
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.
As we’ve already mentioned, the best way to avoid an asthma attack is to keep your asthma well-managed. If you're concerned that your asthma might not be as well under control as it could be, talk to a healthcare provider. They can help you select the best treatment for your condition and even switch you to a new inhaler if they think a different one might work a little better for you.
Asthma. World Health Organization.
Asthma Facts. Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America.
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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.
