What happens to the lungs during an asthma attack?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:It all starts when pollen or another allergen works its way down your airway. As it moves past the cilia, the pollen sticks to your lungs. In response to the foreign matter, your body sends immune cells to the area. When they attach to the pollen, they explode like a grenade, and call in more white blood cells to investigate.
That migration of white blood cells to the area causes the area to inflame and move mucous into the lung, and chemicals into the immediate area, including near the muscles. When that happens, the muscles in the area become red, swollen, and more likely to go into spasm-which constricts the bronchi to trap air in the alveoli, which causes the plastic kazoo sound of trying to force air through the small opening.
Of course, the scariest part of asthma is an attack. While asthma may be mild, an attack-a period of time when it's extremely difficult to breathe-may last for several minutes or even up to a few days. Severe attacks can be fatal, but that doesn't mean you need to live in fear of attacks. In fact, many treatments can help asthma patients enjoy life performing their normal activities.
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It all starts when pollen or another allergen works its way down your airway. As it moves past the cilia, the pollen sticks to your lungs. In response to the foreign matter, your body sends immune cells to the area. When they attach to the... More -
Dr. Paul Ehrlich answered:The lungs resemble an upside-down tree. The "trunk" is called the trachea, which leads from the throat into the chest. The trachea narrows into "branches" called bronchi. They in turn taper down into "twigs" called small bronchi and then bronchioles. Last, there are "leaves" -- small sacs called alveoli where the blood exchanges carbon dioxide for fresh oxygen.
All the bronchi are surrounded by smooth muscle along with mucous glands. When the smooth muscle contracts, it leads to constriction, or narrowing, of the airways. This bronchoconstriction contributes to the airway obstruction known as asthma. When constriction is severe, the patient starts to feel that she cannot breathe. The lungs, in turn, may not be able to supply the blood with as much fresh oxygen as the body needs.
The other factors are the edema, or swelling, of the lining of the airways, which can damage it, as well as the increase in mucus.
The lungs resemble an upside-down tree. The "trunk" is called the trachea, which leads from the throat into the chest. The trachea narrows into "branches" called bronchi. They in turn taper down into "twigs" called small bronchi and then... More -
An asthma attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. The attack happens in your body’s airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branches of a tree are smaller than the tree trunk. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucous that your body makes clogs up the airways even more.
(The presence of the CDC logo and CDC content on this page should not be construed to imply endorsement by the U.S. government of any commercial products or services, or to replace the advice of a medical professional. The mark “CDC” is licensed under authority of the PHS.)An asthma attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. The attack happens in your body’s airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become... More
