If you have asthma, you probably know about flare-ups (also called asthma "attacks"). That's when your asthma symptoms get worse.
During a flare-up, you might have:
Some flare-ups are mild, but others are serious. If the flare-up is severe, a kid might:
Flare-ups happen because in someone with asthma, the airways are always slightly inflamed (irritated and swollen), even when the person seems to be breathing fine. The lungs might make sticky mucus, which clogs the airways. And the muscles around the airways tighten up, making the airways really narrow. These problems make it hard for air to get through the airways.
After you've had a few flare-ups, you may notice that you feel a certain way when one is coming on. You might have a tight chest, an itchy throat, or a tired feeling. Or do you have a cough, even though you don't have a cold? But flare-ups can sometimes happen without warning, causing sudden coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
If you feel like a flare-up is about to happen, you might need to take the medicine the doctor prescribed for quick relief of symptoms. Let people around you know what's going on. You might need to visit the doctor, or even go to the hospital. Don't ignore the flare-up or hope it will go away on its own.
You also have the power to prevent flare-ups, at least some of the time. Here's what you can do:
Reviewed by: Nemours Medical Experts
Date Reviewed: Sep 1, 2023
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