The airways also become blocked with sticky mucus. During an asthma attack breathing becomes harder, even at rest. There may be a cough or wheezing, which is a musical noise when you breathe. Asthma can also occur at night during sleep. Asthma can vary in severity from mild chest tightness with cough and wheeze during exertion, to a life-threatening attack of severe breathlessness requiring urgent medical treatment.
Asthma tends to run in families with asthma, hayfever or eczema.
You need to discuss the importance of these factors with your child's doctor to work out the best plan to avoid or minimise their role in asthma attacks. These medications have been around for a long time and are safe. They work by causing the muscles around the airways to relax and so relieve the blockage in your airways. These medications are taken regularly each day to prevent the attacks of asthma from occurring. They work on the lining of the lung airways to reduce the irritation from the triggers listed above.