This disease is a very complex problem that has challenged medical science for many years now. It is considered a chronic condition because if it is not properly treated, the attacks will continue. There are different types of asthma and many different factors that will trigger and attack. The fundamental causes have yet to be discovered. Nighttime intensification of asthma is very common.
Nocturnal asthma is defined as any sleep-related worsening of reversible airway disease.
The person who is experiencing this type of asthma may or may not otherwise have symptoms of the disease. When a person complains of shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing at night, a physician should suspect nocturnal asthma. People with severe asthma may go into respiratory arrest. This is when breathing stops and life could be in danger. Many times nocturnal asthma will be overlooked by the physician and can sometimes be difficult to treat.