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Asthma attack

An acute flare up of asthma symptoms such that inflammation and bronchoconstriction become constant and extreme, causing:

  • Severe breathlessness and rapid breathing (tachypnoea)
  • Faster heartbeat (tachycardia) as the body attempts to deliver oxygen to tissues
  • Confusion, dizziness, and drowsiness due to low oxygen levels (hypoxia)
  • Fainting or loss of consciousness in extreme cases
  • Blue lips and fingers (cyanosis) as a sign of critically low oxygen levels