Warning Signs Of An Acute Asthma Attack

Trouble Speaking

Trouble speaking is a sign an asthma attack is severe enough to need emergency medical treatment. Most patients are aware asthma can make it difficult to breathe in and oxygenate the body properly. But the narrowed bronchial tubes and inflammation make it equally difficult to breathe out. Exhaling tends to be somewhat easier than inhaling, which means if it's impossible to exhale, the attack is serious. If individuals aren't exhaling all the air in their lungs, there isn't space for them to inhale adequate oxygen. Since their breathing is already constricted, they need all the lung space they can get. Talking can be difficult. To speak, individuals need to exhale and let air vibrate along their vocal cords, as the vibration is what produces sound. If individuals can't exhale enough, it's harder to speak at any volume.