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Emergency Medicine & First Aid vocabulary · Medical Emergencies

Asthma attack

Meaning in emergency medicine & first aid, with examples

/ˈæzmə əˌtæk/nounCore term

In emergency medicine & first aid, asthma attack means: A sudden worsening of asthma in which the airways tighten and swell, causing wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.

In Turkish: astım krizi, astım atağı

How it is used

Patients and the public say 'asthma attack'; clinicians often say 'acute asthma' or 'exacerbation' and grade it as moderate, severe or life-threatening. Crews ask about inhaler use, previous admissions and whether the person can speak in full sentences.

Example sentences

  1. My son is having an asthma attack and his inhaler isn't helping.

  2. She has had three asthma attacks this year that needed hospital care.

Common collocations

  • have an asthma attack
  • severe asthma attack
  • acute asthma
  • life-threatening asthma
  • anaphylaxisA severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that develops quickly and can affect breathing and circulation, triggered for example by foods, insect stings or medicines.
  • airwayThe passage that air travels through from the nose and mouth to the lungs; in emergencies, the question is whether it is open or blocked.
  • vital signsThe basic measurements that show how the body is coping, usually pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature and level of consciousness.

More terms: Medical Emergencies

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.