LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Asthma: Attacks
built 288 days ago
Asthma most commonly starts in childhood when allergies, especially to pollens, house dust and domestic animals often trigger attacks. However, it is important to understand that in the majority of patients allergy aggravates asthma rather than being the fundamental cause of it. When asthma starts in adult life, allergic factors are less likely to be found and attacks are more likely to be provoked by other triggers, for example the common cold, aspirin, or beta blocking drugs (medicines sometimes used to treat angina or high blood pressure). Some patients with asthma will deteriorate without any obvious provoking cause. Many occupations (for example working with isocyanates- chemicals used in some painting and plastics industries) can cause asthma for the first time or aggravate existing asthma. When an adult develops asthma for the first time it is important for their doctor to consider whether their occupation might be involved.
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"Asthma may predispose to air-trapping leading to pulmonary barotrauma and air embolism, which may be fatal. An acute asthma attack can ... cause severe dyspnoea which may be hazardous or fatal during diving. These theoretical risks should be explained fully to the asthmatic diver. There is little if any evidence that the mild controlled asthmatic who follows the guidelines below is at more risk:
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Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways become tight and the lining of the air passages swell. This reduces the amount of air that can pass by, and can lead to wheezing sounds.
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Attacks