Can people die from asthma?

Can people die from asthma?

William Berger (Allergist and Immunologist) gives expert video advice on: What is "asthma"?; Can people die from asthma?; What causes asthma? and more...

Although rare, people can actually die from asthma. Asthma causes swelling. It causes constriction or tightening of the airways. It can cause a lot of mucous formation, and as a result, it can block the vital airways that allow us to breathe in and breathe out. When you can't get air, very often that will affect your ability to breathe, and as a result there will be greater and greater tightness of your chest due to asthma. Unfortunately, if it is not properly treated, (in many cases that means prevention of the reaction of a severe asthma attack) it can lead to death. Doctors are particularly concerned about patients who have been previously hospitalized, or those who have been incubated and put on respirators. Those patients are particularly at high risk from asthma. So, if you've had one of these high risk factors, or you're using your rescue medications too often, please see your doctor early because you are at the highest risk for having a severe episode and maybe even dying from your asthma attack.