If you have asthma, you know just how frightening the chronic condition can be. After all, according to the Cleveland Clinic, asthma causes airways to constrict. At the same time, your lungs produce excessive amounts of mucus, making it exceedingly difficult for you to breathe. Unfortunately, if you have an asthma attack, your life may be in danger.
All asthma sufferers should try to determine what triggers their asthma attacks and avoid those triggers. Remember, asthma triggers can vary from person to person. If you are in a stressful event, though, you may have an increased chance of suffering an asthma attack.
Why does stress cause asthma?
Even if your car accident is a minor one, it is likely to be stressful. While stressful events can contribute to asthma attacks, it is not the stress that triggers an attack. Rather, it is your body’s response to stress that gives you trouble.
In response to a stressful event, your breathing rate naturally increases. This, in turn, can cause the narrow airways in your lungs to go into overdrive. That is, rapid breathing may lead to bronchial swelling and mucus production, both of which can induce a potentially deadly asthma attack.
How can you stay healthy?
If your doctor has prescribed daily asthma medication, it is important to adhere to his or her orders. Provided you have permission from your physician, you also should carry a rescue inhaler with you in your car, truck or SUV. If you have a crash-induced asthma attack, using your rescue inhaler can save your life.
You should not rely on your daily medication and rescue inhaler to recover completely after a car accident, though. Ultimately, if you go to the hospital, doctors can use more effective measures to stop your asthma attack and prevent additional lung damage.