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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Asthma attacks can be serious.

  • Asthma attacks can interrupt everyday activities such as sleep, school, work and exercise, causing a significant impact on your quality of life — and can disrupt the lives of those around you.
  • Serious asthma attacks mean you're likely to need trips to the emergency room, which can be stressful and costly.
  • A very severe asthma attack can lead to respiratory arrest and death.
References
  1. Fanta CH. Treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
  2. Expert panel report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma-Summary report 2007. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2008;121:1330.
  3. Mangan JM. What do patients need to know about their asthma? http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
  4. Spirometry and other lung function tests fact sheet. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.43918/k.B71/Spirometry_and_Other_Lung_Function_Tests_Fact_Sheet.htm. Accessed Oct. 22, 2008.
  5. Questions and answers on final rule of albuterol MDI's. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/CDER/mdi/mdifaqs.htm. Oct. 22, 2008.

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Jan. 9, 2009

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