If you have asthma, you know how it feels to have a flare-up. It’s hard to breathe. You may cough a lot. Or you may hear a whistling sound in your chest. This is called wheezing.
If you have asthma, your chest may feel tight. You may feel tired and not want to play.
Why these things happen
Try this: Use a paper horn to see how your lungs work. First, blow into the horn. The air goes in and out. That’s what healthy lungs are like.
Now squeeze the middle of the horn. Air can’t get in and out. That’s what your lungs are like when you have an asthma flare-up.
Inside your lungs
Of course, lungs aren’t exactly like a paper horn. Inside the lungs, air goes in and out through very small tubes. These tubes are called airways. Asthma makes airways a little bit inflamed all the time. That means swollen and red, like your nose when you have a cold.
Air can still go in and out. You may not notice a problem. But lots of things can bother inflamed airways. These things are called triggers. For example, triggers could be things like exercise, cold weather, having a cold, dust in your house, dirty air outside, or pet hair.
Triggers can cause your airways to get even more swollen. Pushing the air in and out gets harder. Less air gets into your lungs. That’s called a flare-up.
Featured in
Online Medical Reviewer: Amy Finke RN BSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Dan Brennan MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Rita Sather RN
Date Last Reviewed: 09/01/2024
© 2000-2025 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
Personalized Pediatric Care
San Juan Health Partners Pediatrics. Dedicated to caring for your children.
Find a Doctor
Call for an Appointment
Offering personalized care at more than 20 clinics across three cities and two states.
Call NowRelated Articles
Your Child's Asthma
How asthma will affect a child throughout their lifetime varies, depending on the child.
Your Child's Asthma: What Happens in the Lungs
Asthma is a disease of the airways in the lungs. Learn about how it affects the airways and breathing.
For Kids: Asthma Symptoms and Triggers
You can learn how to help control your asthma. One way is to learn about the things that make you have flare-ups. You can also learn how to know when a flare-up is on the way. The more you know, the easier it will be to control your asthma.
Your Child's Asthma: Encouraging Exercise
Don't let fear of an asthma flare-up keep your child from being active. The key is keeping their asthma under control. Read on for helpful tips to make exercise safer.