ASTHMA/HYPERVENTILATION An attack of acute asthma (asthmatic bronchitis) is usually manifested by extreme difficulty in breathing accompanied by wheezing in the chest. During an asthmatic attack the bronchial tubes constrict so as to impair the flow of air to the lungs. A severe attack may be very distressing, and the victim should remain totally relaxed in as comfortable a position as possible. In event of a young child suffering an attack of any severity, immediate hospital care is urgent. If an attack is accompanied by fever, vomiting, unusually colored mucus or severe pain, it may be signaling a condition more serious than asthma and professional medical assistance should be obtained. Asthma may be fatal, always call for assistance. Asthma is considered to be hereditary with more obvious contributing factors such as allergies, exertion, animals, dust, pollen, cold weather, emotional upset or fatigue. A victim known to have an asthmatic condition may have medication on hand. In the event of a first asthmatic attack, a physician should be contracted for treatment. HYPERVENTILATION is another form of abnormal breathing which may occur during an acute anxiety attack and results in a sense of overwhelming terror and impending death. This syndrome triggers over-breathing and creates frightening symptoms, which generates even more anxiety. Numbness and tingling may develop in the hands and feet and around the mouth. Hyperventilation attacks are often mistaken for heart attacks, seizures or acute asthmatic attacks. The victim feels that the physical symptoms are the cause of panic, but actually the opposite is true. The simplest and most effective emergency treatment is to reverse the over-breathing reaction. Shut their mouth and make them breathe through their nose; this usually works! This can also be accomplished by having the victim count out loud to see how high they can count before taking their next breath and starting from zero.