Can Car Crashes Trigger Asthma?

Asthma is a difficult and sometimes dangerous condition to live with. In daily life, it can feel like a struggle to get a breath.

Asthma attacks prove an even more acute danger to asthma sufferers. And unfortunately, a great many triggers may cause problems, including a car crash.

Potential triggers in a crash

Mayo Clinic discusses the onset, symptoms and prognosis of asthma, as well as triggers that may cause an asthma attack. Many factors that occur within a car crash may potentially trigger these attacks.

Stress is one major component. Accidents are majorly stressful, especially because many have not experienced any or many over their time driving. They prove even more stressful in events where physical injury occur, or major damage to the vehicle that could result in financial problems.

Some people have a physical stress mechanism that causes their airways to restrict. Lacking access to the right medication in a crucial moment could lead to a deadly attack.

Airbag deployment may also cause issues. They release chemicals and gas upon deployment which can end up irritating the airways of a person with asthma quite easily.

What are the signs of a sudden asthma attack?

Asthma sufferers often know the onset of their own symptoms quite well. However, it is possible for a crash-related asthma attack to manifest a little differently.

Keep an eye out for things like a tightness of the chest, sleepiness, dizziness, gasping for air, coughing or wheezing, or shortness of breath. Make sure to seek immediate medical attention for any of these manifesting symptoms.