Night asthma is the term used to describe a type of asthma that hits people at night, many times while trying to sleep. Over 3/4 of asthma patients have more severe symptoms at night.
Asthma sufferers have inflamed bronchial tubes, even when not suffering a attack and this inflammation narrows the airways and increases sensitivities to allergies and other triggers. All of this leads to the primary symptom which is difficulty breathing. In some rare cases a severe attack can lead to death.
It is not completely known why asthma symptoms worsen at night but what is known is that night asthma usually indicates that the patients asthma is not being controlled properly and a plan of action must be developed by a physician. By not getting proper treatment for night asthma, the patient will continue to be awakened during the night and eventually wear the body down which in turn leads to worse asthma symptoms.
