Identifying and managing symptoms of bronchospasm

Bronchospasms occur when your airways tighten, making it very difficult to breathe, with a frightening feeling of not getting enough air. Bronchospasm can be a symptom of several different conditions, including asthma, and may be life-threatening if left untreated.

In this article, we will analyze the underlying causes of bronchospasm, its symptoms, and the treatments available.

Symptoms of bronchospasm

Bronchospasm is a tightening of the muscles that line your bronchi, the cartilaginous tubes connected to your trachea that direct the air you breathe to your right and left lungs.

This interferes with the regular mechanisms of ventilation, as your airways narrow, causing chest tightness, trouble breathing, coughing, and wheezing. Less common symptoms include fatigue and exhaustion.

Because bronchospasm makes it hard to take deep breaths, it can cause your oxygen levels to drop, resulting in a medical emergency.

An episode of bronchospasm can last up to 14 days, during which it is advisable to follow the treatment plan your healthcare provider will suggest for you in order to avoid complications.

Causes of bronchospasm

Bronchospasm is quite commonly associated with respiratory conditions, including asthma, emphysema, COPD, and lung infections.

Irritation of the airways may trigger a bronchospasm, with the most common causes being the following:

• Infection of the lungs or airways, which may be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi.
• Airborne allergens, like dust, pollen, mold, or pet dander
• Physical exercise, in which case it is named exercise-induced bronchospasm
• Chemical irritants, like fumes, smog, polluting agents, or even perfume
• Smoking or vaping
• Extreme cold

It is also possible for bronchospasm to be caused by general anesthesia during surgery.

How is bronchospasm diagnosed?

Bronchospasm must be diagnosed by a physician or a pulmonologist. After a thorough examination of a patient’s symptoms and medical history, your healthcare provider may recommend a series of tests to evaluate lung function, such as:

• Spirometry, a commonly used test that measures the force and volume of air you can breathe out
• Pulse oximetry, a non-invasive test to assess the oxygen levels, or saturation, in your blood
• Lung volume assessment, to measure the amount of air your lungs can hold
• Lung diffusion capacity, to determine how well oxygen is transferred between your lungs and your blood
• Arterial blood gas tests, a test that measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood
• Imaging tests like chest X-rays and CT scans, to look for infections or other issues

Treatment of bronchospasm

The most common medications used for treating bronchospasm are bronchodilators, whose effect is to widen the airways. They come in several different forms – inhalers, nebulizer solutions, and tablets being the most common – and can be divided into two categories:

1. Short-acting bronchodilators, like albuterol and levalbuterol. They provide rapid relief from symptoms, normalizing a patient’s breathing within a few minutes, and therefore are commonly used in rescue inhalers. Their effect can last up to 6 hours
2. Long-acting bronchodilators, like salmeterol, formoterol, and vilanterol. Since they take longer to kick in but their effect can last for up to 12 hours, they are used as a daily treatment rather than a rescue medication

In some cases, steroids can also be prescribed to help reduce inflammation, or in case of severe bronchospasm.

Dedicating up to 10 minutes a day to breathing exercises may also help lower the risk of bronchospasm. Just keep in mind that breathing exercises will not stop a bronchospasm after it starts. Instead, they are useful as a way of improving your pulmonary health and preventing severe attacks. If you wish to try, here is a quick guide to the most common exercises to improve lung function.