Asthma is an extremely common chronic condition that can be triggered and exacerbated by the stress of visiting the dentist. When someone is having an asthma attack, their airways go into spasm which causes tightness of the chest; the linings of the airways become inflamed and phlegm is produced further obstructing the airways and leading to severe difficulty in breathing (Fig. 1). Asthma does lead to fatalities and should always be taken seriously.
Figure 1
Click here to read the full article on common Asthma triggers symptoms and for advice on how to help if someone is having an Asthma attack