A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. However, since the attacks usually occur at night and the person appears healthy when not suffering an attack, it is sometimes difficult for the patients and their families to fully understand the nature of the disease, as well as to cope with its adverse effects on their lives.
One patient described his suffering, "The symptoms are relieved when I lie down. When I get out of the bed, I feel terrible. I struggle tobreathe and suffer a lot."