Asthma can be seriously threatening to the life of the patient. Although death only happens sometimes the possibility of it happening cannot be completely ruled out. There are a very small percentage of people who do not respond to the treatment offered at the hospitals. These people develop a situation known as acute respiratory failure.

This is a very serious and highly complicated condition. In respiratory failure the bronchial tubes are almost totally blocked. This inhibits the passage of gases to the extent that the lungs cannot get any life sustaining oxygen and at the same time they cannot get rid of the poisonous carbon dioxide as well. This is a state where without the process of respiration the person slowly suffocates to death.

In such a situation assistance of machines that can simulate breathing is taken. These machines are called ventilators. They have tubes that are inserted into the trachea and the respiratory muscles are paralysed. Then the process of breathing is completely taken over by the machine which pumps in required amount of oxygen into the system and removes the carbon dioxide.

The amounts of oxygen can be adjusted with the help of dials on the ventilators. The process of usage of ventilators can take place for two to three days. Once the condition of the patient improves the machine is gradually turned down and the patient is weaned from the ventilator. This process may take some time but the assisted ventilation is a very highly successful process and is also readily available in almost all the bigger hospitals with an intensive care unit.

There are very few cases of deaths because of asthma if the patient has received medical help in time. Most of the time deaths happen because the patients fail to identify the symptoms in time. Most of the deaths from asthma occur quite all of a sudden without much prior warning and expectation. This proves the need for identifying the symptoms well in time and taking serious precautions to avoid worsening of the situation.

The historical records do not indicate asthma to be a fatal disease. Many historians even regarded asthma to be a disease that promoted longevity. But there are no clear records indicative of this. Logically since asthma is essentially a disease of the respiratory tract and lungs which are main functional organs for breathing, it can be fatal if the system fails.

Asthmatic attack is mainly caused when the air passages constrict abnormally hampering the flow of air into the lungs. This causes a choking feeling accompanied with cough, wheezing, pain and constriction in the chest and suffocation. The person may all of a sudden feel an urge to go to the window or any other open space in order to facilitate normal breathing.

The attack may generally stay for just a short time. The attacks also become worsened with the effect of allergens present in the atmosphere or even in the food. There may be external situations of weather and temperature that adversely aggravate the conditions of the patient during an attack. Taking an inhaler may be helpful but if for some reason the patient fails to use the inhaler in time the attack may worsen and even lead to fatality. All these symptoms can last for a short span of time and only sometimes they continue for longer durations. But since this disease involves one of the most vital systems of the body functioning it is quite possible that any delay in restoring normalcy may lead to fatal situations.

The rate of deaths due to asthma is higher in the developing or under developed nations, obviously because the medical facilities are not adequate there and also because medical facilities are not available to a larger chunk of population, which is living below the poverty levels. Illiteracy and ignorance also add to the number of fatalities.

In many third world countries the asthmatic condition is associated with several superstitious practices which lead to increase in number of deaths as a result of the attack of the disease. The mortality rate is definitely higher among children because their immune systems and bodies are weaker so the attack, if at all is sustained; it is done with great difficulty. Repeated attacks may increase the chances of death morbidly.

Several studies show that the patients can control the attack conditions and even have enough control so as to not have them at all and lead a life as close to normal as possible. This can be done only by identifying the early warning signs of asthma and by always taking adequate precautions.

Most of the time it is absolutely imperative to make changes in one's lifestyle to avoid near fatal situations of asthma. This may sound a little difficult but it involves only certain changes in lifestyle that promote better disciplined living. If better discipline is the only option available to save one's life from a choking and suffocating death then that is definitely a better choice for all.