During an asthma flare, your reliever (usually blue) inhaler normally eases symptoms within minutes. An attack becomes an emergency when it does not respond to your reliever, when you need it more often than usual, or when symptoms keep worsening despite treatment.
Call your local emergency number or go to the emergency room if you are too breathless to speak, eat, or sleep, your breathing is fast and you cannot catch your breath, your lips or fingertips look blue or grey, you feel agitated, drowsy, or exhausted, or your usual reliever has no effect. A silent chest, where wheezing stops because too little air is moving, is especially dangerous.
While waiting for help, sit upright, stay as calm as possible, and use your reliever inhaler as advised in your personal asthma action plan. Severe asthma attacks can become life-threatening quickly, so never delay seeking emergency care, and always follow up with your doctor after any attack that needed urgent treatment.