Explained: What is a bronchial spasm, the condition behind Pope Francis’s breathing scare

Pope Francis was back to sipping coffee and reading newspapers on Saturday, just hours after a serious health scare that interrupted his recovery from double pneumonia. The 87-year-old pontiff suffered a severe coughing fit on Friday afternoon, during which he accidentally inhaled vomit, triggering a bronchial spasm - a sudden tightening of the airways that can make breathing difficult or even impossible without medical intervention. Doctors had to place him on a noninvasive mechanical ventilation to help stabilize his breathing.

In the late Friday update, the Vatican said Francis suffered an “isolated crisis of bronchial spasm,” which resulted in a “sudden worsening of the respiratory picture.”

The team of doctors said it would take a couple of days to assess the impact of Friday afternoon's episode on the pontiff's condition.

The pope responded well to treatment, remaining conscious and alert throughout the episode. According to the Vatican, he maintained good oxygen levels and continued to wear a mask to receive supplemental oxygen.

What is bronchial spasm?

Bronchial spasms are uncomfortable, frightening, and can make breathing extremely difficult for the person suffering from it. A bronchospasm happens when the muscles surrounding the airways known as the bronchi, which connect the windpipe to the lungs, suddenly tighten. This causes the airways to narrow, restricting the flow of oxygen into the lungs and making it harder to breathe. This also results in wheezing, coughing, and other symptoms.

Bronchospasm are associated with conditions like asthma, emphysema, COPD and lung infections.

Symptoms of bronchial spasm

The symptoms may trigger suddenly and people may struggle to catch their breath.

One may also experience tightness in chest, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, tiredness, and dizziness.

Common triggers

While asthma is the most common triggers of bronchial spasm, a bacterial, viral or fungal infections of the lungs or airways, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dust, pollen, pet dander and other allergens can also cause it.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm are also common. It is caused by the loss of heat, water or both from the airways during exercise when quickly breathing in air that is drier than what is already in the body.

Symptoms typically appear within a few minutes after you start exercising and may continue for 10 to 15 minutes after you finish your workout.

Chemical fumes or other irritants (such as perfumes) can also cause these spasms.

Cold temperatures, smoking or vaping, general anesthesia used in surgery are other causes.

Experiencing a severe, or distressing bronchospasms is an emergency situation and one must contact their healthcare expert. If airflow is extremely compromised, emergency department should be reached.