ABSTRACT
The limitation of human symptom perceptual accuracy becomes apparent when patients with asthma fail to perceive airways obstruction. They therefore do not use bronchodilator medication and may suffocate as a consequence. Despite the increasing progress in pharmacology, the occurrence of near-fatal asthma attacks is rising globally, with poor symptom perception being a key issue (Barnes, 1994). A life-threatening attack of airways obstruction can develop within 1 hour. Rapid awareness of symptoms and taking the required medications can be decisive (Jones, 1992; Garden & Ayres, 1993).
