As a parent of a child who suffers from asthma, I can relate firsthand to the panic and fear which can occur when you or a loved one has an asthma attack. This is why it is crucial to know what to do when this happens.
An asthma attack occurs when the muscles are tightened around your airways.
The airways can become swollen, inflamed, and the mucus which is normally produced becomes thicker.
When this tightening occurs in your airways it can cause coughing, wheezing, tightening of the chest, and an inability to move air out of the chest. It is particularly scary because you feel as though you cannot breathe or get enough air.
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If you or someone around you is having an asthma attack, here are some immediate steps you should take.
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Steps to Take If You Have an Asthma Attack
- Stay calm, sit up, and administer 1-2 puffs of your rescue inhaler. While doing so, take slow, steady breaths. If there is a trigger which has caused you to have an asthma attack e.g., smoke, perfume, etc., immediately remove this trigger.
- If you still do not feel any better, take 2 additional puffs of your rescue inhaler, one puff at a time every 2 minutes. You can take up to 10 puffs.
- If your symptoms worsen and you still do not feel any relief relating to your breathing, call 911 immediately. If the ambulance doesn’t come within a 10-minute period of time, continue to repeat step 3.
- Finally, follow up with your primary care physician. Schedule an appointment within 48 hours to ensure you are ok. Determine if any follow-up adjustments need to be made with regard to your asthma treatment plan.
It is also important to recognize the signs of a severe asthma attack.
In this situation, call an ambulance immediately.
Some of these signs include:
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- Skin appearing as though it is sucked in between the ribs or neck
- Bluish discoloration of the lips
- Difficulty breathing even after administering a rescue inhaler for several minutes.
Tips for Living With Asthma
One of the best ways to manage asthma and decrease asthma attacks is to be proactive in your treatment.
Asthma sufferers generally have triggers in which they may be more susceptible to having an asthma attack.
A change of seasons increased pollen in the air, pollution, viral infections, and stress can also be factors that increase your chances of having an asthma attack.
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By doing the following, you can be more proactive in managing your asthma:
- Have an asthma action plan in place which outlines what medications or actions should be taken when your asthma symptoms flare up.
- Know which medication to take i.e., rescue inhaler or oral steroid, if necessary. Establish a backup plan if rescue medications don’t help.
- Know what triggers cause your asthma attacks i.e., allergens, smoke, chemicals, viral infections, etc.
My daughter tends to have an increased amount of asthma episodes during the spring and fall, which we discovered, was caused by increased pollen in the air.
By working with her primary care physician, she has come up with a treatment plan to manage her asthma. She has daily use of maintenance treatment and an emergency plan in the event that she has a sudden asthma attack.
You can do the same.
Knowing what to do in the event of an asthma attack and also working with your physician to have a treatment plan in place to manage your asthma can help you prepare.
Having an asthma attack can be scary.
But, if you know what to do when one occurs, you will remain one step ahead. This will help you manage your asthma attack effectively.
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