Tips For When You Dont Have An Inhaler
Mild to moderate asthma attacks can occur at inopportune times. You may be able to manage your asthma more effectively with these tips. If these dont work CALL AN AMBULANCE.
What Is An Inhaler And How Does It Work
Inhalers are the most common device for taking medications for COPD. There are a few different types of inhalers, and well go through each of them in this guide. Using your inhaler properly ensures the medication is delivered where it is needed the lungs. Other devices, like spacers and nebulizers, can also help.
What Is An Asthma Attack
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs. During an asthma attack, the airways become narrower than normal and can cause difficulty breathing.
The severity of an asthma attack can range from mild to very serious. Some asthma attacks may require prompt medical attention.
The preferred way of treating an asthma attack is to use a rescue inhaler, which contains medication that expands your airways.
But what if youre having an asthma attack and dont have your rescue inhaler available? There are several things that you can do while you wait for your symptoms to subside or for medical attention. Read on to learn more.
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Why Might Someone With Asthma Be Without An Inhaler
However, this doesn’t mean that everyone with asthma has an inhaler with them at all times. Often when someone has been living without symptoms for a long time, they may assume that their asthma has gone, and so get out of the habit of carrying one. Some people might develop symptoms suddenly for the first time as an adult, with no preparation. Others might just sometimes forget. Unfortunately, not having an inhaler won’t stop an attack.;
Of : Taking Medications
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Do I Need A Doctor To Get An Inhaler
You will need to speak with a doctor to get a prescription inhaler, which is the first line of treatment for those with breathing conditions such as asthma.
Asthma is a chronic condition that can get worse over time. Please do not wait for your asthma or breathing problems to get better on their own.
If you need an inhaler, make an appointment with PlushCare today to speak with a doctor.;
You can schedule an appointment to speak with a board-certified physician about your breathing problems and asthma signs and symptoms. If you are already diagnosed with asthma, talk with your provider about treatment options or if you have questions about your medications or prescriptions.
You can book an appointment or download the free PlushCare mobile app. The average appointment lasts just 15 minutes, and 97% of conditions are successfully treated on the first visit.
Who Can Get Asthma
Anyone can develop asthma at any age. People with allergies or people exposed to tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke are more likely to develop asthma.
Statistics show women tend to have asthma more than men, and asthma affects Black Americans more frequently than other races.
When a child develops asthma, healthcare providers call it childhood asthma. If it develops later in life, its adult-onset asthma.
Children do not outgrow asthma. They may have fewer symptoms as they get older, but they could still have an asthma attack. Your childs healthcare provider can help you understand the risks.
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Stay Calm And Get Help
If someone around you or you yourself, has an asthma attack, always remain calm. In such a situation, being calm helps us gain better control of our breathing. Never leave the person alone but be with them and help to calm them down.
Meanwhile, call for help! Asthma can recur and you would want to see a doctor if this is your first asthma attack. If the person is getting agitated, unable to speak in full sentences, and breathing fast even at rest, chances are he/she is having moderate to severe asthma. Seek help from a healthcare provider immediately!
Tests For Other Diseases
Asthma sometimes is hard to diagnose because symptoms vary widely from child to child and within each child over time. Symptoms may be the same as those of other conditions, such as influenza or other viral respiratory infections. Tests that may be done to determine whether diseases other than asthma are causing your childs symptoms include:
- A chest X-ray. A chest X-ray may be used to see whether something else, such as a foreign object, is causing symptoms.
- A sweat test, which measures the amount of salt in sweat. This test may be used to see whether cystic fibrosis is causing symptoms.
Other tests may be done to see whether your child has health problems such as sinusitis, nasal polyps, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
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Staying Away From Triggers
Triggers can further worsen your asthma attack so the best practice is staying away from them as much as possible. You should also try and identify your triggers. Some common triggers include:
- Allergens including certain food items, pet danders, and pollen.
- Exercising
- Irritants such as tobacco smoke and pollution.
- Certain medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and beta-blockers.
- Cold air or dry air
- Anxiety or stress
- Respiratory infections such as mycoplasma, flu, or common cold.
Need For Emergency Care
There are ways to manage mild-to-moderate asthma symptoms without an inhaler. However, if you experience any of the following conditions, seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Extreme difficulty breathing or stopping breathing
- Bluish color to the lips and face, called cyanosis
- Severe anxiety
To all kinds of asthma attacks, seek out asthma treatment in Queens with Dr. Shukla.
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After An Asthma Attack
You should see a GP or asthma nurse within 48 hours of leaving hospital, or ideally on the same day if you did not need hospital treatment.
About 1 in 6 people treated in hospital for an asthma attack need hospital care again within 2 weeks, so it’s important to discuss how you can reduce your risk of future attacks.
Talk to a doctor or nurse about any changes that may need to be made to manage your condition safely.
For example, the dose of your treatment may need to be adjusted or you may need to be shown how to use your inhaler correctly.
What Should I Do To Protect Myself
Get your asthma under control and maintain that control. I cannot stress that enough. That means staying on your usual medications.
At the first onset of respiratory symptoms, asthma patients should follow their individualized asthma action plan and contact their health care provider to see if additional treatments are necessary to prevent symptoms from worsening.
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Tips To Deal With Asthma Attacks Without Inhalers
Asthma is a chronic ailment of the airways caused by the inflammation of the bronchial tubes of the lungs which get clogged by mucus. The symptoms accompanying the disease include wheezing, coughing, chest-tightening and shortness of breath.
An asthma attack can be triggered anywhere, primarily due to allergens, such as cigarette smoke, dust, pollen, fur or environmental pollution or even emotional outbursts. So, you must never leave your medications even if you feel the conditions are getting better.
However, if you get caught up in unforeseen conditions where you are faced with an asthma attack and are trapped without your inhaler, you must follow some rules and techniques to prevent situations from becoming life-threatening.
Care Advice For Asthma Attack
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Move Away From The Trigger
If your asthma attacks are triggered by allergies, remove yourself as quickly as possible from the allergen, whether its a dusty room, smoke-filled bar or fluffy cat. Once youre in a cleaner environment, calmly sit down and breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Of course, the best way to combat an asthma attack is always to have a spare rescue inhaler in a place where you have quick access to it, just in case your main inhaler is lost. But these five simple solutions may just do the trick in getting you through a difficult situation. Finally, if your symptoms do not subside quickly or are severe for you, seek emergency help IMMEDIATELY.
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What Medications Can Help With Asthma
Asthma attacks, airway inflammation, and other issues can be controlled or prevented in many cases. Certain medications can be taken every day, like inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers. These can help a child live more easily with their asthma and live a more active life. Of course, rescue inhalers will help too, and can be vital for a child.
Natural Treatments That May Control Asthma
Studies have been conducted that suggest certain lifestyle changes and integrative treatments may help control asthma, without an inhaler.; In fact, they may stave off severe attacks that occur.; Below are some natural supplements and foods you may want to incorporate into your diet:
- Vitamin B6: Pyridoxine, or vitamin B6, has been found to help asthmatics that are on steroid medication. Studies show that individuals who take B6 have improved breathing first thing in the morning. Participants with low levels of B6, responded well with supplementation of the vitamin showing a reduction in wheezing occurrences.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish, flaxseed, and walnuts are among a few of the foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids. One study on omega-3s found that a diet high in omega-3s enhanced the quality of life of asthmatics to the point that they didnt need to rely on rescue inhalers as much.
- Vitamin C: You may start to drink more orange juice after learning this!; Research studies found that a diet high in vitamin C reduced episodes of wheezing in children. Since vitamin C is part of a healthy diet, you should add citrus fruit to your daily food consumption anyway. If you find it helps your breathing, all the better!
Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new herbs or supplements. Some herbs and supplements can interact with your current medications.
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Try Deep Belly Breathing
Best for: Wheezing because of anxiety;
Deep belly breathing can help you train your diaphragm, the muscle that sits below your lungs, to take on more of the work of breathing. This can help take some of the pressure off of constricted bronchial tubes that cause wheezing.
You can try deep belly breathing by following these steps:
Breathing exercises can help control shortness of breath and normalize your breathing pattern when you are wheezing, says Ryan Thomas, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist and professor at Michigan State University.
“But it does not usually treat the underlying cause, unless anxiety is a trigger for asthma,” Thomas says. For some people, feeling anxious can cause rapid breathing called hyperventilating, which can worsen symptoms of asthma. Deep belly breathing may be especially helpful for people with anxiety-triggered asthma to slow their breathing.;
Monitor The Person Until Well Or When Help Arrives
Monitor closely on persons breathing rate, heart rate, lip colour, and whether they are losing attention or not. Generally, if the asthma is improving, the persons breathing slows down to normal, and he/she is able to speak in full sentences without finding themselves out of breath.
However, if the person is becoming less aware of the surrounding, very out of breath, very shallow and rapid pulse, and lips turning pale or even blue, you would want to find ways to get medical help faster! If the person collapsed and stop breathing, lie the person down and start doing CPR until help arrives.
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Can I Get An Asthma Inhaler Over The Counter
There is no shortcut method to treating asthma, but if quick relief is needed, there are OTC options available.;
Primatene Mist is the only FDA-approved over-the-counter metered-dose inhaler. Primatene mist is indicated for mild symptoms of intermittent asthma.;
Although over the counter asthma inhalers are available, experts say that they are not the best option for asthma.
However, some people choose this route due to lack of insurance or for quick relief.
PlushCare offers telehealth visits, even if you do not have insurance at an affordable cost, so you can get a prescription inhaler whenever you need it.
Use A Peak Flow Meter
A peak flow meter is an inexpensive handheld gadget. You use it to measure how fast air comes out when you exhale hard after a full breath in. This number is called a peak expiratory flow .
Your doctor may want you to use a peak flow meter to help you recognize signs of trouble. Many asthma symptoms result from not being able to move air out of your lungs. If your PEF goes down, thats a sign that your asthma is getting worse and that you need to do something.
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