How Do Hospitals Treat Asthma Attacks

Can Certain Foods Help With Asthma

Theres an increasing amount of evidence that suggests certain foods can help to control asthma. One example is ginger. Researchers found that ginger, when combined with commonly used inhaled medications, enhances airway dilation. It is believed that the ginger reduces the contraction of the muscles surrounding the airways.

A study showed that omega-3 fatty acids may help patients be less reliant on rescue medications, and improve quality of life. Its easy to get more foods high in these fats. Sources include walnuts , salmon, pumpkin seeds, and more.

Additionally, it may help your child to get more vitamin B6. It has been shown to help with breathing early in the morning and reduce acute wheezing episodes, and its especially beneficial for patients who are dependent on a steroid for their asthma.

It may also help your child to increase their intake of vitamin C. Studies showed that this reduced episodes of wheezing in children.

You may want to talk to a professional before incorporating new foods into your childs diet.

Therapy For Acute Asthma

The rapidity of response to initial therapy, as defined by changes in symptoms, signs and FEV1 or peak expiratory flow, may be a more useful measure of severity and the need for more aggressive therapy than the clinical status at presentation.2,3 Definitions of the terms status asthmaticus,life-threatening or near fatal, and a severe episode of asthma are imprecise and should not be used to determine the level of therapy for acute asthma. Here, we use the term moderate to severe asthma, by which we mean patients who have no clinical improvement with initial standard therapy and those whose presenting FEV1 or peak expiratory flow is less than 25%30% of predicted.

Vaping And Lung Damage

• Talk with your teen about the dangers of vaping.
• Vaping can cause severe lung damage. It can become permanent.
• Vaping can even cause death .
• Vaping tobacco also causes nicotine addiction.
• For these reasons, the legal age to purchase vaping products is 21 in the US.
• Encourage your teen to not start vaping or to give it up.
• Warning: home-made or street-purchased vaping solutions are the most dangerous.

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Cold Weather And Asthma

Cold weather is a common trigger for asthma symptoms. The following to help you control your symptoms in the cold:

• carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times and keep taking your regular preventer inhaler as prescribed
• if you need to use your inhaler more than usual, speak to your doctor about reviewing your treatment
• keep warm and dry wear gloves, a scarf and a hat, and carry an umbrella
• wrap a scarf loosely over your nose and mouth this will help warm up the air before you breathe it
• try breathing in through your nose instead of your mouth your nose warms the air as you breathe

Leaving Hospital After An Asthma Attack

Every hospital will have its own discharge policy, but there are also asthma guidelines outlining what should happen when you leave hospital after an asthma attack:

Whenever youre discharged after an asthma attack, make sure you have a follow-up appointment with your GP or practice nurse within two working days, even if you feel well, says Dr Andy.

This could make the difference between making a full recovery, and ending up in hospital again with another attack. Make sure you get help sooner if your asthma is getting worse or if you’re worried.

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Can You Die Of Asthma In Your Sleep

Nocturnal asthma and sleep disturbances Nocturnal wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing are common but potentially dangerous. Many doctors often underestimate nocturnal asthma or nocturnal asthma. Studies show that most deaths from asthma symptoms such as wheezing occur at night.

How to help someone who is having an asthma attack?

Learn first aid for someone having an asthma attack. 1. Help the person sit in a comfortable position and take their medication. When a person has an asthma attack, their airways narrow, making it difficult to breathe. An inhaler relaxes the muscles, allowing the airways to expand and making it easier to breathe.

Can a paramedic take you to the hospital if you have asthma?

Asthma is a high priority and if a paramedic in a car, bicycle or motorbike is closer, they may reach you first. This means treatment can be started earlier, before the ambulance arrives.

What do they give you in the asthma ambulance?

For example, they may give you: a salbutamol nebulizer to open your airways ipratropium bromide in the nebulizer, which further opens the airways and can help reduce mucus. They can use it earlier for children. an injection of a steroid called hydrocortisone. This reduces swelling around your airways and helps you breathe.

What Are The Symptoms Of Asthma

While symptoms vary from person to person, the most common signs of mild asthma include:

• difficulty breathing feeling breathless, even while resting, or being unable to finish full sentences before needing to take another breath
• wheezing making a whistling sound while breathing
• coughing either at specific times or after certain activities

During a severe asthma attack, you may notice more serious symptoms, such as:

• feeling very distressed, exhausted or even limp from trying to breathe
• deep sucking motions at the throat or chest while trying to breathe

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Side Effects Of Asthma Medications

Many medications have side effects. For example, inhaled steroids can cause mild problems, such as thrush infections and a sore throat, or more serious ones including eye disorders and bone loss. Keep your doctor up to date with how well your treatment is working and whether you have side effects. Theyâll work with you to keep your asthma under control with as little medicine as possible.

Clear Breathing Aheadnovel Treatments In Development

No single solution for equine asthma exists. Lack of perfection, however, doesnt stop progress, and many equine researchers continue to explore novel paths to make breathing second nature again.

Stem cell therapy. Because stem cells have potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, scientists are looking to harness those properties for diseases like asthma. To date, researchers have only conducted studies in mice, cats, and humans. This technique shows promise, but dosing, frequency of administration, and treatment timing need to be explored further.9

Inhaled microscopic immunomodulatory particles. This technology uses small inert, biodegradable particles to alter the immune systems function to decrease airway inflammation. These particles work like allergy shots but dont need to be custom-made for each patient. When researchers tested the particles in horses, they noted significant improvements in respiratory parameters that persisted for eight weeks.4

Azithromycin, an immunomodulatory antibiotic. Azithromycin can do far more than just fight infections. This antibiotic also has immunomodulatory properties. When studied in asthmatic horses, levels of proinflammatory interleukins-1b and -8 decreased following treatment. This medication has not yet been studied in enough detail, however, to warrant use in actual patients.10

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Why Does My Asthma Act Up At Night

Asthma can get worse at night. If you have symptoms at night, it’s called nighttime asthma. This is often a sign of uncontrolled asthma. It probably has to do with natural body rhythms and changes in your body’s hormones. With the right asthma management and treatment, you should be able to sleep through the night.

Inpatient Treatment Of Acute Asthma

The principles of inpatient treatment of acute asthma are the same as those outlined for therapy in the emergency department. Several studies have demonstrated that the use of structured care plans and observation units is associated with reduced rates of hospital admission and reduced lengths of stay.119,121,186

Patients who require admission to hospital for asthma exacerbation have clearly demonstrated poor asthma control and should be referred to an asthma specialist.91,99,187 The goals of such referral are to enhance the prospects for success of education related to self-management, which will involve development of a written action plan, to review any barriers to asthma control and to improve the likelihood of adherence with follow-up. If possible, such consultation should take place before the patient is discharged.

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When Will Your Doctor Prescribe Steroids For Your Asthma

Your doctor will prescribe steroids for your asthma if you need extra help with symptoms. Theyll prescribe the lowest dose of steroid medicines you need to treat your asthma symptoms and keep you well.

For example, your GP will prescribe steroid medicine if:

• youre taking your reliever inhaler three or more times a week. Most people with asthma are prescribed a steroid preventer inhaler to use every day. It stops inflammation building up in your airways and cuts your risk of symptoms. So, if youve only been given a reliever inhaler, and youre using it three or more times a week, see your GP.

• youve had an asthma attack. You might be given a short course of steroid tablets to take until your symptoms are fully under control. These can quickly get the swelling in your airways back down again if you have an asthma attack.

• youre getting asthma symptoms even when youre taking your preventer inhaler as prescribed. This is when a course of steroid tablets may be what you need to get your asthma back under control.

• you have severe asthma. Some people with severe asthma are prescribed a longer course of steroid tablets at higher doses.

If your asthma is still not well controlled in spite of high dose inhaled steroids, keep taking them until you can discuss your treatment with your GP. Use our severe asthma tool to find out if you need a referral to a severe asthma specialist.

What Are The Symptoms

You may have any of the following:

• Shortness of breath, trouble breathing, or fast breathing

• Trouble doing normal activities, such as exercising, playing sports, or doing chores that involve lifting

• Trouble talking

• Fingers or lips turning blue or gray

• A peak flow rate less than 80 percent of your personal best

• Tightness in your chest

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Why Is This Important In Asthma

When you have asthma, actions take place in the airways that can make it hard to breathe. Most often, this happens in reaction to coming into contact with an allergen, such as , pet dander, , or mold. But it can also occur if you are sensitive to certain irritating substances in the environment, such as wood or tobacco , chemical odors, , and air pollution.2

When an asthma attack occurs, your airway muscles tighten, causing the airways to narrow. In addition, the lining of your airways swells and may produce excess mucus.3 All of these effects make it harder to breathe, causing the hallmark symptoms of asthma:3

• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Chest tightness

So, anything that would prevent or counteract the effects of an asthma attack will lessen the symptoms of asthma.

Care Advice For Asthma Attack

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Inhaled Corticosteroids As Asthma Treatment Options

Inhaled corticosteroids , also known as inhaled steroids, are the most potent anti-inflammatory controller medications available today for asthma control and are used to decrease the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms. They are the current mainstay of treatment once a person with asthma needs a higher level of care than a rescue inhaler .

Inhaled corticosteroids help prevent chronic asthma symptoms such as:

You and your physician may want to consider inhaled corticosteroids if any of the following apply:

• You use rescue -agonist treatments, such as albuterol, more than two days per week.
• You have asthma symptoms more than twice weekly.
• You meet certain criteria on spirometry.
• Your asthma interferes with your daily activities.
• You have needed oral steroids two or more times in the last year.

Understanding The Different Types Of Inhaled Medication Devices:

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology or AAAI, inhalers are identified by three categories or types. These include dry powder inhalers or DPIs, nebulizers and metered dose inhalers or MDIs.

• Metered Dose Inhalers: When you think of a standard inhaler, youre imagining an MDI. This inhaler has two parts, the mouthpiece and the pressurized medication canister. You put the mouthpiece into your mouth and then press down. When you breathe, the medication is propelled into your lungs. Again, you must breathe quickly and deeply for the medication to be effective. Holding your breath after dosing will help it be absorbed by your airways.
• Nebulizers: Nebulizer aerosolize asthma medications which are then inhaled using a mask or mouthpiece. You wear them over your face, specifically your mouth and nose. They require less coordination than inhalers. If youre ill, an older adult or a young child, a nebulizer may be prescribed instead of a DPI or MDI.
• Dry Powder Inhalers: This type of inhaler delivers medications to your lungs in a powder form. Breathing in will pull the medication out of the inhaler into your lungs. To use a DPI, you must inhale slowly and deeply so that the medication can reach your lungs. Again holding your breath after dosing helps the medicine be the most effective.

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Complementary And Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine practitioners may turn to any of several approaches to relieve wheezing or prevent spasms and constriction of the airways that lead to acute respiratory symptoms.

Its important to note that most have little scientific evidence to support their use. If you decide to incorporate complementary medicine into your treatment plan, let your doctor know so they can track any side effects and prevent drug interactions.

Working With A New Treatment Plan

You likely have questions or concerns about starting a new treatment plan. They may be about managing numerous medications, budgeting for the costs of the treatment plan, or preparing for an asthma attack. Make sure to discuss them with your doctor at your appointment.

Write down the details of your new treatment plan to make it easier to follow. Your treatment plan may involve a few different medications, so its important to use them correctly.

Contact your doctor if you feel confused about the new treatment plan. Your doctor can review what you need to do and answer any questions that come up once you begin.

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What Types Of Asthma Are There

Asthma is broken down into types based on the cause and the severity of symptoms. Healthcare providers identify asthma as:

• Intermittent: This type of asthma comes and goes so you can feel normal in between asthma flares.
• Persistent: Persistent asthma means you have symptoms much of the time. Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe. Healthcare providers base asthma severity on how often you have symptoms. They also consider how well you can do things during an attack.

Asthma has multiple causes:

• Allergic: Some peoples allergies can cause an asthma attack. Allergens include things like molds, pollens and pet dander.
• Non-allergic: Outside factors can cause asthma to flare up. Exercise, stress, illness and weather may cause a flare.

Asthma can also be:

• Adult-onset: This type of asthma starts after the age of 18.
• Pediatric: Also called childhood asthma, this type of asthma often begins before the age of 5, and can occur in infants and toddlers. Children may outgrow asthma. You should make sure that you discuss it with your provider before you decide whether your child needs to have an inhaler available in case they have an asthma attack. Your childs healthcare provider can help you understand the risks.

In addition, there are these types of asthma: