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How To Stop An Asthma Attack Without An Inhaler

How To Survive An Asthma Attack If Youre Caught Without Your Inhaler

How to stop an asthma attack without inhaler

If you have asthma, you probably never go anywhere without your inhaler. But what if, due to negligence, you go out without it and have a sudden asthma attack?

“The importance of always carrying rescue medication cannot be understated”, says associate professor Loo Chian Min, head and senior consultant, Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital . “It is absolutely vital that you don’t forget your inhaler wherever you go.”

What happens during an asthma attackAsthma occurs when the airways in the lungs become inflamed and are blocked by mucus, making breathing difficult. The chest tightens and the lungs seem to produce a wheezing sound.

There could be many triggers for an asthma attack.Air pollution, exposure to irritants such as dust, cigarette smoke and pet dander, physical exertion and emotional outbursts can all trigger an asthma attack.

Related article: How well do you control your asthma? Take the test!

Six things to do if caught without an inhaler during an asthma attack“Never, ever let up on your asthma medications even if you feel your condition has improved,” says Loo. Asthma needs constant care and proper management at all times. Your very life depends on it.

However, should you be caught without your inhaler due to unforeseen circumstances, you could try these coping techniques:

  • Sit upright

Stop whatever you are doing and sit upright. Bending over or lying down can constrict your breathing even more.

  • Take long, deep breaths

How To Control Asthma Without An Inhaler

Asthma is a common disease that affects the respiratory system of the patients and causes wheezing, coughing and breathing difficulties. Asthma is caused by an exaggerated reaction of the immune system. In asthmatics, the immune system has a severe reaction to normal stimuli such as cold air, dust or pollen. This causes inflammation and swelling in the airways that end in the symptoms of asthma.

Take albuterol pills. Albuterol belongs to a class of drugs known as beta-2 agonists. Albuterol is normally ingested in an inhaled form, but it can also be prescribed orally as albuterol sulfate . Albuterol works by relaxing the airways, helping to relieve some of the symptoms of asthma.

Take theophylline. Theophylline is a medication that can be taken as a daily pill. It works helping to control asthma. It works by relaxing the muscles around the airways, helping them to remain open.

Take oral corticosteroids. Asthma is caused by an overactive immune system. Corticosteroids act by repressing it. They are prescribed as an aerosol, but they can also be prescribed orally in the form of pills.

Get an injection of immunotherapy. Many asthmatics have symptoms caused by allergies. Allergies can be suppressed by using some injectable drugs that include omalizumab and others. These medications are usually administered every few months by a doctor.

Are There Natural Remedies For Asthma Attacks

The typical treatment for an asthma attack is a quick-acting with . Sit upright and take slow, steady breaths. Try to stay calm. Follow the asthma action plan that youâve set up with your doctor. If your breathing doesnât get better or if youâre so short of breath that you canât talk, get medical help right away.

Some breathing exercises can help with symptoms of an asthma attack.

  • Pursed-lip breathing. This slows your breathing and helps hold your airways open longer so your lungs work better. With your closed, breathe in slowly through your nose. Then breathe out through your , with your lips pursed like youâre whistling, for twice as long.
  • Belly breathing. This technique uses the same steps as pursed-lip breathing. But as you breathe in, focus on the movement of your belly. Picture it filling with air like a balloon. It may help to keep your hands on your belly so you can concentrate on the air going in and out.

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How To Control An Asthma Attack When Caught Without An Inhaler

Breathing is so automatic for most people that we hardly ever give it a second thought. If you have asthma, or if your child has asthma, though, you never take breathing for granted.

When you suffer from , your airways narrow and swell and can even produce extra mucus, all of which make breathing difficult. Asthma can also cause lots of wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

This is especially true if you experience a full-blown asthma attack. Most people with asthma try to keep a rescue inhaler with them so they can have quick access to medicine such as albuterol, which can control their symptoms.

But what if you have an asthma attack while you dont have your inhaler with you? This can be a dangerous situation, but at Sulkowski Family Medicine, weve learned a few tips over the years that can help you out. Heres what we recommend:

Relax In A Hot Steamy Shower Or Bath

4 Ways to Stop an Asthma Attack Without an Inhaler

If you have no rescue inhaler when wheezing and coughing starts up, relax in a hot, steamy shower or bath immediately. Steam will soothe your airways, relieve chest congestion and loosen thick mucus so you can breathe freely again.

If a hot, steamy shower or bath is not an option, consider gently placing your face over a pot of water and breathing in the steam from it. It will work the same wayjust be careful not to burn yourself.

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Can You Stop An Asthma Attack Without An Inhaler

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Care Advice For Asthma Attack

  • What You Should Know About Asthma:
  • Over 10% of children have asthma.
  • Your childs asthma can flare up at any time.
  • When you are away from your home, always take your childs medicines with you.
  • The sooner you start treatment, the faster your child will feel better.
  • Here is some care advice that should help.
  • Asthma Quick-Relief Medicine:
  • Your childs quick-relief medicine is albuterol or xopenex.
  • Start it at the first sign of any wheezing, shortness of breath or hard coughing.
  • Give by inhaler with a spacer or use a neb machine.
  • Repeat it every 4 hours if your child is having any asthma symptoms.
  • Never give it more often than 4 hours without talking with your childs doctor.
  • Coughing. The best cough med for a child with asthma is always the asthma medicine. Caution: dont use cough suppressants. If over 6 years old, cough drops may help a tickly cough.
  • Caution: if the inhaler hasnt been used in over 7 days, prime it. Test spray it twice into the air before using it for treatment. Also, do this if it is new.
  • Use the medicine until your child has not wheezed or coughed for 48 hours.
  • Spacer. Always use inhalers with a spacer. It will get twice the amount of medicine into the lungs.
  • Asthma Controller Medicine:
  • Your child may have been told to use a controller drug. An example is an inhaled steroid.
  • Its for preventing attacks and must be used daily.
  • During asthma attacks, keep giving this medicine to your child as ordered.
  • Allergy Medicine for Hay Fever:
  • Fluids Offer More:
  • Read Also: Can Asthma Cause Heartburn

    Advice For Friends And Family

    Its important that your friends and family know how to help in an emergency.

    It can be useful to make copies of your personal asthma action plan and share it with others who may need to know what to do when you have an attack.

    You can photocopy your existing plan, or you could download a blank personal asthma action plan from Asthma UK and fill it in for anyone who might need a copy.

    Or you could take a photo of your action plan on your phone, so you can show or send it to others easily.

    Page last reviewed: 19 April 2021 Next review due: 19 April 2024

    Of : Identifying Your Asthma Triggers

    Stop an Asthma Attack Without an Inhaler
  • 1Learn about common triggers. Coughing can be triggered by a variety of substances like allergens and irritants . Other common asthma triggers include:XTrustworthy SourceNational Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteResearch and education center within the National Institutes of HealthGo to source
  • Medications: these may include aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nonselective beta-blockers
  • Chemicals used to preserve foods: usually the sulfites found in a number of foods and drinks
  • Upper respiratory infections: such as colds and other viral infections of the lungsXExpert Source
  • Read Also: Inhaler Before Running

    What Is The Best Medicine To Cure Asthma

    There are two main types of medications used to treat asthma:

    • Long-term control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are the most important medications used to keep asthma under control. …
    • Quick-relief inhalers contain a fast-acting medication such as albuterol.

    Here are 7 teas that may provide asthma relief.

  • Ginger tea. Ginger tea is made by boiling the roots of the ginger plant . …
  • Green tea. Green tea is a popular beverage derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. …
  • Black tea. …
  • 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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    Practicing The Buteyko Method

    So how exactly do you perform this technique? Start by sitting upright comfortably on the floor or in a chair, breathe normally for a few minutes. Then, after a gentle exhale through your nose, hold your breath and plug your nose with your thumb and index finger. Hold your breath as long as you can and when you feel the urge to breathe, inhale through your nose. Breathe normally again for about 10 seconds and then repeat the exercise a few times.

    Managing An Asthma Attack

    How to stop an asthma attack without medication

    While waiting for assistance, things you can do during an asthma attack if you dont have your medication include:

    Additionally, there are many things that you can do in general to lessen the likelihood and severity of asthma attacks.

    • Maintain a healthy weight
    • Exercise regularly
    • Drink plenty of water
    • Take a fish oil supplement
    • Take antihistamines if your trigger is an allergen.
    • Wear protective masks if the pollen count is high or there are harmful fumes in the air.
    • Practice relaxation techniques like yoga breathing and meditation.
    • Use a hot water humidifier

    Read Also: Asthma Heat And Humidity

    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.

    How To Prevent Asthma Attacks Without An Inhaler

    Prevention is key when it comes to staving off asthma attacks so you can start to rely on your inhaler less. But theres no single best way to do it you need to find what works for you.;

    One thing is for sure thoughit takes a lot of work to become 100% asthma-attack free. But it can be done Im living proof .;

    I have stopped taking my preventative inhaler completely, and I only carry around my ventolin for emergencies now. But Ive only needed it a few times in the last few years, only when Im sick.;

    Heres the 5 easy and specific steps I took to get ventolin-free.

    Taking the first steps, you will likely see a dramatic improvement in your asthma symptoms in a short period of time.

    In my own personal experience, it was a complete change in my lifestyle that finally got me to the point where I wasnt ever having an asthma attack or reaching for my inhaler.

    Every once in a while I experience a mild shortness of breath, but its never so much that I cant find relief using some simple techniques that I outline below.

    Basically, I beat my asthma attacks by addressing my lack of physical activity, switching to a healthier diet and employing controlled breathing in times of need. Read on and let me take you through the basics.

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    Do You Offer Asthma Treatment Near Me

    Please keep in mind that asthma requires professional care and support, so diet, exercise, and the other self-care methods we mentioned arent adequate for managing the condition. The services of a professional are necessary. Also, its important to consult a professional before beginning any treatment methods like the ones we mentioned.

    We offer many treatments and techniques for managing asthma here at Olivero Pediatrics. To learn more about them, reach out to us today. Our clinic is located at 1243 Skytop Mountain Rd. Suite 4, Port Matilda, PA 16870, and you can reach us at 256-4466. Youre also welcome to make a consultation or appointment with us, if you like!

    Dont hesitate to reach out if you need more advice about how to help your child with their asthma!

    Read Also: Homemade Asthma Relief

    What Are The Triggers

    How to Stop an Asthma Attack Without an Inhaler

    There are many different triggers for asthma attacks. Many asthmatics are well aware of their trigger points. However, they may not always be able to avoid them.

    Pollen and pollution are increasingly responsible for triggering asthma. Many people find a worsening of their symptoms in Spring, combined with the onset of hay fever. There are many species of grasses, trees and weeds in the UK. Some people are particularly sensitive to some and do not react at all to others. There is also huge variation around the country as to when pollen is released. People can begin to suffer from hay fever as early as January. About 20% of people with hay fever are allergic to birch tree pollen and this, as well as oak and plane trees, are responsible for many unpleasant symptoms and can exacerbate asthma.

    Grass pollens are the most common cause of hay fever and usually affect people in May, June and July.

    Weed pollens usually release pollen from early spring to early autumn.

    If you know pollen is a trigger for your asthma, speak to your GP or asthma nurse.

    The Met Office issues really useful pollen advice.

    • Shortness of breath
    • Tightness in the chest
    • Often people find it particularly difficult to breathe out and have an increase in sticky mucus and phlegm

    Its important to note that not everyone will get all of these symptoms.

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    Ways To Manage An Asthma Attack Without Your Inhaler

    Quincy AdamAsthma Lifestyle, Asthma Natural Options, Natural Options

    But have you talked about what you should do to manage a minor asthma attack if you forget your asthma inhaler? Knowing how to restore natural breathing and survive an asthma attack without your inhaler is an essential life-saving skill.

    Simple Strategies To Keep In Mind If A Sudden Asthma Attack Occurs

    For those who have experienced an asthma attack, you know getting them can be scary. And getting an asthma attack when you dont have your inhaler nearby well thats even worse! While you should always do your best to be aware of your triggers and keep your inhaler handy, sometimes an unexpected attack hits you or you just cant seem to find where you placed it. Luckily, there are a few different things you can do to combat an asthma attack even without your inhaler.

    First, the most important thing to do is to plan for the worst. Make sure you have a phone nearby and are ready and able to call 911 in case your attack gets worse or does not go away. If you have a friend or anybody else nearby, it is also a good idea to ask them to stay with you until your asthma attack subsides. If anything were to happen, youll be glad to have an extra person around.

    Second, if you know what might be causing your asthma attack, try to remove yourself from the trigger. For example, if you know you get exercise-induced asthma, stop the exercise youre doing. Or, if you know youre allergic to something nearby , try to move away . The key is to stop whatever it is that is causing you to have an attack. However, only move away if you feel comfortable enough to do so. It is important to make sure you dont do anything that would actually stress your body even more and cause your breathing difficulty to increase.

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    How To Stop Hyperventilating

    Hyperventilation literally means over breathing.

    When hyperventilating a person breathes much faster and deeper than normal, often times the respiratory rate is higher than 20 breaths a minute.

    Acute type of ventilation can be very frightening you feel like you are not getting enough air because of the rapid deep breathing you inhale a lot of oxygen while at the same time the carbon dioxide level in the blood decreases. Which results in low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood resulting in signs and symptoms of this condition

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