What To Do If You Have An Asthma Attack
If you think youre having an asthma attack, you should:
Never be frightened of calling for help in an emergency.
Try to take the details of your medicines with you to hospital if possible.
If your symptoms improve and you do not need to call 999, get an urgent same-day appointment to see a GP or asthma nurse.
This advice is not for people on SMART or MART treatment. If this applies to you, ask a GP or asthma nurse what to do if you have an asthma attack.
Eosinophilic Asthma Blood Test
The number of eosinophils in a patients blood are measured. The blood draw is a simple, minimally-invasive procedure. It may be performed in a doctors office. People with eosinophilic asthma will have a high eosinophil count . High eosinophils with asthma does not always mean that a person has eosinophilic asthma. Other types of eosinophil-associated disease can cause too many eosinophils in the blood as well. Therefore, a doctor will interpret the results in context with a patients history, symptoms, and clinical exam.
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Simple Tips To Stop Asthma Waking You At Night In The Long
You dont have to just accept your night-time asthma symptoms as normal.
- Using your preventer inhaler every day, as prescribed, will build up protection in your airways and keep your asthma symptoms under control, so theyre less likely to wake you at night.
- If youre having asthma symptoms at night or noticing asthma symptoms when you first wake up, you should make a same day appointment to see your GP or asthma nurse. Symptoms that keep you awake at night are one of the signs you might be at risk of an asthma attack.
Its also important to:
- Use your written asthma action plan to help you understand how to manage your symptoms and what to do if they get worse.
- Go for regular asthma reviews with your GP or asthma nurse. They can check youre using your inhalers correctly. Its also a chance to talk about any triggers that might be affecting your sleep.
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What Is Eosinophilic Asthma Treatment
For many years, healthcare providers considered asthma as a distinct diagnosis a blanket diagnosis for inflammation of the airways and difficulty breathing. Healthcare providers now realize that there are various subtypes of asthma eosinophilic asthma is one such subtype.
Eosinophilic asthma, also called EA, is a subtype of asthma that is characterized by elevated levels of white blood cells.
This specific subtype is quite rare unfortunately, it is severe, difficult to treat and presents in adulthood.
So, how does EA differ from classic asthma? In the case of classic asthma, asthma symptoms are typically triggered by an allergen, such as dust or mold. This allergen causes inflammation of the airways, which causes wheezing and difficulty breathing. Though there are various degrees of severity, this type of asthma can be treated using conventional treatment modalities, such as corticosteroid inhalers.
In the case of EA, it typically presents in adulthood and is rarely caused by allergies. It causes swelling of the airways of the lungs, and the initial symptom is typically shortness of breath as such, it may not appear as if the diagnosis is asthma because wheezing may not be present.
Those with EA have increased numbers of eosinophils in the blood, lung tissue and mucus that is coughed up from the lungs. Research indicates that having elevated eosinophils may correlate with an increased risk of developing EA in the future.
Symptoms of EA include:
The Virtual Doctor Is In
If you are looking for ways to treat a cough due to COVID-19 at home using over-the-counter medications, contact your health care team at AdventHealth.
From video visits to medical record access, weve made it easy to reach out to us through our AdventHealth App. You can easily message your care team, request prescription refills, access your medical records and be seen by an online physician through a video visit all from the comfort of your own home.
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Symptoms Of Eosinophilic Asthma
A person who has EA typically has more severe asthma symptoms of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. If you have attacks that land you in the hospital, it is possible that this is a symptom of EA.
Other symptoms of EA are obstructed airflow due to inflammation and mucus. Think things like a stuffy nose and nasal drainage. Chronic sinus infections and nasal polyps are also symptoms.
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Role Of The Pharmacist
Pharmacists play a critical role in the selection of treatment for EA, as well as the education and assessment of patients with EA. Although the benefits and risks of biologic therapy for EA must be carefully weighed, other patient factors must also be carefully considered, such as affordability, access, and preference. Pharmacists should also assess adherence to ICS treatment and rule out other causes of asthma exacerbation prior to adjunctive treatment recommendations for severe EA. In addition, pharmacists can assist patients with referrals to support services as well as psychological services to manage emotional, social, and other burdens of EA and its management.
The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.
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What Is The Prognosis And Life Expectancy For A Person Copd Vs Asthma
The prognosis for COPD ranges from fair to poor and depends on how rapidly COPD advances over time. In general, individuals with COPD have a decrease in their lifespan according to research.
If you have asthma, the prognosis for most people ranges from fair to excellent, depending upon how well you can identify what triggers your attacks, and your response to medication.
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How To Stop An Asthmatic Cough Heres What To Do
Need to stop an asthmatic cough? A cough can be a troublesome symptom of asthma. Of course, Asthma medications such as a fast-acting bronchodilator inhaler offers quick relief from an asthmatic cough.
But if youre on the look for other ways to stop an asthmatic cough, then this article should provide you with some helpful guidance. But first, heres a quick response, then well head into more details.
How to Stop an Asthmatic Cough?
Of course, this assumes you have asthma. If youre not sure if you need an inhaler, read our article on do you need an inhaler.
Thats the brief answer, but lets look into each of these aspects in more detail.
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Can You Treat Asthma Without An Inhaler
Unfortunately, there is no other effective first aid treatment for asthma. Placing the victim in a comfortable position to aid their breathing and keeping them calm will help, but these first aid measures will not stop the swelling and inflammation of the small airways. The victim will require treatment to improve their breathing.
Understanding Asthma Attack Triggers
To figure out what causes an asthma flare-up, it helps to understand how asthma affects the body.
In a person without asthma, the airway is wide open. Air can flow freely into the lungs. In people with asthma, two factors can reduce airflow and make it hard to breathe:
- Inflammation: People with asthma experience a strong reaction to allergens. The reaction causes inflammation or swelling that narrows the airways. Theres less space for air to get through, explains Dr. Thakur.
- Muscle contraction: During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways can tighten, making the airways even smaller. Thats why you feel short of breath during an asthma attack, Dr. Thakur says.
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Practicing Buteyko Breathing Technique
This is also a system of breathing exercises. Buteyko Breathing Technique focuses on breathing out through the nose and not the mouth. Breathing out through the mouth can dry up the mouth and the airways very fast resulting in more problems. Practising and using BBT also makes you less prone to suffering from respiratory infections. Buteyko Breathing Technique can also be instrumental in decreasing your asthma symptoms with the help of slow and gentle breathing through the nose.
Why Asthma Can Wake You Up At Night
If your asthma isnt under control, you might get more symptoms at night.
There are several reasons why this might happen:
- At night, your body produces fewer natural steroid hormones, which can affect your symptoms and more of the cells that cause inflammation in your airways.
- When you lie flat on your back, gravity places extra pressure on your chest and lungs, making it harder to breathe. This position can also trigger a cough, as mucus in your nose could drip down to the back of your throat.
- Your bedroom might contain triggers that can make your asthma worse, such as dust mites in your mattress, pillows and blankets.
- Pet hair is a common asthma trigger, so avoid letting your pet sleep on your bed, and ideally keep them out of your bedroom.
- Mould is another common asthma trigger, so check your bedroom for damp patches on walls and mould growing around windows.
- Lots of people find pollen triggers their asthma symptoms. When pollen is high, try using a fan to keep your bedroom cool rather than opening a window.
- Some people are triggered by cold air at night, or by sleeping in a cold room. If this is you, keep windows closed and keep the heating on low in the bedroom if you can.
If your GP has prescribed steroid pills for your asthma, youll probably be advised to take them in the morning after food, as they might cause difficulty sleeping if you take them at night, but always take them exactly as prescribed.
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How To Know If Your Seemingly Harmless Cough Is Actually Asthma
Having a cough is a clear sign that something just isnt right in your lungs. It can be easy to chalk it up to something like a lingering cold, your partners smoking habit, or another obvious culprit, but sometimes a cough can actually point to a sneaky health condition like asthma.
For the record, you dont just have to live with a constant cough, even if it feels like yours has been with you since birth. I have patients who come in and say, I dont have any problems, but I have a cough, Raymond Casciari, M.D., a pulmonologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, tells SELF. But a cough is never normal.
If youre coughing, it means your lungs are trying to eject irritants or goopy fluids like mucus, the Mayo Clinic explains. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense that coughing happens to be a hallmark of asthma, which messes with the tubes that carry air in and out of your body. Under normal circumstances, these airways do their job with no trouble. But if you have asthma, your airways overreact to triggering substances by tightening, swelling, and pumping out too much mucus. All that adds up to having more trouble breathing than usual. You may also experience symptoms like wheezing , chest pain or tightness, and yup, a cough, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute .
So, how do you know if your hacking might indicate that you have asthma? Here are signs to keep in mind.
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Eat To Clear Your Throat
Sometimes thick mucus gets stuck in the folds and the walls of your throat and just won’t let go. This gives you an uncomfortable, phlegmy feeling and can obstruct airflow when you breathe.
Sometimes a few gulps of water or a warm drink like coffee or tea can loosen mucus and clear it up, but it’s often not enough to do the job. Extra fluids will thin your mucus if you wait and give it time, but you can sometimes get more immediate relief by using solid food to physically brush it off.
Toast is a perfect food for this purpose. It’s soft and spongy, and yet rough enough scrape stubborn mucus from the back of your throat. So if you have a phlegmy throat that’s bothering you and won’t go away, try eating a piece of toast to clear it up.
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Cold Weather And Asthma
Cold weather is a common trigger for asthma symptoms.
There are things you can do to help 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
How To Treat A Cough From Coronavirus At Home
If you have coronavirus and mild symptoms, chances are youre isolating at home. The good news is that the recovery rate is positive, at 80%. The bad news is that youre likely struggling with one or more of the main symptoms, which include fever, shortness of breath and a severe dry cough.
These symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . The CDC advises that most people will have symptoms for a few days and get better after about a week. People who are sick should drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated, get lots of rest and take steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, says the CDC.
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Relax And Ease Your Breathing To Stop An Asthmatic Cough
Typically, when a person has an asthma cough, they tend to develop wheezing alongside it. This wheezing can induce a response of deeper breathing in an effort to take in more air.
So when you get an asthma cough, try to breathe slowly and calmly. You should try to keep the exhale twice as long as the inhale. For example, if you inhale for 5 seconds, exhale for 10 seconds.
While breathing, try to remain as relaxed and calm as possible.
What Happens During Asthma Attacks
Asthma attacks may start as minor but if not managed effectively, can turn dangerous. During an asthma attack, the airways become swollen and constricted more than usual. Breathing properly becomes quite tough. Some signs of an asthma attack are:
- Wheezing while breathing in and out
- Extremely rapid breathing
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How Is Nocturnal Asthma Treated
There is no cure for nighttime asthma, but daily asthma medications, such as inhaled steroids, are very effective at reducing inflammation and preventing nocturnal symptoms. Since nocturnal asthma or nighttime asthma may occur anytime during the sleep period, asthma treatment must be sufficient to cover these hours. A long-acting bronchodilator delivered in an asthma inhaler can be effective in preventing bronchospasm and symptoms of asthma. If you suffer from nocturnal asthma, you may also benefit from a long-acting inhaled corticosteroid. If you suffer with GERD and asthma, ask your doctor about medication that reduces acid production in the stomach. Avoidance of potential allergy triggers such as dust mites, animal dander, or feathers in a down comforter may also be very helpful in preventing allergies and asthma and nocturnal asthma attacks.
In addition, using your peak flow meter, you can monitor how your lung function is altered throughout the day and night. Once you notice this altered pattern of lung function, talk with your doctor about a plan to resolve your nighttime asthma symptoms. According to your type of asthma and asthma severity , your doctor can prescribe treatment to help you resolve your nighttime asthma symptoms so you can sleep like a baby.
Identify And Avoid Factors That Trigger An Asthma Cough
Several factors trigger even a normal cough. Social environments are also known to affect your health. For example, if you cough because of smoke, you tend to move away from the smoke, which will remove you from the source of irritation.
The same applies to an asthmatic cough. You may be sensitive to several factors that can trigger a cough. You and your doctor should work together to determine what these triggers could be.
Some of the common triggers of an asthma cough include:
- Dust
- Coffee
- Irritants
- Chemicals, including agents such as sulfites that are found in many food products, and chemicals found in cleaning products
- Preservatives found in food products
- Exercise and other physical activities
- Cold air
- Dry air
Once youve identified the exact reason for what triggers your asthmatic cough, do your best to control your exposure to these sources. This is one of the best ways you can prevent and altogether stop asthmatic coughs.
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