What Can I Expect At The Hospital
The doctor or nurse will check your oxygen level and give you more oxygen. He or she may check your peak flow and do a blood test. You may have to take other medicines, such as nebulizer treatments or steroids. The medicines may be given through an IV. You also may need to stay overnight in the hospital, depending on how bad your attack was and your response to treatment.
What To Do In An Asthma Attack:
1. Sit up straight
2. Take your reliever medication as directed. Use your Asthma Action Plan for reference.
3. Call 911 if your symptoms persist or worsen. Do this if you feel worse at any point or if there is no improvement after taking your medication.
4. Follow-up with your doctor or healthcare provider
An asthma attack can be a life-threatening emergency thats why you should always carry your reliever inhaler with you and never hesitate to call 911 if your symptoms persist.
Asthma Triggers To Be Aware Of
Asthma symptoms can appear when someone is exposed to possible triggers, meaning something theyre sensitive to that causes airway inflammation.
Common triggers include:
-
Allergens such as pollen and molds
-
Irritants such as smoke, fumes and dust
-
Medications such as aspirin or acetaminophen
-
Extreme weather conditions
Also Check: Is Beetroot Good For Asthma
Can You Die From An Asthma Attack
Sadly, the answer is yes, you can die from an asthma attack. In 2019, there were 3,524 deaths from asthma, including 178 children. That means nearly 10 people in the U.S. die each day from asthma. That is why it is essential to seek treatment for an asthma attack and use your quick-relief medicine as directed. Many deaths from asthma are avoidable with proper treatment and care.
When Should I Go To The Er
Don’t be embarrassed to get medical help if you think you need it. These situations call for emergency care:
- You take your asthma medicine and your flare-up doesn’t get any better.
- You feel a little better after taking your medicine, but your symptoms come back quickly.
- You have frequent wheezing, a lasting cough, or chest pain.
- Your lips and fingernails are bluish or grayish.
- You have trouble breathing, talking, or walking.
You May Like: How Does Asthma Affect Gas Exchange
How To Help Someone Having An Asthma Attack
This article was medically reviewed by Daniel Wozniczka, MD, MPH. Dr. Wozniczka is an Internal Medicine Physician in Chicago, with global healthcare experience in Sub Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. He completed his MD at Jagiellonian University in 2014, and also holds an MBA and Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago.There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 20,530 times.
Having an asthma attack can be frightening. It can also be frightening to see someone you know, or even a stranger, have an asthma attack. The person may be panicking, especially if they do not have their inhaler. Fortunately, you can help! Assist someone having an asthma attack by getting the appropriate medical assistance, helping them to remain calm, and using simple techniques to help improve their breathing.
How Can You Tell If You Have Asthma
It can be hard to tell if someone has asthma, especially in children under age 5. Having a doctor check how well your lungs work and check for allergies can help you find out if you have asthma.
During a checkup, a doctor will ask if you cough a lot, especially at night. He or she will also ask whether your breathing problems are worse after physical activity or at certain times of year. The doctor will then ask about chest tightness, wheezing, and colds lasting more than 10 days. He or she will ask whether anyone in your family has or has had asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. Finally, the doctor will ask questions about your home and whether you have missed school or work or have trouble doing certain things.
The doctor may also do a breathing test, called spirometry, to find out how well your lungs are working by testing how much air you can breathe out after taking a very deep breath before and after you use asthma medicine.
Don’t Miss: What Is Asthma Triggered By
The Four Things You Should Do Immediately If You Suffer An Asthma Attack
Knowing what to do when you have an attack could be the difference between life and death
HAVING an asthma attack can be scary.
They leave you gasping for breath, with many sufferers describing it as feeling like a pillow is being held over their face.
Its an inconvenience some 5.4 million Brits who suffer from could face each day.
And knowing what to do when you have an attack could be the difference between life and death.
If you have asthma you should carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times, as well as use a preventative inhaler.
But they dont always protect against asthma attacks.
How Is Asthma Treated
Take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you and stay away from things that can trigger an attack to control your asthma.
Everyone with asthma does not take the same medicine.
You can breathe in some medicines and take other medicines as a pill. Asthma medicines come in two typesquick-relief and long-term control. Quick-relief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you need to use your quick-relief medicines more and more, visit your doctor to see if you need a different medicine. Long-term control medicines help you have fewer and milder attacks, but they dont help you while you are having an asthma attack.
Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. Ask your doctor about the side effects of your medicines.
Remember you can control your asthma. With your doctors help, make your own asthma action plan. Decide who should have a copy of your plan and where he or she should keep it. Take your long-term control medicine even when you dont have symptoms.
Dont Miss: How To Test For Asthma And Copd
Read Also: Does Antihistamine Help Asthma Attack
Severe Asthma Typically Requires A Combination Approach To Treatment
If someone experiences asthma symptoms more than twice a week, their asthma is termed persistent. And among those with persistent asthma, doctors further categorize the condition as mild, intermediate, or severe.
The symptoms of severe asthma are similar to those of mild asthma, theyre just more frequent and more severe, and require more medications to keep them under control, says Emily Pennington, MD, a pulmonologist and asthma specialist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Often, if someones symptoms require a combination of asthma medications such as high-dose inhaled corticosteroids as well as longer-acting drugs that persons asthma is termed severe. The same term applies to people who dont respond well to treatment.
We dont entirely understand why some people dont respond as well to medication, Dr. Pennington says. Genetic and underlying molecular factors are likely explanations, she says, but the exact causes of severe asthma are complex and likely vary from one person to the next.
Theres also an informal term, uncontrolled asthma, that refers to people whose asthma symptoms are not well managed. This can happen for a number of reasons:
- Other conditions, such as heart disease, that make asthma hard to manage
- Lifestyle choices, such as the decision to smoke cigarettes, that exacerbate asthma symptoms
- Not following a doctors advice or guidelines when taking medications
About Author
BETTER HEALTH & BEYOND Editorial Team
Learn more at:
Join us on
Signs That You Need To Use Asthma First Aid
If you are experiencing any of the following signs, follow your asthma action plan. If you do not have an asthma action plan, or you are assisting someone who is experiencing an asthma attack, start asthma first aid. Do not wait until asthma is severe.
Mild to moderate asthma signs :
- able to talk in full sentences
- able to walk or move around
- may have a cough or wheeze.
Severe asthma signs :
- cannot speak a full sentence in one breath
- tugging of the skin between ribs or at base of neck
- may have cough or wheeze
- reliever medication not lasting as long as usual.
Life-threatening asthma signs :
- getting little or no relief from reliever inhaler
- may no longer have wheeze or cough.
In asthma emergencies, follow your asthma action plan.
Read Also: What Happens When An Asthma Attack Occurs
Sinusitis And Other Upper Respiratory Infections
Much like asthma causes inflammation in the lining of your airways, sinusitis causes inflammation in the mucus membranes that line your sinuses. This makes the membranes put out more mucus. If you have asthma and your sinuses get inflamed, your airways may too. Prompt treatment of a sinus infection can relieve asthma symptoms.
When Disaster Strikes What To Do During An Asthma Attack
Asthma attacks are scary and can escalate in severity very quickly. Last week we discussed the importance of having an Asthma Action Plan, and this week we want to talk about what to do if an asthma attack occurs. It is important to remember that during an emergency seeking medical attention as soon as possible can save lives.
You May Like: Can Asthma Lead To Lung Cancer
Whats An Asthma Attack
When you breathe normally, muscles around your airways are relaxed, letting air move easily. During an asthma attack, three things can happen:
- Bronchospasm: The muscles around the airways constrict . When they tighten, it makes the airways narrow. Air cannot flow freely through constricted airways.
- Inflammation: The airway linings become swollen. Swollen airways dont let as much air in or out of the lungs.
- Mucus production: During the attack, your body creates more mucus. This thick mucus clogs airways.
Asthma Attacks: What To Do
All of us asthmatics have been there, with an impending asthma attack and wondering what to do. Everything is normal and then suddenly you feel a slight constriction in your throat or perhaps a dry phlegm thats hard to pass. Its the tell tale sign of an impending asthma attack.
When this happens, some asthmatics panic, and others will casually reach for their rescue puffer. But whats the best thing to do when an asthma attack strikes? The answer is easy but takes some discipline.
There are steps you can take to first assess the severity of your attack and then decide the appropriate course of action. So take a deep breath, dont panic and try to relax while you take stock of your symptoms.
First and most important, how bad is your breathing right now?
If you can barely take a breath and are starting to feel light headed, you need to take your emergency rescue puffer as soon as possible. If you dont have a rescue puffer on hand, you need to seek immediate medical help.
Dont be a hero. Use your best judgement and seek professional help as soon as you feel you need it.
Otherwise, read on. These steps could change how you treat an asthma attack and the rest of your life, too.
Read Also: Can Exercise Induced Asthma Go Away
What Asthma Treatment Options Are There
You have options to help manage your asthma. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to control symptoms. These include:
- Anti-inflammatory medicines: These medicines reduce swelling and mucus production in your airways. They make it easier for air to enter and exit your lungs. Your healthcare provider may prescribe them to take every day to control or prevent your symptoms.
- Bronchodilators: These medicines relax the muscles around your airways. The relaxed muscles let the airways move air. They also let mucus move more easily through the airways. These medicines relieve your symptoms when they happen.
- Biologic therapies for asthma when symptoms persist despite being on proper inhaler therapy.
You can take asthma medicines in several different ways. You may breathe in the medicines using a metered-dose inhaler, nebulizer or other inhaler. Your healthcare provider may prescribe oral medications that you swallow.
Measurable Changes In Your Breathing
A peak flow meter can let you know if an attack is about to happen. Be sure you always know the number that reflects your best breathing.
- If your peak flow meter shows numbers between 50% and 80% of your personal best, an asthma attack has probably started.
- A number below 50% means an emergency. Use your rescue inhaler, and call for help right away.
Read Also: Does Chewing Gum Help Asthma
When Is It An Asthma Emergency
- Your symptoms get worse very quickly
- You have severe shortness of breath, cant speak comfortably or lips look blue
- You get little or no relief from your reliever inhaler
Dial 000Say this is an ASTHMA EMERGENCY
Not sure if it’s asthma?
If a person stays conscious and their main problem seems to be breathing, follow the asthma first aid steps. Asthma reliever medicine is unlikely to harm them even if they do not have asthma.
If someone is unconscious, start life support.
Severe Allergic Reactions/Anaphylaxis
If someone has sudden breathing problems AND they are allergic to foods, insect stings or medicines:
Give adrenaline first. Use their own autoinjector if available.
Do this even if there are no other signs or symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.
Then follow the asthma first aid steps.
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.
You May Like: How To Treat Exercise Induced Asthma
How To Stop An Asthma Attack
Stopping an asthma attack is easier if you know what to do once one starts. In some cases, it may not be possible to stop an asthma attack entirely without an inhaler. However, there are certain steps you can take to lessen the duration and intensity of an asthma attack. These include:
- Use your inhaler
Acute Asthma Attack Symptoms
An acute asthma attack is a medical emergency youll must seek immediate medical help and go to hospital.
Acute asthma attack symptoms to be aware of include:
- Rapid breathing that doesnt ease with use of a reliever inhaler
- Extreme shortness of breath being unable to inhale or exhale fully
- An inability to speak in full sentences
- Confusion or agitation
- Developing a blue tint on the face, lips or fingernails.
If you dont seek treatment for an acute asthma attack, your life could be in danger. Find out more about acute asthma by reading our guide to severe asthma.
You May Like: How Long Can Someone With Asthma Hold Their Breath
Also Check: How Do People Get Asthma
Make Them A Hot Drink
A hot drink, like a cup of coffee or tea, can help to open the airways, providing some short-term relief, and giving you time to seek medical assistance.
If you or someone that you know has experienced symptoms of asthma or has been diagnosed and needs further help, you can learn more by contacting Allergy and Asthma Center, P.C.
The Allergy and Asthma Center, P.C. is committed to offering a friendly and relaxed approach to treating asthma patients of all ages, from all walks of life. Firmly believing that all patientsâ needs are unique and that everyone deserves a fully personalized consultation and treatment plan. Get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable staff today at 920-969-1768, for more information and help.
After An Asthma Attack: Changing Your Asthma Management Or Asthma Attack Treatment
After an asthma attack evaluation, your doctor may want to step up treatment, step down treatment, change treatment, or increase your doctor visits, said Bernstein.
Some signs that your treatment plan may need to change include:
- Frequent asthma attacks
- Needing to take more asthma medication than prescribed
- Waking up at night with asthma symptoms
- Daytime activity limited by asthma
- Continued , congestion, and mucous production
- Poor peak flow rates
Knowing what to do after an asthma attack is part of learning how to manage your asthma. Each asthma attack is a chance to learn more about your asthma triggers and your asthma medications. Sharing this information with your doctor gives you and your doctor the opportunity to make the right adjustments to your asthma action plan â and that could mean fewer asthma attacks in your future.
Don’t Miss: How Do Cockroaches Affect Asthma
What Is Good Asthma Care
Your doctor or nurse will tailor your asthma treatment to your symptoms. Sometimes you may need to be on higher levels of medication than at others.
You should be offered:
- care at your GP surgery provided by doctors and nurses trained in asthma management
- full information about your condition and how to control it
- involvement in making decisions about your treatment
- regular checks to ensure your asthma is under control and your treatment is right for you
- a written personal asthma action plan agreed with your doctor or nurse
It is also important that your GP or pharmacist teaches you how to properly use your inhaler, as this is an important part of good asthma care.