Video: Signs That Your Asthma Is Getting Worse
Transcript for Signs that your asthma is getting worse
0:00 Asthma attacks rarely happen out of the blue.
0:03 They often take a few days to build up.
0:07 Asthma is different for everybody.
0:10 By learning how to recognise when your asthma symptoms are getting worse,
0:14 itll help you to stay in control.
0:18 So, signs that your asthma is getting worse are variable.
0:23 The most common sort of signs are you may feel some wheezing,
0:26 you may have a cough, you may find a tightness in your chest.
0:32 If you keep a peak flow diary, you may find that your peak flow scores are reducing a bit.
0:45 If your symptoms continue to be worse and youre using your blue inhaler a lot,
0:56 especially if youre not sure what to do next.
0:59 We can discuss whats been going on with you
1:01 and make a plan for a way forward.
1:05 If you are using your preventer inhaler as prescribed,
1:09 every day, even when youre well and using really good inhaler technique,
1:14 and despite this, your asthma symptoms are getting worse,
1:18 its a good idea to see your GP.
Related resources
Adult action plan
Using an asthma action plan will help you to stay well. Download and fill in with your GP.
Asthma Attack No Inhaler What To Do
For many people who suffer from asthma, an asthma attack no inhaler situation can be an instant reason to panic. Although the asthma inhalers side effects can be uncomfortable or even dangerous, many people rely on these medications to help them breathe when an asthma attack occurs. Without an inhaler you should know which steps you can take to stop the attack and get your breathing under control. In some cases understanding these tips could save your life if you end up in this situation.
For an asthma attack no inhaler there are a number of things that may help. Breathing exercises for asthma may be learned which limit the inflammation that occurs by minimizing irritation to the airways. Breathing out slowly through your mouth will help calm and relax you some, so that anxiety does not make the problem worse or cause any further constrictions. Continue breathing in this way until the attack starts to subside.
Another possible way to deal with an asthma attack no inhaler situation is to use either an over the counter asthma attack treatment or some strong coffee, if either is available. OTC remedies for asthma contain either ephedrine or adrenaline, and may work in some cases. These drugs are strong though, and can be dangerous. Drinking strong coffee may also help, because the caffeine has a stimulant effect that helps open the airways and relieve difficult breathing.
If You Suspect You Might Have Asthma Definitely Head To The Doctor
Your doctor will probably give you a physical exam first to examine the general state of your health. After that, theyll likely put you through some lung function tests, such as a spirometry, which checks how much air you can exhale after taking a deep breath as well as how fast you can expel air, according to the Mayo Clinic. Or they may do a peak flow test, which measures how hard you can breathe out. If you cant exhale enough air or breathe out quickly, it may be a sign your lungs arent working well, which could point to asthma, Dr. Benzaquen says.
There are other exams they can use, too, like exposing you to methacholine, a known asthma trigger, to see if your airways narrow, or allergy testing, since allergies and asthma are so often connected.
If you are diagnosed with asthma, itll be within one of four categories, according to the Mayo Clinic. Mild intermittent asthma means you have minimal asthma symptoms for up to two days a week and up to two nights a month, while mild persistent asthma means youre experiencing symptoms more frequently than twice a week, but not more than once on any given day. Moderate persistent asthma ups the ante: Youre dealing with symptoms once a day and more than one night a week. Finally, severe persistent asthma involves constant symptoms most days and frequently at night too.
What To Do If You Have An Asthma Attack And Dont Have Your Rescue Inhaler
As a person with asthma, I do my best to ensure I have my rescue inhaler with me at all times because having an asthma attack and no inhaler can be problematic. In fact, I have a rescue inhaler stashed in several places in my car, in my purse, at my house. This way if I have an asthma attack, my inhaler is generally within reach. Theoretically.
However, we all know that things happen. Life happens. When I was working as a floor nurse, a cleaning product being used by the housekeeper sent me into an asthma attack.
My inhaler was in my purse, which was in my locker. You would think that working on a nursing unit, Id have an albuterol inhaler readily available, but that was not the case.
It was a very busy night and I thought to myself, Ill answer one more call right before grabbing my inhaler., Ill give one more medication.
Before I knew it, my wheezing was so severe that my manager could hear me from her office and she wheeled me to the ER. I spent the remainder of my shift there before the physician sent me home, prednisone prescription in hand.
I learned my lesson that night I need a back-up plan for when my inhaler is not readily available.
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.
How To Help Someone With An Asthma Attack Without An Inhaler
Asthma is a very common condition with around one in 13 of us affected. It’s been increasing since the 1980s and affects people of all ages and backgrounds. There’s currently no cure for asthma, but typically with the right treatment plan and lifestyle changes, most people diagnosed with asthma are able to live normally without severe symptoms.
However, very occasionally, a person with asthma may be caught off guard. They might find themselves facing an attack without an inhaler to help them. Fortunately, this doesn’t need to be as bad as it might sound. With the right assistance, they could get through an attack using some simple coping techniques.
If you know someone with asthma, learning more about their condition, as well as what you can do to help them, can be valuable.
How To Handle An Asthma Attack With No Inhaler
Individuals who are chronic asthmatics often carry an inhaler along with them, in order to manage emergency situations which may be associated with sudden attacks. However an individual may occasionally forget to carry the required inhaler and may suffer from an asthma attack. What should the person do in a situation like this; here are a few steps that can be beneficial in handling an asthma attack without an inhaler,
How Vocal Cord Dysfunction Is Treated
With VCD, medications do not help. Only a specific relaxation regimen and breathing techniques can heal it.
Bettinas typical treatment plan for VCD patients begins with an evaluation, where she asks questions to understand a patients anxiety and stress level. I try to see what situations might have led to the VCD symptom flareup, she says. I also watch them as theyre talking to me to see their posture and I feel their upper-body muscles.
During subsequent sessions, Bettina teaches stretches and massages to help with relaxation, and shows proper breathing techniques where breathing is focused from the diaphragm. For athletes, she might even take them for a run outside or on a treadmill to put these techniques to practice.
Typically VCD can be treated in two to six weeks, depending on the patient.
How To Tell If Your Asthma Is Well Controlled
Proper asthma control is key to staying healthy with asthma and preventing possibly life-threatening asthma attacks. Everyone with asthma should be able to achieve good asthma control. If you are having trouble staying symptom-free or have any of the signs of poor asthma control listed below, we highly recommend speaking with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
You can take this short quizto help determine if your asthma is under control.
Learn First Aid For Someone Who Is Having An Asthma Attack
1. Help the person sit in a comfortable position and take their inhaler.
When someone has an asthma attack, their airways narrow, making it difficult for them to breathe. An inhaler relaxes the muscles, allowing the airways to expand and ease their breathing.
2. Reassure the person. If the attack becomes severe, or they don’t have their inhaler, call 999 as soon as possible.
A mild attack should ease within a few minutes. If it doesnt, they can continue to take their inhaler. You should call 999 if they they dont have their inhaler, their inhaler has no effect, they are becoming worse or they become unable to talk. Do not leave them, in case the attack becomes severe quickly. If you cant call 999, get someone else to do it.
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 its 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.
Signs Of Asthma Absolutely Everyone Should Know
You might think you know the signs of asthma because hey, it seems like one of those health conditions that is absolutely unmistakable. Its kind of obvious if you justcant really breathe, right? Sure, but asthma symptoms can present with a lot more complexity and subtlety than that. Many people do not realize they have asthma and deal with daily symptoms, Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network, tells SELF. Because of that, you should be aware of the signs of asthma so you dont write them off for months or even years without realizing you have this persistentand ultimately treatablehealth condition.
What Is An Asthma Action Plan
Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop an asthma action plan. This plan tells you how and when to use your medicines. It also tells you what to do if your asthma gets worse and when to seek emergency care. Understand the plan and ask your healthcare provider about anything you dont understand.
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Don’t have written asthma action plan from your doctor
- Use an inhaler, but don’t have a spacer
- Miss more than 1 day of school per month for asthma
- Asthma limits exercise or sports
- Asthma attacks wake child up from sleep
- Use more than 1 inhaler per month
- No asthma check-up in more than 1 year
- You have other questions or concerns
Inhaler Not Working Check Your Technique
My colleague teases me about “user error” when I have problems with my computer. We lovingly call her the Computer Whisperer and she can fix anything. Whenever I am having problems with my computer and call her for help, she easily fixes it right away and teases me about user error. Guilty as charged.
I may not be skilled with computers, but I am with inhalers!
User error is very common with the inhaler technique. In fact, did you know that 92% of people do NOT use their inhaler the right way?!1
Yes, you read that right – 92%! Some people have said, “How hard is it? I’ve been using an inhaler for years – it can’t be that hard!”
Well, the problem is that there are so many kinds of inhalers. There are metered-dose inhalers , dry powder inhalers and soft mist inhalers.
Steps To Survive An Asthma Attack Without An Inhaler
Most experience an asthma attack without realising they’re suffering from it and are not prepared for what follows
Munnazzah RazaKARACHI:Chest tightening, wheezing, gasping for air; if you’ve ever experienced an asthma attack you’ll know what the feeling is like. While most people know the drill, some experience these symptoms without even realising that they’re suffering from this condition and are usually not prepared for what follows.PHOTO: WIKIPEDIATriggers:PHOTO: DRJOCKERS1. Move away from the triggerPHOTO: KERRYGAYNORMETHOD2. Breathing techniquePHOTO: BUTEYKOCLINICThe NY Times3. Stay calmPHOTO: GFI4. Drink coffee or non-herbal teaPHOTO: HDWALLPAPERSROCK5. Seek medical helpPHOTO: THEDENTALCENTRELONDON
Work Out When Your Inhaler Is Empty
Unfortunately, HFA canisters keep on spraying long after the medication has run out. This means you get a good dose of propellant but not much active drug.
While some brands have a dose counter on the side, others dont, and it can be a challenge to work out when the canister is empty or close to empty.
Most corticosteroid inhalers deliver 120 doses and should last 30 days when dosed at two puffs twice a day. It will help you to remember to change inhalers if you write the empty date with a sharpie on your inhaler the day you start it. Its a bit trickier to work out the empty date with reliever inhalers and HFA canisters dont float when empty like CFC ones use to which means the old float test doesn’t work.
Get to know the feel of your canisters. If one feels under half full, it is a good idea to replace it with a new one. Hopefully, more inhaler manufacturers will bring out dose counters in the future!
Use Your Inhaler Before Exercising If Your Asthma Is Brought On By Exercise
Physical activity is just as important in people with asthma as it is in people without asthma, so talk to your doctor if asthma limits you from doing exercise. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or unexplained shortness of breath during exercise.
The most effective way to combat exercise-induced asthma is to use your inhaler before exercise. Relievers will prevent exercise-induced asthma in most people; however, some people may also need additional protective treatments, including long-term control medication. Warm-up periods and a scarf worn over the mouth if it is cold may also help prevent symptoms.
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.
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.
Asthma Attack With No Inhaler Here’s What To Do
If you’re living with asthma, there may come a time when you have an asthma attack without your rescue inhaler. Or you may have your inhaler but find that it’s out of medication. No matter what circumstances leave you without your rescue inhaler during an asthma attack, the first thing to do is to remember not to panic. Here’s what to do next.
How Do Healthcare Providers Diagnose Asthma
Your healthcare provider will review your medical history, including information about your parents and siblings. Your provider will also ask you about your symptoms. Your provider will need to know any history of allergies, and other lung diseases.
Your healthcare provider may order a chest X-ray, blood test or skin test. Your provider may order . This test measures airflow through your lungs.
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.
What Types Of Asthma Are There
Healthcare providers identify asthma as intermittent or persistent . Persistent asthma can be mild, moderate or severe. Healthcare providers base asthma severity on how often you have attacks. They also consider how well you can do things during an attack.
Asthma can be:
- Allergic: Some peoples allergies can cause an asthma attack. Molds, pollens and other allergens can cause an attack.
- Non-allergic: Outside factors can cause asthma to flare up. Exercise, stress, illness and weather may cause a flare.
Can Yoga Help With Asthma
It can, yes. In studies, the deep breathing in yoga was shown to reduce hyperventilation and improve symptoms and outcomes, especially during attacks. It may be possible to teach your child these breathing exercises and some basic yoga. Reach out to us here at Olivero Pediatrics if youd like to learn more about yoga for your childs asthma.
The Standard Mdi Inhaler
A standard MDI is shown above. The MDI has been used for over 40 years and is used to deliver various types and brands of medicines. It contains a pressurised inactive gas that propels a dose of medicine in each ‘puff’. Each dose is released by pressing the top of the inhaler. This type of inhaler is quick to use, small, and convenient to carry. It needs good co-ordination to press the canister and breathe in fully at the same time. Sometimes these are known as evohalers .
The standard MDI is the most widely used inhaler. However, many people do not use it to its best effect. Common errors include:
- Not shaking the inhaler before using it.
- Inhaling too sharply or at the wrong time.
- Not holding your breath long enough after breathing in the contents.
Until recently, the propellant gas in MDI inhalers has been a chlorofluorocarbon . However, CFCs damage the Earth’s ozone layer and so are being phased out. The newer CFC-free inhalers work just as well, but they use a different propellant gas that does not damage the ozone layer.
What Should I Do If I Have A Severe Asthma Attack
A severe asthma attack needs immediate medical care. The first step is your rescue inhaler. A rescue inhaler uses fast-acting medicines to open up your airways. Its different than your normal maintenance inhaler, which you use every day. You should only use the rescue inhaler in an emergency.
If your rescue inhaler doesnt help or you dont have it with you, go to the emergency department if you have:
- Anxiety or panic.
- Bluish fingernails, bluish lips or gray or whitish lips or gums .
- Chest pain or pressure.
Check Your Inhaler Technique With Your Doctor Or Pharmacist
The way you use your inhaler can make a huge difference to your asthma control. Even if you have had asthma for years, its not a bad idea to ask your doctor or pharmacist to check your technique next time you visit or pick up your supplies.
Some metered dose inhalers need to be shaken for at least five seconds before use. They must also be primed before first use, or after dropping, which involves spraying up to 4 puffs into the air. Breath-activated inhalers don’t require shaking or priming. Ask your pharmacist if you are unsure which one you have.
Before putting the inhaler in your mouth, breathe out normally. Sit or stand upright and place the mouthpiece between your teeth and seal with your lips. Press down on the canister with your index finger to release the medication while breathing in deeply and slowly through the mouth. Hold your breath for about 5-10 seconds. Wait half a minute before repeating if you need more than 1 puff.
Ask your doctor or a pharmacist about a spacer if you have difficulty timing the spray with inhalation. These allow you to activate the MDI then inhale separately.
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.