When To Go To Hospital For Asthma

Causes Of Mucus Production

• Aspiration; Inhaling foreign substances like water, dust, powder, pollen, or in the case of babies, meconium can lead to excessive mucus production
• Choking; Choking on food, medicine or beverages can people with the condition to experience mucus product that can lead to an asthma attack
• Allergies; Seasonal or chronic allergies often encourages excessive mucus to build in the throats, noses, and airways of people who have the disease

Asthma Patterns In Children

Every childs asthma is different. Some children have mild, occasional episodes of asthma or only show symptoms after;exercising, or when they have a;cold. Some experience daily symptoms, while others have symptoms continuously, which limit their level of activity.;

Each pattern of asthma requires a different treatment approach. It is important to remember that children can still have a;severe and even life-threatening attack, even if they generally have mild or occasional asthma.;

Diagnosis Of Asthma In Children

Diagnosing asthma;in children younger than;5;years can be difficult because;children cough or wheeze;for many different reasons.;Take your child to the doctor if:;

• the wheezing happens more than once with or without an illness;
• constant coughing or bouts of coughing become worse at night;
• you are concerned about any breathing problems in your child.;

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Signs That You Need To Use Asthma First Aid

If you are experiencing any of the following signs, start asthma first aid. Do not wait until asthma is severe.;

Mild to moderate asthma signs :

• minor difficulty breathing
• able to talk in full sentences
• able to walk or move around
• may have a cough or wheeze.

Severe asthma signs for an ambulance and commence asthma first aid):

• obvious difficulty breathing
• 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 for an ambulance and commence asthma first aid):

• finds it very difficult to breathe
• unable to speak one to two words per breath
• confused or exhausted
• is getting little or no relief from their reliever inhaler
• may no longer have wheeze or cough.

In asthma emergencies, follow your Asthma Action Plan.

What To Expect When You Visit The Doctor

Your doctor;may;ask whether you have any family history of asthma, eczema or hay fever.;

In children, doctors assess the severity of the asthma based on the pattern and frequency of the symptoms.;

Lung function tests are difficult to perform in children younger than;5;years and so are usually only used to diagnose;and assess;severity in children;5;years and older.;

It is recommended that a paediatrician or paediatric respiratory specialist diagnose and manage asthma in infants under 12 months. If your infant is wheezing your doctor should refer to you one of these specialists.;

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Are You Suffering A Severe Asthma Attack

In an emergency, you need to act fast. Heres a list of emergency contact numbers around the world:

• In the UK, dial 999.
• In the US, dial 911.
• In Canada, dial 911.
• In New Zealand, dial 111.
• In South Africa, dial 10 177.

Note that 112 also works in any European Union country and the UK.

You can find a comprehensive list of worldwide emergency contact numbers here.

Causes Of Chest Tightening

• Exercise; Running, jumping or even brisk walking can cause the chest to become tight and induce an attack
• Laughing;Chest tightness when they laugh or have bouts of giggling can cause an attack
• Menstruation; Some women report experiencing chest tightness when they have their;menstruation accompanied by severe cramps are known to be causes of asthma symptoms
• Panic; Panic attacks or people who are stressed and fearful can experience any or all of these symptoms
• Injuries; An injury to the upper chest, ribs or back can cause an attack
• Roaches; Roach droppings and shed cockroach dander are known asthma triggers
• Medications; aspirin medications like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium cause asthma symptoms in people who are allergic or sensitive to aspirin.

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How Long Will You Need To Stay In Hospital

Your healthcare team will be able to give you some idea of how long you can expect to stay in hospital, what treatment you need and how you will be monitored.

How long you need to stay in will depend on:

• your symptoms
• how well your asthma responds to medicines and treatments
• measurements such as oxygen levels, pulse and peak flow.

It can be frustrating staying in hospital, especially when you start to feel better and just want to get home and back to normal.

However, before discharging you, your healthcare team will want to make sure you’ve fully recovered from your asthma attack, that your peak flow is back to normal, and that youre well enough to go home.

The;NHS website;has more information on what to expect in hospital, along with advice to help make it more comfortable.

What Are The Symptoms Of Asthma In A Child

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. Children with asthma have times when they have few, if any symptoms.;They also have times when symptoms flare up. Symptoms may include:

• Cough that is either constant or comes and goes
• Wheezing or whistling sound that is heard while your child is breathing
• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath while your child is active
• Chest tightness
• Cough at night
• Noisy breathing

The symptoms of asthma can be like other health conditions. Make sure your;child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

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Asthma: Should I Go To The Er

Parents avoid the emergency room as often as possible, but if you are the parent of a child with asthma, its important to know when the ER is the right choice.

When the following symptoms are showing up the answer to the question of when should I seek emergency medical attention is NOW.

• If your child is wheezing constantly.
• They are using their inhaler repeatedly because they either have severe asthma symptoms or their wheezing quickly returns after treatment.
• If a long-lasting cough is not responding to their prescribed rescue medicine.
• If you notice any changes in the color in your childs skin, lips or fingernails.
• If your child has trouble speaking or using full sentences.
• If you notice that while breathing or speaking that your child is using extra muscles to breathe, having to flare their nostrils to get sufficient air, or the skin between their ribs or around the neck and collarbone is retracting with each breath.

In these situations, emergency treatment is a must.

Be sure to always keep your childs asthma medication stocked and easily available. Always take asthma seriously and you should be able to greatly reduce your risk of taking a trip to the Emergency Room.

• Physician Info

When Should I Go To The Emergency Room For An Asthma Attack

Worsening asthma symptoms need a quick appointment with the doctor. But if your symptoms become severe, don’t hesitate to seek emergency care. The following are signs of a potentially life-threatening breathing situation:

• Severe difficulty breathing
• Blue lips or fingernails
• Extreme difficulty walking or talking
• Lack of relief from quick-relief medications
• Peak flow readings below 50 percent of your personal best

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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.;

At What Oxygen Level Should You Go To The Hospital

If you are a healthy individual with controlled asthma, then your oxygen level should be around 95-100%. However, the oxygen level can be around 90-95%, due to

• Higher altitudes
• Physical exertion
• Low oxygen concentration in your vicinity

Its normal for COPD and individuals with lungs issue to have an oxygen level from 88-92%. If it drops from 88%, its dangerous for vital organs. Under 80%, the organs gradually start to stop working.

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What Kinds Of Emergency Treatments Are Provided In The Hospital

When you arrive at the hospital during a severe asthma attack, healthcare providers will examine you and decide about the best course of treatment to get your asthma under control as quickly as possible. You should try to remember to bring along your Asthma Action Plan, so that they will know about your usual treatment regimen.

Treatments that can be used to help control your asthma attack include2:

• Bronchodilators , delivered through an inhaler or a nebulizer, can help to open up your airways
• Corticosteroids, taken in a pill or through an IV, can help to reduce inflammation in the lungs

If your asthma attack is very severe and dangerous, you may need to have a breathing tube inserted down your throat and into your airway. A machine then pumps oxygen into your body so that you can breathe while other medicines help to control the attack.

While you are in the hospital, you will be asked to take lung function tests to measure how well the treatments are working to control and relieve your symptoms. Once your attack is under control, these tests can also be used regularly to help monitor your symptoms and predict when another attack may be on the way.1

When To Go To The Er If Your Child Has Asthma

One of the main goals of parents whose kids have asthma is avoiding trips to the emergency room for breathing problems. But its also important to know when going to the ER is the right choice.

Youll be better prepared to make that decision if you discuss it with your doctor before your child has a severe flare-up. The doctors instructions should be included in the asthma action plan. The plan will list specific symptoms that are your cue to go to the ER. If old enough, your child also should know what these signs are.

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When To Go To The Er For An Asthma Attack

Asthma

There are few things people take for granted as much as breathing. Its such an automatic act that unless someone is consciously aware of it, it goes unnoticed Until suddenly, you cant do it anymore, that is.

What does it mean to have an asthma attack? What are the risk factors? How can you learn to recognize an attack is on its way?

Asthma Emergencies In Children

Symptoms of an asthma attack can worsen and develop into an;asthma emergency. To prepare for an asthma emergency, make sure your childs doctor has written an;asthma;action;plan;for your child.;

Have a copy of your childs;asthma;action;plan pinned up somewhere easy to access at home, and send a copy to anyone who cares for your child, including their school, kinder, childcare service, family members and friends. You may like to take a photo of their;asthma;action;plan so you always have a copy with you.;

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Emergency Asthma Treatment In A&e

Asthma attack treatment in hospitals is designed to meet your individual needs and requirements. The exact treatment youll have will depend on your symptoms and how youve been assessed.

If youre suffering from severe asthma, youre likely to be given an oxygen mask, nebuliser and steroids to try to calm the attack. Bronchodilator drugs will be given through a nebuliser to help open up your airways. The nebuliser converts the medication into a fine spray, so you can breathe it in via a mask. Its an effective way to deliver the dose of medication that you need.

Steroids can be provided as tablets or in liquid form, or you may have a canula put into the back of your hand so that steroids can be injected directly into a vein. The steroids will help to reduce the inflammation in your lungs and airways.

What Causes Asthma

Experts arent sure why some people get asthma and others dont. You are more likely to have asthma if someone in your immediate family has asthma. A childs risk of developing asthma is also greater if they were born premature or with low birth weight, if the mother smoked during pregnancy, if they live in a house with people who smoke, or if they have been exposed to air pollution or mould.

Healthy adults can also develop asthma after extended exposure to air pollution . Even athletes can get asthma this way for example, if they have trained intensely while breathing in polluted, cold or dry air.

Common triggers of asthma may include:

• allergens such as pollen, dust, food items and mould
• smoke from cigarettes, bushfires and traffic pollution
• other irritants such as cleaning products, perfumes, aerosol products and certain workplace chemicals
• physical activity
• infection from viruses

To diagnose asthma, your doctor may request:

• your medical history
• family details, such as whether your close relatives have asthma or allergies
• breathing tests to assess how your well your lungs are working

For children aged under 5 years who find breathing tests difficult, your doctor may prescribe some asthma medication first , then use the results of the treatment to make a diagnosis. Asthma is likely to be diagnosed if the symptoms improve quickly with reliever medication.

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When To Call 999

youre having an asthma attack and;your symptoms dont improve after ten puffs of your blue reliever inhaler.

An asthma attack is a medical emergency and its vital to treat it quickly. Because asthma is a high priority, you may be sent a rapid response paramedic ahead of the ambulance.;This means you can start to be treated sooner.

Don’t ask for a lift or call a taxi. Call 999 for an ambulance so the paramedics can start treating you immediately and take you to the most appropriate A&E.

• your GP surgery is closed;
• your symptoms are getting in the way of your everyday activities
• your symptoms are waking you up at night
• youre using your reliever inhaler three or more times a week.

The NHS 111 service is for medical problems that are urgent, but not life-threatening, and youre not sure what to do when your GP surgery is closed. The NHS 111 service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When you call 111, be ready to answer questions about your symptoms. This is so the caller can give you the right advice about what to do, and where to go for further help.

They might suggest you go to A&E, a walk-in centre, or get an urgent same day appointment at your GP surgery/out of hours centre.

If you’re using the NHS 111 website, remember that it;isn’t for children under 5.;

How Can I Avoid It

Try to stay away from whatever makes your symptoms worse. You should have regular checkups with your doctor to make sure your asthma is under control. Take your medicines as directed by your doctor and get refills before they run out. You should use a spacer with your inhaler to get the most from your medicine.

Having an asthma action plan can help you notice when your symptoms are getting worse. Your doctor can help you make a plan like this one: . Once you know what your personal best peak flow is, you can check it regularly and keep a flow chart to track your asthma.

You should get a flu shot every year to help avoid getting the flu. Your doctor may also tell you to get a pneumonia shot.

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Symptoms Of An Asthma Attack

Signs that you may be having an asthma attack include:

• your symptoms are getting worse
• your reliever inhaler is not helping
• you’re too breathless to speak, eat or sleep
• your breathing is getting faster and it feels like you cannot catch your breath
• your peak flow score is lower than normal
• children may also complain of a tummy or chest ache

The symptoms will not necessarily occur suddenly. In fact, they often come on slowly over a few hours or days.

What To Expect At The Er

You will be asked a lot of questions about your asthma attacks. Make a list of symptoms youve experienced, how often you experience them, and any triggers you may have noticed. Its also a good idea to record time of day when attacks typically occur, as well as medications youre currently taking. All of this information will help your doctor narrow down triggers and what type of asthma youre suffering from.

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