What to Do During Asthma

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An asthma attack is something when the symptoms of asthma become worse, making your airways narrower resulting in inflammation, swelling, and mucus thickness. Asthma is a chronic and incurable disease. However, you can prevent its symptoms occurring again and again. The wheezing sound which you hear while breathing is known as asthma breathing which is the typical sign of asthma. Other symptoms can be difficulty in breathing, tightness of chest, fast breathing, coughing and fast heart beats. If you are an asthma patient or have children with asthma, then follow some suggestions given in the article on what to do during asthma attack.

What to Do During Asthma

Things to Know to Prevent Asthma Attack

To avoid the occurrence of symptoms every time or letting them become worse, you must have an asthma care plan which can guide you to control asthma and know the steps that you must take, when such symptoms create an asthma attack. The plan is usually made by your doctor that includes three components:

  1. Basic symptoms that you must watch for
  2. Severe stage which is to be determined by the peak expiratory flow rate
  3. Actions to taken based on symptoms or peak flow

Causes of Asthma

The common cause of asthma that can bring in the airways of asthma patients is when the airways become sensitive to things like irritants known as triggers. Other than this, other common irritants can be:

  • Weather conditions
  • Change in temperature
  • Smoking and cigarette smoke
  • Exercise

What to do During Asthma Attack?

  • Carry an asthma inhaler every time as it will enable an asthmatic's narrowed airways to open. Usually, these inhalers are prescribed by doctors who are asthmatic for use during asthma attacks.
  • A peak flow meter determines how your asthma is doing. It also helps in preventing an asthma attack. It shows the asthma plan that you must follow. When peak flow numbers decline, it means your asthma is getting worse and you should take quick actions to prevent an asthma attack. You must give medications depending on the instructions in the asthma care plan to prevent the signs of becoming more severe.
  • You must calm down and sit for a while and take some rest. These attacks can be due to mental stress. So make sure you calm down soon.
  • Make sure that you keep yourself away from the things that can worsen your symptoms. If you play sports that can make you tired soon or exhaust you, then avoid doing that. Stay away from people who smoke and avoid going to smoky places. If you have a pet by which you are allergic, then stay away from it.
  • Do not discontinue puffing your asthma inhaler till any health care provider is within your reach.
  • You can also use Beta-2 antagonists which can help in opening up the bronchial passages quickly making it easy to breathe.
  • You must increase you food intake which is rich in Vitamin B6 or B12. Foods like eggs, dairy products, meat and fruits can be helpful. This can lessen the lungs irritation. Hence, doctors usually advice this to asthma patients.
  • If you still find that you have breathing problems even after taking proper care, then you must visit your doctor immediately.
  • Having tea of licorice will definitely improve your health. It treats the asthma attack simply by sitting at home.
  • Drink licorice tea once a day. It helps in the treatment of asthma attack and is one of the simplest home remedies.

Call for Emergency if: A patient or the child who is suffering from asthma must take preventive measures. If the home treatment does not work, then you must immediately contact a doctor or head to the emergency department. If you find the mentioned symptoms in the asthmatic patient, then you must seek a healthcare provider for emergency care immediately:

  • Becoming pale
  • Coughing that has become continuous
  • Wheezing that occurs while breathing both in and out
  • Becoming anxious
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Blue fingernails called cyanosis

Knowing about the symptoms and taking quick action is the best way to avoid chronic illness called asthma. As mentioned above on what to do during asthma attack, you must have definitely got the idea of the steps that you must take to avoid the signs.