asthma attack what to do

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Q: Asthma attack?
Let’s say you were with someone and they had an asthma attack and they didn’t have their inhaler with them. Is there anything you can do ? Is there anything you can use to help ? And if there is nothing around (like if you were trapped somewhere) ? I mean if it’s not dust causing it you can’t hand them a tishu to breath through (or is that useless even if it’s dust?) so what can you do ?

A: I’ve had a bad attack before, and I had lent my jacket (with my inhaler inside) to my girlfriend who forgot it at home. My fault. I was stupid and paid the price.

Here are some things you can do for someone having an attack (but no “rescue” inhaler):

1. Tissues are mostly useless, as you mentioned in your question. But if you can, move them away from whatever is causing the attack.

2. Help make sure they are as relaxed and calm as possible. It is easier for most people to breathe if they’re sitting up, leaning slightly forward. It can really help if the arms are resting on a table or the back of a chair. They should never lie down!

3. They should be trying to breathe as deeply as possible, getting as much of the trapped air out of their lungs. Sometimes, when someone with asthma gets nervous, they might start gasping in quickly … it will really help if they exhale more, getting rid of all that stale carbon dioxide. Breathing slowly, with the diaphragm, and keeping relaxed will help get rid of the trapped air.

4. Give them water to drink, even if they don’t feel like it. It helps thin out the mucus that’s in the lungs. Also, caffeine helps a lot of people. Caffeine is a mild “brochiodialator”. Once I drank a large Coke after an attack and it really helped.

5. If you have a source of steam, it can also help. Going to the bathroom and running the shower’s hot water might somewhat relax the lungs.

6. If it’s a bad attack or it doesn’t get better, call 911 right away!

Hope this is helpful

Q: asthma attack?
ok so i ran the mile at school with my friends and they caught there breath like 10 minutes before me. My chest was hurting and i was out of breath and coughing(worse than normal) it was terrable was it a asthma attack? if so what can you do to help. other than inhalers? help i am only 14.i dont want to deal with this every time i run!!!!
i have had asthma for as long as i can remember!
and i go to karate and i am getting tested for my brown belt and i am not out of breath untill after class when we bow out and stop moving. Why is that

A: ok, i have asthma, and that happens to me when i don’t take my inhaler, i am getting better now, so you probably are getting the first early signs of it,(i at first normally could not take deep breaths while just sitting or standing), you should see a doctor soon, if you have a real asthma attack and don’t know how to control it, you could get brain damage

so when this happnes,
stop
take deep breaths
stay standing
put you hands ontop of your head (this helps w/ blood and oxygen circulation to your brain
and drink water- water really helps
doing excersize normally really helps (w/ inhaler), i do track every year, and that is why i am getting better, but only b/c at first i used my inhaler to open up my passege air ways to i can breath better please see a doctor to make sure wheather you have asthma or not.

Q: Asthma Attack?
What can I do to assure that my friend doesn’t get another asthma attack during swimming practice. I don’t know what happened but when I jumped in the water with my two piece suit he like had one! i mean I didn’t mean to splash water everywhere to make him have one. Then he told me that I shouldn’t practice with him because he can’t concetrate! Hello! Does he think I’m a bad swimmer its like he can’t breathe everytime we swim! Boys

A: oooh asthma attack when he saw you in a 2 piece! lol ok splashing water doesn’t usually make you have an asthma attack, i think he just really likes you but also wants to focus. wear a one piece. i can’t believe he told you you shouldn’t practice with him. ignore that and if he can’t breathe every time he swims, he’s got a problem but if its only when you swim with him… . and yes. boys are boys.

Q: If you’re an asthmatic, how can you tell the difference between an asthma attack and a panic attack?
I’ve had asthma for approximately 14 years but it’s gradually getting worse as I get older and my attacks are more frequent. I’ve been put on additional preventative medicine but have always wondered about the difference between asthma and anxiety/panic attacks. I’m not sure if I experience the latter because my asthma does scare me on occasion. Is it normal to get scared during an attack? How can you tell if it’s just a little fear or full blown anxiety?

Things I have been experiencing lately are: wheezy cough, chest soreness and aches, breathlessness, and feeling as if weights are sitting on my chest. Sometimes I feel achey and weak all over. At times, I get frustrated when my asthma is out of control because it’s hard to breathe but I do not hyperventilate or experience a racing heart. I just have difficulty getting a breath and I become really achey, especially after I take my rescue inhaler.

What am I experiencing and is it typical for an asthma attack or panic attack?

A: I think you’re experiencing asthma attacks. I have asthma and anxiety and I don’t know.. I guess I just “know” the difference when it happens. An asthma attack is like.. no matter WHAT you do, you can breathe in or out without feeling like someone’s choking the life out of you until you puff your inhaler. An anxiety attack is more… well.. i can feel it coming on. My body starts shaking a little, my mouth goes dry, and I hyperventilate. When it comes to actual breathing, I can better control my breathing during an anxiety attack as opposed to an asthma attack.

This is probably one of the best questions I’ve read so far. You should ask a doctor about it though. These are just my experiences. Great question =)

Q: What’s the difference between out of puff and asthma attack?
I have read in the Asthma magazine a report to an asthmatic middle age man, he said that many people do not know the difference between being out of breath and asthma attack, can anyone explain? I think that gasping for air is like asthma attack or is not? Thanks for answers.

A: Exercise related gasping is just the bodies response to your cells needed more oxygen than your lungs are currently providing. This will soon pass as you stop exercising. In a full blown asthma attack the little air passages (bronchioles) become constricted and it is hard to get air in or out of your lungs. These people do gasp, but it doesn’t stop until the bronchioles relax with medications (either inhaled or steroids) Or, in worst case scenario the person will be intubated and have a machine do the work for them. So to answer your question, it is completely different.

Q: How do you know when your gonna get an Asthma Attack?
I was wondering. Can an Asthma attack happen at any particular time? And when is the time an Asthma Attack can really come? .. When your playing sports(Basketball?)? And what can you do to prevent an asthma attack from coming?

A: I have asthma and I can tell that I am going to get an asthma attack if I am having trouble breathing and it isn’t subsiding. The plus to that is that I use an inhaler which helps me breath Yes, asthma can happen at any time, it isn’t a selective problem, but you have a greater chance of getting an ashma attack if your in an asthma inducing environment.
ashma inducment can be different for some people. There is exercise induced asthma which you mentioned (playing sports) umm, it can be triggered by things such as mold/pollen/dust/aroms/etc. I got an ashtma attack in the mall, becasue Sephora stunk so badly from perfumes and such. Also, people can get asthma attacks from stress as well. To avoid it, avoid the things which causes it, take medicine, use an inhaler.

Q: How to calm yourself during an asthma attack?
I am coming down from a bad asthma attack an hour ago. I took my inhaler and tried to keep myself calm. Lst time I was this bad I panicked, took 3 nebulizer treatments and ended up calling an ambulence. This time I tried to talk myself down so I didn’t panic. I’m wondering what other people do while they are trying to calm themselves down and it feels so scary in those first 15-30 minutes until the lungs relax.

A: Try closing your eyes, focus on your breathing. I’ve had asthma forever, like 41 years, and it’s hard to calm yourself. Drinking hot coffee, take your bra off if your a girl, it will release a little more pressure.

Q: What to do in case of severe asthma attack?
I don’t have any inhaler available as it has been ages ago since my last asthma attack. I have nobody here with me right now as it’s already 2 in the morning. I feel my throat closes up everytime I cough. I’m trying to stay calm but my chest hurts.

A: My wife has severe asthma. If you don’t have an inhaler breathing into a paper or paper-like bag will help a lot. It regulates your breaths and helps relax your airway.

But make sure you can phone help if you can’t get any air, asthma can be fatal if you are alone.

Q: When a severe asthma attack hits and nebs are needed?
If you’re having a severe asthma attack, are you always able to set up your nebulizer by yourself in time? Or do you ever need to get a family member to help you b/c the attack has hit so hard? Does anybody live alone and if so, what would you do?

A: I keep it by my bed and before I go to bed (its always worse at night) I put my medicine in my neb.

that way when an attack hits i take it right then all you have to do is hit the power switch, if not its there for the morning when i regularly take it.

my husband works nights so he cant fix it up for me and this seems to be the best way. Always have it ready

Q: How can you stop an asthma attack without an inhaler?
I’ve had asthma for a while now but no matter what i do when i get an asthma attack it takes forever to stop it if i dont have my inhaler. Any techniques to help stop one or atleast calm it down?

A: Many of the answers below could actually WORSEN your asthma, such as a humidifier, if your asthma is triggered by HUMIDITY, which many people have! Don’t try these until you find out what your “triggers” are!

For the time being, until you get yourself to a GOOD PULMONOLOGIST, try exhaling as completely as you can. This expels the “stale” air, with little or no oxygen in it. It may seem weird, to blow air OUT, since your instinct is to gulp it in…but it does work (I have asthma and have used this, w/success).

Then, inhale, slowly and steadily, trying to calm yourself while doing so.

The best prevention for asthma is to avoid things that trigger it, but it may not be possible in all cases.

The next best thing is to get a full evaluation, with your primary care doctor and a specialist. There are many PREVENTIVE meds (including inhalers) that can reduce your need for a “rescue” inhaler drastically!

Some preventive meds, are steroidal, like “Azmacort”, and others are non-steroidal, but reduce inflammation or even prevent it, such as “Intal”. You can even take a drug like “Accolate”, by mouth, to reduce the frequency of attacks.

Most docs WILL, however, recommend a “Rescue” (albuterol) inhaler, for sudden attacks.

See a doctor ASAP, since asthma attacks CAN be fatal if not treated immediately! I know two people who died from it, with very little warning.

You really can’t play around with this, such as trying to use “mind control” or herbal meds. Check out the site below, for useful info about the disease and treatment options.

Good luck!

Q: What are you supposed to do if you have an asthma attack?
Lately my asthma has been flaring up…I just had an asthma attack and can breath however I am still congested and coughing. Am I to call the doctor( this is my first real one)? thanks.

A: You should follow your asthma action plan. Obviously your asthma is worsening you need to step up your therapy. You should be taking a daily controller medication. If you are taking it, you either need to increase the dose or add another dose. You may need oral steroids for a short while. You probably should see an asthma specialist not just a GP.

Q: What do doctors give you to take when you are having an asthma attack?
my moms asthma is severe and they gave her presidonze which is a steriod and some antibiotic medicine to prevent an infection in her throat/lungs. Will she get better? she hasnt had an asthma attack? but has some inhaler which is i think albertrol

A: I take Albuterol, Singulair, Advair and Spiriva. During a severe attack I was prescribed with Prednisolone, which is also a type of steroid of some sorts. That helped a lot, especially since my oxygen level was low.

Albuterol is used as a rescue inhaler. Like the term, it rescues you from an attack that is occurring. The other medications I mentioned will not stop an asthma attack. Rather, it works to prevent them from happening and reduce inflammation in the airways.

Asthmatics don’t ever fully recover – you have asthma for life. However, the medications are used to keep it under control. Keeping your doctor updated on your condition and having him evaluate you on a regular basis will help you keep it under control and learn how to manage it.

Q: What should I do about an asthma attack? I currently have tightening in center of my chest and hard to breath.
What should I do about an asthma attack? I currently have tightening in center of my chest and hard to breath. I was diagnosed with a very very mild form of asthma a long time ago but never ever had problems before. I am wondering, should i go to doctor or should just pop some allegra d or singular? I do have allergies.

A: Allegra D might help, the d is the important part. Buy a Primetine mist. If it continues to be a problem, go to a doctor. There are prescription medicines that work way better than anything you can buy without a script. Albuteral is a good rescue inhaler [stops attacks]. Singular is an asthma prevention medicine, but it won’t help an attack, takes hours to work.

Q: What should I do if someone had an asthma attack but they don’t have their pump?
Let’s say, we’re in the country, enjoying a nice meal outside, one of my friends, suddenly has an asthma attack!

Somebody rushes to see if there’s the pump inside his backpack. Oh no! We cannot find it anywhere! Someone tries to call emergency, but in rural area, cell phone coverage is void!

What should the gang do? Will our friend somewhat choke to death?

A: Find a paper bag of some sort and have them breathe in and out with it. Try to get them to relax until help arrives or you can get him moving enough to get to an emergency room.

Q: Do you have to be hospitalized when you have an asthma attack?
Let’s say you have an asthma attack in class in your middle school, what would happen?
What happens if you fake one and the school calls 911, will you get in trouble with the paramedics?

A: You don’t have to be hospitalized. It depends on how serious an attack.

Most asthmatics would self-treat with an inhaler. If they don’t respond to that, they might have to go to an ER. If it’s really bad, you could end up admitted. Generally you start coughing, have trouble breathing, and wheeze a lot.

I sure hope you aren’t planning to fake one, because the treatments are very serious and should not be given to someone faking an attack.

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