You can prevent an asthma attack from becoming an emergency by acting quickly and correctly. Learn about first aid for asthma attacks and how to deal with an asthma attack.
What is an asthma attack?
A medical condition known as asthma affects the airways, or the tubes that carry air to the lungs.
An asthma attack is when a patient experiences difficulty breathing in and out as a result of the narrowing of their airways; however, when an attack is not present, the patient's breathing remains normal.
Although there is no specific treatment for asthma, there are some steps you can take to lessen the severity of attacks. The most crucial of these is learning how to help an asthma patient. Asthma patients can, for instance, take some medications that widen the respiratory tracts and perform routine checks of the lungs and respiratory tracts.
Signs and symptoms of an asthma attack
Asthma attack symptoms can be brought on by a variety of factors, such as exercise, cigarette smoke, or a cold, and they can vary from person to person.
General symptoms that may appear on the patient are:
- Breathing while making a wheezing sound
- The impression that one's lungs are not getting enough air (oxygen thirst).
- Chest constriction feeling
- Cough.
It's important to note that not every symptom mentioned above manifests itself on an asthmatic during an attack.
What are the asthma first aid measures?
To save the patient's life, it is critical that everyone learn first aid for asthma.
Here's how to aid an asthma attack in four steps:
1. Adapt the patient's position to the situation.
When treating an asthmatic patient, encourage him to breathe deeply and slowly while remaining calm and reassuring.
2. Provide the patient with four asthma inhaler sprays.
Shake the spray thoroughly before using, and then give the patient four batches of the device. Before administering the next spray, make sure the patient has taken four full breaths.
3. Wait 4 minutes while the patient improves.
If the patient's symptoms do not improve after 4 minutes, repeat the previous step with 4 more sprays.
4. If the patient does not improve after receiving asthma first aid, call 911.
If the patient's condition does not improve after following the above-mentioned asthma relief steps, call an ambulance immediately and explain the patient's situation in detail. Continue to calm the patient and give him 4 sprays of his asthma device every 4 minutes until the ambulance arrives.
If the patient became unconscious
If the patient loses consciousness as a result of an asthma attack, call an ambulance immediately, place the patient in the recovery position, and ensure that the patient is still breathing. If the patient stops breathing, begin CPR and ensure that an ambulance is on its way to you.
When should asthma first aid be applied?
Do not wait until an asthma attack becomes more severe if you notice any of the following symptoms, or someone nearby does.
Symptoms of a mild to moderate asthma attack (start using the first asthma relief medication):
- Minor breathing problems
- The patient can stand and walk.
- While breathing, the patient may cough or wheeze.
Symptoms of a severe asthma attack (start first aid and dial 911):
- Breathing difficulties are obvious.
- The skin around the ribs and neck is taut.
- While breathing, cough or wheeze.
- Asthma medications are not as effective as they used to be.
Symptoms of a life-threatening asthma attack (use asthma first aid and dial 911):
- Breathing difficulties are severe (unable to inhale).
- The patient is either perplexed or exhausted.
- Blue lips appeared on the patient.
- The patient's symptoms rapidly worsened.
- When using an asthma inhaler, there is no (or only a slight) improvement.
- While breathing, the person may not cough or wheeze.
When should I call an ambulance while applying asthma first aid?
While taking asthma relief measures, seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- If the patient has their first asthma attack.
- If the patient's breathing becomes difficult due to the severity of the asthma attack.
- If the patient is having trouble speaking or making noises.
- If the patient becomes tired.
- If none of the patient's medications are effective in relieving the seizure.
- In the event that the patient's asthma medication is unavailable.
- If an asthmatic patient's symptoms worsen.
How can you avoid an asthma attack?
The most effective way to prevent asthma attacks is to eliminate or avoid their triggers in your home. Respiratory irritants can differ from person to person. Here's how to limit your exposure to asthma triggers:
- Keep your home as clean as possible to minimize dust and dirt.
- Keep your windows closed if the air quality around you is poor.
- If you still smoke, stop or avoid secondhand smoke.
- Avoid wood-burning smoke in fireplaces and other places.
- If you have a pet, bathe it once a week and keep it away from your bedroom.
- Bathe your pet regularly and keep it away from your bedroom.