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What to Do During an Asthma Attack

Jul 14, 2015
  • Asthma Attack
  • Flare-Up
  • Practical Solution
A woman is using her asthma inhaler

Treat Your Airways

Obviously, relaxing your airways is first and foremost when you’re in the middle of an asthma attack, and that will take a few steps. Stay calm, and follow this plan of action:

Measure Your Breath

If you use a peak flow meter at home, you can breathe into it at the first sign of your attack to see how your lungs are managing. If you are having an asthma attack, the reading will be below your personal best; if the value is less than half your best, you’re having a severe attack.

Measure again after you take your fast-acting asthma inhaler to see how well the medicine is working (or how severe the attack is).

Take Your Rescue Medication Properly

Resist the temptation to take too much medication too soon. Start with two puffs of your quick-acting bronchodilator. If the episode is sudden and very severe, you can safely use up to four puffs at once. If the attack continues, you can continue to take a puff every 20 minutes for up to two hours, but the more you take, the more likely you are to feel a bit jittery.

Fight the Inflammation With Corticosteroids

Your rescue inhaler will ease the muscle constriction around your airways, but you’ll also need to relieve the tissue inflammation and mucus buildup on the inside, which calls for a dose of corticosteroids. An inhaled corticosteroid is likely enough to manage a mild to moderate asthma attack, but a severe attack will normally call for prednisone tablets.

Sit up and Stay Focused

It’s important that you sit upright and concentrate on steady breathing – this will keep you focused on getting enough air into your airways as the inhaled medication does its job. The straighter you sit, the better your lungs can take in air, so avoid laying down or hunching over.

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If you don’t feel better after taking your inhaler, or you get worried at any time, call an ambulance. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

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Anglea Finlay
Angela is a freelance writer and blogger committed to learning, understanding and communicating about the matters that affect daily life. From fitness and lifestyle, pregnancy and medical ailments, she has covered a range of health topics throughout her web writing career, contributing to major websites for over three years. See all of Anglea's articles
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