Asthma

Asthma

Signs and Symptoms

 

Moderate asthma attack:

1. Wheezing or whistling sounds with breathing.

2. Tension in the chest.

3.Shortness of breath.

4.Coughing, especially at night.

Severe attack:

1. Breathing becomes very difficult that you sweat.

2. A racing pulse.

3. Fear.

What to do now

 

1. Try to remain calm and quiet.

2. Nervousness makes the symptoms worse.

3. Don’t lie down. Breathing is easier when sat upright and lean forward slightly.

4. Keep medicines prescribed by the doctor within your reach. They may include a bronchodilator - a spray drug to open your airways- in an inhaler that controls the dose. Rinse your mouth with water each time you use it to prevent yeast infections in the mouth.

5. If you’re using oral medications, follow the instructions exactly. Also, write down the time you take each dose; Overdoses can be dangerous.

When to call a doctor

 

If you note the following signs of a lack of oxygen:

1. feeling of suffocation that makes talking difficult.

2. Flaring nostrils.

3. A sucked-in look to the skin between the ribs when inhaling.
Bluish lips and nails.

4. If your asthma medicine doesn’t work within the time it’s supposed to.

5. If you cough up yellow, green, or bloody mucus.

6. If you feel new, unexplained symptoms. These may be side effects of your drugs or many mean you asthma is getting worse.

How to prevent it

 

1. Anyone with asthma should be under a doctor’s care. Learning to read a peak flow meter can help. It measures airflow and can give early warning of a coming attack. If your doctor prescribes then, you can use an inhaler for corticosteroids to reduce your bronchial swelling. Also: keep a diary of attacks: What happened just before? How severe? How frequent?

2. Notice whether certain foods or drugs seem to bring on an attack, and avoid them.

3. Stay away from smoke and smokers. If you smoke, quit.

4. Stay indoors, if possible, when air pollution and pollen counts are high.

5. Keep your house as dust-free as possible.

6. In cold weather, breathe through your nose and cover your nose and mouth with a scarf.

7. Get bedding that is made of non allergenic materials.

8. Don’t maintian pets that have hair or fur.

9. Exercise regularly but moderately. Many doctors recommend swimming- unless you react badly to chlorine-because humidity helps ease breathing. If vigorous exercise sets off an attack, report it to a doctor.

10. Try yoga. It can help relax you.

11. Lower your risk of colds and flu by washing your hands often and by getting a flu shot every year.

12. If you can afford buy an air-filtering machine for your bedroom.

Posted in: Health Tips