Like we all know, the first thing we do at birth is to breathe. Our life is completely dependent on breathing, which makes it all the more important. So what happens when it gets difficult to breathe? Let’s understand what this ‘difficulty’ might be. Ask yourself the following questions.
- Do you feel breathless, or find it difficult to speak?
- Do you start wheezing and have a chest congestion?
- Are you facing trouble while eating and sleeping as well?
If you tick the above questions, you are likely to have an asthma attack. So, the first thing you want to know is what to do when you have an asthma attack.
What happens in an asthma attack?
Asthma is a chronic condition of the airways which makes it difficult to breathe.There is an inflammation in the air passages that deliver oxygen to the lungs, which narrows them down. When the oxygen does not reach the lungs, involuntarily the body struggles to forcibly get some air and oxygen. This attempt of forcible breathing results in chest congestion and wheezing.
Asthma attack treatment and guidelines
While asthma is quite a common problem, it is also important to realise the significance of having proper diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is the first step to getting treatments that help control asthma attacks. Asthma treatments vary from using inhalers and oral medications to nebulizers and breathing machines. So, to understand how these treatments work towards controlling asthma, here are some guidelines to refer:
Talk to your specialist for asthma attack treatments
If you are diagnosed with asthma and feel that your medication is not helping you much, it is high time you check what’s going wrong. You might need to change your asthma treatment course and medication, for better control.
Asthma treatment options
Prevention and long-term asthma control play a significant role in asthma attack treatments. Treatment usually involves learning to recognise what triggers an asthma attack, tracking your breathing pattern, make sure your medications are effective in asthma control.
In case you have an asthma attack, and it flares-up, you will need to use a quick-relief inhaler to subside it.
Quick-relief medications – Quick-relief medications are used in situations of emergency for short-term relief during an asthma attack.
Long-term asthma treatments – Long-term asthma treatments include drugs and medicines prescribed by your doctor which are to be taken in a routine. These medications control asthma on a day-to-day basis and reduce the chances of having asthma attacks frequently.
Allergy medications – Allergies are the most common reasons for asthma attacks to flare up. Although there are no specific grounds for these allergies to react suddenly, the attack caused by an allergic reaction can be altered with allergy medications which are available for asthma attack treatments.
3 steps to better asthma control: Preventive measures
Spirometry test to diagnose how well your lungs function:
Track your symptoms
Maintain a diary to track your asthma attack symptoms, and write them down each day. Recording your symptoms helps you recognise when you need to alter or adjust your asthma attack treatment.
Record how your lungs are working
You must get periodical breathing tests or (lung function tests) done to understand if your lungs are functioning properly. These tests reveal your lungs are or aren’t functioning well. Your tests determine your treatment plans and changes accordingly.
Adjust your asthma treatment according to your action plan
When you track the functioning of your lungs, you will know if they are working properly or not very well. So, in case they are not functioning as well as they should be, you might need to adjust your asthma treatment to avoid sudden attacks.
Long-term asthma treatment and medications are the key to keeping asthma attacks at bay. It is important to always keep quick relief inhalers with you, because they help you to ease your congestion and subside the breathlessness.
It is true that using certain medications like inhalers for asthma control, you are bound to get addicted to them. But what do you do when you are almost going to stop breathing? Save yourself. Right?
So it is important to understand, or rather realise that consulting a doctor at regular intervals, and adjusting your asthma treatment and medication plays a vital and healthier role in living better with asthma.
So eat, drink, play, exercise and breathe well!
About the hospital
Sai Sanjeevini Multi Speciality Hospitals, a unit of Singapanga Healthcare Pvt. Ltd has been providing health services to the people in need for the last 14 years. This health care organisation combines practical, proven research, cutting edge procedures and state-of-the-art treatment to produce excellent medical and lifestyle outcome for our patients. Our hospital and medical staff provide innovative medical care in a friendly, compassionate, community environment conducive to patient recuperation in a family atmosphere.
About the doctor
Dr. M.Ravindranath is a reputed Pulmonologist in Hyderabad and has an experience of 12 years in this field. Dr. M.Ravindranath practices at Hyderabad Chest Clinic in Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad and Sai Sanjeevini Hospitals in Kothapet, Hyderabad. His knowledge of pulmonology has made him one of the best in the city and most patients visit him and go home, happy. So Book your Appointment now.