Asthma attack: symptoms, what to do and how to prevent it from happening

An asthma attack is an episode of intense symptoms, with coughing, difficulty breathing and wheezing, which can appear suddenly or develop over a few hours.

As a rule, an asthma attack happens when an asthmatic person comes into contact with an allergenic substance, such as animal hair, dust or mold, but it can also happen due to a lung infection, changes in the weather, use of medication or intense physical exercise. .

To alleviate an asthma attack, it is important that the person remains calm, in a comfortable position and uses the pump. When the pump is not nearby, it is recommended that medical help be called. An asthma attack can be quite serious, so it is recommended to start treatment as soon as possible.

Main symptoms

An asthma attack typically causes symptoms such as:

• Shortness of breathe;
• Cough;
• Feeling of tightness in the chest;
• Wheezing when breathing;
• Rapid breathing;
• Tiredness.

Other symptoms that may appear and are suggestive of a worsening of the asthma attack are bluish discoloration of the lips, nails or skin, mental confusion or loss of consciousness. See more about asthma symptoms.

These symptoms tend to be quite intense and appear quickly, within a few minutes. Still, there are situations in which the crisis can develop in a few hours or days, especially when it is caused by infections or the use of medication.

It is important that whenever an asthma attack is suspected, the person goes immediately to the hospital and consults a pulmonologist so that an assessment can be carried out and treatment adjusted, if necessary.

Make an appointment with your nearest pulmonologist using the following tool:

What to do for an asthma attack

What you should do during an asthma attack is:

1. Calm the person and help her to sit in a comfortable position;
2. Ask the person to lean slightly forwardplacing your elbows resting on the back of a chair, if possible, to facilitate breathing;
3. Check if the person has any asthma medication, or pump, and give the medicine. See how to apply an asthma inhaler;
4. Call an ambulancecalling 192, if the person stops breathing or does not have a firecracker nearby.

In case the person faints and is not breathing, cardiac massage should be started to keep the heart working and help save the life. See how to correctly perform cardiac massage.

What to do when the firecracker is not around

In cases where there is no asthma pump nearby, it is advisable to remain still in the same position until medical help arrives, so that the body does not quickly use up the little oxygen that is entering the lungs.

In addition, it is recommended to loosen clothing that could cause breathing obstruction, remain calm and try to help the person breathe slowly, inhaling through the nose and releasing air through the mouth, until medical help arrives.

How to avoid an asthma attack

To avoid asthma attacks, it is important to identify which factors make symptoms worse and then try to avoid them during your day-to-day life. Some of the most common factors include pollution, allergies, cold air, dust, strong smells or smoke. See other fundamental tricks to avoid crises.

Furthermore, situations involving a cold, flu or sinusitis, for example, can also cause more intense asthma symptoms to appear, making attacks easier.

Therefore, it is essential to maintain the treatment recommended by the doctor even when the symptoms have not appeared for a long time, as they help to prevent the emergence of new crises. A good tip is to always keep an extra “firecracker” nearby, even if it is no longer needed, so that it can be used in times of crisis or emergency.

What to eat

Asthma attacks can also be prevented through diet, by consuming anti-inflammatory foods that help control lung inflammation and alleviate asthma symptoms.