Asthma

Dust, pollen, stress, and colds are just a few of the things that can cause an asthma attack. Tips for at-home care of your asthma are in this video.

Asthma

Asthma is a condition that causes narrowing and inflammation of the airways, making it hard to breathe. A severe asthma attack, also known as an acute asthma exacerbation, can be quite frightening and requires medical care. Symptoms of an asthma attack include coughing, wheezing, noisy breathing, and tightness in the chest. If you’ve suffered an asthma attack, seek medical attention from a qualified, board-certified physician at the Urgency Room.

We’ve put together our recommendations for home care and follow-up care after an asthma attack. If you or your child suffer from asthma, use this information to stay informed of at-home care and symptoms to watch out for.

Many things can trigger an asthma attack. Here are just a few potential causes:

• Dust
• Mold
• Pollen
• Cigarette smoke
• Exercise
• Stress
• Infections, including the common cold
• Cold weather

At-Home Care

Fill Prescriptions

Once you’re home, fill any prescriptions the doctor gave you and take them right away as instructed, particularly if you’ve been prescribed antibiotics. Be sure to finish the entire antibiotic prescription, even if you’re feeling better. Your healthcare provider may have given you a prescription for a steroid to reduce inflammation.

Prescription inhalers or nebulizers can help loosen tight air passages. If you were given a prescription for an inhaler, use this as directed. Your doctor may recommend using the inhaler on a scheduled basis for a few days and then moving to using it as needed. Inhalers also work much better when used with a spacer.

Ease Symptoms With Over-the-Counter Medications

You can also use nonprescription cough or cold medicines to ease your symptoms. These often don’t make the cough go away completely, however. If you have a fever, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help bring it down and may make you more comfortable.

Avoid Smoking

Be sure to avoid smoking or inhaling nearby smoke. This could make your symptoms worse. If you have smoked in the past, now may be a good time to quit. Reach out to your doctor if you need assistance or resources in this area.

When to See a Doctor for Asthma

After your initial visit, you should stay on the lookout for any new or worsening symptoms. If you have any concerns about you or your child’s health, don’t hesitate to come see us again.

You should return to the Urgency Room if you notice the following:

• Breathing worsens
• You need to use your inhaler more often than every four hours
• Can’t get relief from your inhaler
• Feeling weak or much more ill
• Develop new symptoms such as chest pain
• Cough up blood
• Vomiting enough that you can’t keep fluids or your medication down

Asthma in Children

If your child has experienced asthma, watch for the following symptoms, and if you notice any of them, visit the Urgency Room right away:

• Breathing quickly
• Struggling to breathe
• Wheezing sounds
• Chest pulling in between the ribs or over the collarbones
• Fainting, convulsion, or seizure

You should also keep an eye out for dehydration in particular, and come see us if your child is showing the following signs:

• Your infant has had no wet diapers in 4-5 hours
• Your older child has not passed urine for 6-8 hours
• Your infant or child starts to have dry mouth and lips or no saliva and tears.

If you see a new symptom that isn’t on our list, don’t be shy. It never hurts to be on the safe side. Come see us if your child faints, has a convulsion or seizure, seems much more ill, won’t wake up, won’t respond correctly, is not taking fluids well, or is crying for a long time and won’t calm down.

Follow-Up Appointments

It’s important for both children and adults to have a follow-up appointment with your regular doctor or clinic. Remember—if something is worrying you, don’t hesitate to return to the Urgency Room to be reevaluated. Your health is important to us, and we hope you feel better soon.