Am I Having an Asthma Attack and How to "Attack" It?

Am I having an asthma attack? I remember one night during the winter months a few years back when I got a call from my exhusband.

Therefore, he could barelly talk because he was having an asthma attack.

He had taken the dogs for a walk and one of them had attacked and killed a small dog. He tried to free the small dog from our dogs mouth, but couldn’t.

Subsequently, the small dog put a deep gash in his hand in the process. He requested his inhaler and I was only a few blocks away, so I drove there. It was a very traumatic experience for him.

I know, what does asthma attacks have to do with anxiety? Asthma flare ups are similar to panic attacks in the fact that you can’t breath.

I’m going to be focusing on the stress induced asthma, but also talk about other factors.

Types of Asthma Attacks

Asthma attacks can be categorized in a few ways, including:

Severity: All in all, mild intermittent asthma has the least impact on daily life, while severe persistent asthma can occur all day, every day.
Trigger: Some types of asthma are triggered by exercise, allergens, or emotions.
Other factors: Altogether, some types of asthma are associated with other conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or mental health conditions

Here are some types of asthma:

Exercise-induced asthma. Also called exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), this type of asthma can cause shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing.
Allergic asthma. This is the most common type of asthma, affecting about 40–50% of adults and 80% of children with asthma in the US. Basically, it can be triggered by allergens like pollen, pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, and more.
Occupational asthma. This type of asthma is caused by workplace triggers, such as inhaling irritating substances. Thus, symptoms include a runny nose, congestion, eye irritation, and coughing.
Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). Accordingly, this type of asthma occurs when someone has both asthma and COPD, making it difficult to breathe.

Other types of asthma include:

Firstly, allergic asthma.
Aspirin-induced asthma.
Cough-variant asthma.
Fourthly, exercise-induced asthma.
Nighttime asthma.
Steroid-resistant asthma.
Lastly, occupational asthma.

Asthma Attack Triggers

Some common triggers for asthma include:

Firstly, dust mites
Pollen
Additionally, grasses
Humidity
Cold air
Lastly, the flu, pneumonia, or a common cold

If allergies are a trigger, a doctor may prescribe daily allergy medications or allergy shots to help reduce the risk of attacks.

Working with a doctor can also help rule out other conditions that may be contributing to asthma symptoms, such as tracheomalacia or bronchomalacia.

Early Asthma Symptoms

Some early warning signs of asthma include:

Firstly, posture changes: Such as slouching or raising your shoulders, which can be a way to make breathing easier when airways constrict
Itchy neck or chin
Feeling tired, weak, or lacking energy
Fourthly, clammy skin
Blue Lips
Difficulty talking
In addition, itchy or watery eyes
Anxiety
Sleeping Poorly
Lastly, irritability

Asthma Attack Symptoms

Some symptoms of asthma include:

Firstly, shortness of breath
Chest tightness or pain
Wheezing when exhaling, especially in children
Fourthly, coughing or wheezing attacks that worsen with respiratory viruses like the flu or a cold
Trouble sleeping due to coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath
Pulling in of the skin between the ribs when breathing (intercostal retractions)
Lastly, shortness of breath that worsens with exercise or activity

Symptoms are more likely to be asthma if they:

Firstly, happen often and keep coming back
Are worse at night and early in the morning
Lastly, happen in response to an asthma trigger

Asthma Attack Treatment

As a result, asthma attack treatments include corticosteroids, mechanical ventilation, and other treatments:

Corticosteroids. At any rate, these medicines can be taken as a pill or shot to treat inflammation. They may be necessary if symptoms persist or progress.
Mechanical ventilation. If an asthma attack is life-threatening, a machine may be used to help you breathe and get extra oxygen. Therefore, this may be done with a breathing mask or by placing a tube down your throat and into your windpipe.
Other treatments. During an acute severe asthma, your healthcare provider may also give you magnesium sulfate through an IV or supplemental oxygen to help raise your oxygen levels. If other treatments don’t work, you may need to be put on a ventilator.

Asthma attack no inhaler

If you’re having an asthma attack without an inhaler, you can try these steps:

Firstly, sit upright: This helps keep your airways open.
Stay calm: Panicking can make your asthma symptoms worse.
In addition, get away from the trigger: If you can, move away from anything that might be triggering your asthma.
Drink a warm, caffeinated beverage: Caffeine can help temporarily improve airway function.
Lastly, seek emergency medical help: If you’re experiencing severe shortness of breath, severe wheezing, or difficulty speaking, you should call 911.

Breathing exercises for asthma without inhaler

Altogether, breathing exercises can help with asthma without an inhaler by strengthening your diaphragm, slowing your breathing, and reducing your body’s need for oxygen. Here are some breathing exercises you can try:

Relaxed breathing. Generally, sit comfortably, relax your shoulders, and place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Inhale slowly through your nose, feeling your stomach rise and your chest remain still. Then exhale slowly through your nose or pursed lips, making the exhale twice as long as the inhale.
Controlled pause. Inhale normally, then exhale and hold your breath by closing your nose with your thumb and index finger. By all means, hold until you feel the urge to breathe in, then inhale normally for 10 seconds. Repeat several times.
Diaphragmatic breathing. Inhale through your nose, feeling your stomach rise and your chest remain still. Then exhale through your mouth for at least two to three times longer than you inhaled.

Medicine for Asthma Attacks

Some quick-relief asthma medicines include:

Firstly, Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA)
Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA)
Metaproterenol.
Lastly, Terbutaline.

In addition, oral steroids include:

Methylprednisolone
Prednisone
Prednisolone

Asthma Flare Ups (Acute Asthma Exacerbation) Lasting Weeks

Yes, asthma flare-ups can last for days or weeks, even after an initial acute attack. This is because inflammation can continue for that long, even if it doesn’t cause symptoms.

Consequently, recovery time can vary from person to person, and in some cases, a hospital stay may be required.

Asthma medicines can often help stop symptoms quickly, but it can take several days to feel better, especially if a viral infection was the trigger.

In severe cases, a hospital may provide treatment such as: Continuous use of an asthma nebulizer, Epinephrine and corticosteroids, Terbutaline shots, Magnesium sulfate to help relax airway muscles, and Mechanical ventilator in an intensive care unit to help with breathing.

Conclusion

Important to realize, the duration of an attack can vary, depending on what caused it and how long the airways have been inflamed.

Mild episodes may last only a few minutes; more severe ones can last from hours to days. In any event, mild attacks can resolve spontaneously or may require medication, typically a quick-acting inhaler.

However, more severe asthma attacks can be shortened with appropriate treatment.

In general, it’s important to stay calm and use the medications your doctor has prescribed.

You should also have an up-to-date asthma action plan on hand to help guide treatment. Until next time…

Articles About Asthma Attacks

-Asthma Attacks

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma-attack/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354274

-Asthma

https://www.emergencyphysicians.org/article/know-when-to-go/asthma#:~:text=Asthma%20patients%20should%20go%20to,threatening%20drop%20in%20blood%20pressure.)

-Asthma emergency first aid

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/asthma-emergency-first-aid

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy, One Voice In The Vastness Of Emotions

“Asthma doesn’t seem to bother me any more unless I’m around cigars or dogs. The thing that would bother me most would be a dog smoking a cigar.”-Steve Allen

“You have to take asthma seriously. People do not realize the stress our bodies go under.” – Mark Cavendish