KNOW THE IMPORTANT DETAILS OF ASTHMA- Dr. SUNNY HANDA BRAMPTON
What is an asthma attack?
An asthma attack occurs when
the muscles surrounding the airways tighten (bronchoconstriction) and your
airways become too narrow for you to breathe effectively.
Dr. Sunny Handa Brampton said an attack can happen
suddenly if your asthma is not under control and you are exposed to one of your triggers. Or, it can build up
slowly over hours, days or even weeks.
It is important to learn to
recognize the symptoms of worsening asthma and know what to do if you have an
asthma attack.
What are the symptoms of an
asthma attack?
The most common symptoms
include:
Mild to
Severe (early warning signs of an asthma attack)
Disrupted sleep due to asthma
symptoms & breathing difficulty
Daytime symptoms 2 or more
times per week
Inability to exercise normally
without breathing issues
Decreased activity due to
asthma
Getting a cold/flu
Dr. Sunny Handa Brampton said if
you experience any of the above symptoms, book an urgent appointment with your
healthcare provider. An asthma attack could be on its way.
The timely help can prevent dangerous consequences.
Life-Threatening
(time to get help – an asthma attack is occurring)
Excessive cough, wheeze and
chest tightness
Difficulty speaking due to
asthma
Experiencing shortness of
breath at rest
Lips or nail beds turning blue
Reliever (rescue) medication
isn’t helping
Sweating
Feeling anxiety or fear
What to do in asthma attack:
1. Sit up straight
2. Take your reliever
medication (most commonly a blue inhaler) as directed. Use your Asthma Action
Plan for reference.
3. Call 911 if your
symptoms persist or worsen. Do this if you feel worse at any point or if there
is no improvement after taking your medication.
4. Follow-up with your
doctor or healthcare provider
Dr. Sunny Handa Brampton said an
asthma attack can be a life-threatening emergency that’s why you should always
carry your reliever (rescue) inhaler with you and never hesitate to call emergency
number if your symptoms persist.
What to do after asthma attack:
One in six people who receive
treatment at the hospital needs emergency treatment again within two weeks.
Asthma attacks are not normal and you should not tolerate them, said Dr. Sunny
Handa Brampton.
Take the following key steps to prevent you having
another attack in the future:
Book an urgent appointment with
your healthcare provider (they will check your health state after the attack,
prescribe necessary medication and review your Asthma Action
Plan)
Keep
taking your asthma medication as prescribed.
Dr. Sunny Handa Brampton said take the rest of the day
to recover after the attack (lots of people feel physically and emotionally
exhausted)
It is important to know that the majority of severe asthma episodes can be avoided by having good asthma control.
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