Asthma is a very unpredictable condition. Asthma attacks may happen anytime, and anywhere. During the attack, the chest tightens, lung linings become inflamed, and mucus builds up. All of these contribute to breathing difficulties, which is the main symptom of asthma. An asthma attack happens when foreign particles come in contact with the lungs and the body reacts to it. The irritants can be anything. You or someone around you may suddenly get an asthma attack. What can you do?

The first and foremost thing to do is to stay calm. This prevents you from not making irrational decisions. If youre the asthmatic, keep in mind that panicking may worsen your condition. Staying calm allows you to have a clear view of what you should do and prevent your situation going from bad to worse.

If you are the one experiencing the attack, you will be able to immediately asses the severity of your condition. Even for minor instances you should let someone know what you are experiencing so that if worse comes to worse someone already knows about the situation and what needs to be done.

Asthmatics often have self-management plans with them which contain information on actions to take on their respective severity levels. During an asthma attack, it should be the first thing to look for. Asthmatics also have rescue medications or inhalers for dealing with attacks. If the inhalers dont seem to work, immediately call for emergency medical assistance while continuing the use of the inhaler at one minute intervals.

If at home with no medications, never attempt to relieve an asthma attack with alternative medicines. They are geared more towards preventing an attack, not relieving it. Strictly follow whatever is outlined in the self-management plan. Taking other medications may cause more harm than good.

Knowing what to do during asthma attacks gives you a certain peace of mind. Nobody wishes for an asthma attack, they still happen due to unavoidable triggers. Being prepared is an advantage because you know that when your asthma flares up, you know you can handle it pretty well.

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