Many asthma attacks can be treated by avoiding triggers and by using reliever therapy.
Unfortunately, asthma can still be fatal. Here we discuss some useful things to look out for and recognise when an asthma attack is not improving.
It is useful to have a written action plan by your doctor.
If you feel:
Tightness in Chest
Take a puff of the reliever straight away. If accessible, use a peak flow meter to measure how well your lungs are able to expel air.
You need to seek medical help IMMEDIATELY if:
- Your reliever isn’t helping despite having used it twice
- Symptoms are worsening (breathlessness, cough, wheeze)
- You just “don’t feel right”
- You are unable to sleep or eat
- You are unable to complete a sentence
- You are getting very tired
- Peak flows less than 50% of normal, or consistently below 80% despite several days of treatment
Do not drive by yourself - get a friend or relative to take you to the hospital or call an ambulance. Whilst waiting for an ambulance, do not lie down, sit up straight and you can take 1 puff of your reliever every 30 seconds, up to 10 puffs.
If you have been given oral steroids to keep at home, take them immediately and inform the doctor.
Asthma does NOT control you, in fact you can control your asthma. People with asthma CAN have normal, active lives once they have learned to control their asthma. This can be done in just a few ways:
- Understand what is asthma
- Recognise your triggers and signs of an attack
- Take your medications regularly
- Make sure you have an asthma action plan
Asthma Action Plan
An asthma action plan is a written set of instructions that tells you what medications you need to take for your asthma every day. It makes it easier for you to measure whether your asthma is under control and it lets you know what steps to take when it is not.
Having an asthma action plan that you have discussed with your doctor means that you will have more control of your asthma.
Studies have shown that with an asthma action plan you are four times less likely to have an asthma attack that requires hospital treatment.
Download our asthma action plan here.
Peak Flow Test
Peak flow is a measurement of how swiftly you can blow air out of your lungs. It is used to help diagnose and monitor asthma. A peak flow test involves blowing as hard as you can into a small, hand-held device called a peak flow meter.
Download our peak flow diary here.