What happens when you suddenly experience difficulty breathing, tightness in your chest, wheezing, and coughing? These symptoms indicate that you may be having an asthma attack. Asthma is a chronic disease, meaning there is no cure, but you can learn to live with the condition.

About Asthma

Asthma is a condition where the airways in the lungs become inflamed. This inflammation is brought on by a trigger such as pollen, dust, mold, air pollution, cigarette smoke, illness, or cold weather. The airways constrict and spasm, which leads to reduced air supply to the lungs. This is how an asthma attack begins. During an asthma attack, the mucus in the lungs clogs the airways, which causes the air tubes in the lungs to constrict and swell up.

Symptoms of mild or moderate asthma may include breathing difficulties, pain or tightness in the chest, wheezing, coughing, or a whistling sound during exhaling. There may also be warning signs to indicate that the condition is worsening, like an itchy neck, eczema, dark circles under the eyes, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, a stuffy nose, stomach ache, fever, or a headache. The most effective way to treat mild to moderate asthma is to manage the symptoms by avoiding allergens and trigger factors and taking certain doctor-prescribed medications to either prevent asthma attacks or alleviate one when it occurs.

Severe asthma is characterized by extreme breathing problems, difficulty speaking, a blue tint on fingernails and lips, and a rapid heartbeat. In these cases, medication may not be successful in quelling an attack, so you may need to seek immediate medical attention.

There are certain triggers for asthma attacks that people cannot escape, like sudden temperature changes, sinus infections, and emotional situations. Others like aspirin, food preservatives, and perfumes can usually be avoided. Since pet dander and cigarette smoke can both trigger attacks, it is recommended that pets and smoking be prohibited in homes of asthma sufferers. Asthma sufferers should also monitor their physical activity because strenuous exercise can often lead to asthma attacks.

Allergens are also responsible for a substantial number of asthma attacks. A common asthma-inducing allergen is pollen. You can prevent pollen from entering your home by closing all the windows and doors.

Another frequently occurring allergen is mold, which tends to grow in humid areas like bathrooms and kitchens. Keep these areas clean at all times. Using a dehumidifier to keep the indoor humidity at around 50percent can also help reduce the chances of an asthma attack.

However, arguably the most problematic indoor allergen is dust and dust mites. Since dust can accumulate almost anywhere in a home, people must be extra vigilant in keeping it away from areas which come into contact with asthma sufferers.

To kill dust mites, clean all bed sheets and curtains in hot water (above 130 degrees Fahrenheit) on a weekly basis. All pillows and mattresses should be enclosed in airtight covers, and all carpets should be treated regularly with chemicals designed to eliminate the insects. In the case of children, their soft toys or stuffed animals must be cleaned frequently and discarded if they become too dirty.

There are two categories of asthma medications: controller medicines that help prevent asthma attacks and rescue medicines that treat asthma attacks when they occur. Because they function differently, doctors commonly prescribe both types of medications for asthma patients.

Controller medicines are formulated to reduce swelling of the airways gradually. They act as a preventive measure against attacks and need be taken on a daily basis. Examples of controller medicines include nedocromil, cromolyn, leukotriene modifiers, and corticosteroids.

Rescue medicines provide quick relief in the event of an asthma attack. They are most often delivered using bronchodilator devices (which are commonly called inhalers), so they can immediately loosen the muscles of the airways when asthmatic symptoms appear. Examples of rescue medicines include short-acting beta-agonists and anticholinergics.

Peak Flow Meter

A peak flow meter is a device that helps to measure the amount of air coming out of the lungs. In people with asthma, this airflow is lower than in most people. With the help of this device, someone can check your airflow anytime to see if their asthma has stabilized – or during an asthma attack to determine its severity.

The peak flow meter has a scale with an indicator on it. Before using it, make sure that the reading on the device is at zero. After taking a deep breath, blow into the mouthpiece of the device, and record the reading on the meter scale shown by the indicator. Repeat this process two more times, and record the highest of the three readings. When your asthma is completely under control, the highest reading taken over a two-week period gives you a “personal best score.” It is this score with which you compare future daily readings recorded on the peak flow meter to give you an idea whether or not your condition is improving.

Living with asthma can be challenging, but you can overcome it by learning to control your symptoms. It is vital that you list all of the triggers that cause an asthma attacks, and then take steps to avoid or minimize them. A strong immune system can also help fend off allergens, so you should strive to improve your overall health by regularly eating a healthy diet and engaging in a moderate exercise program. If you avoid problematic triggers and continue to take all of your prescribed asthma medications, you can prevent asthma attacks, control your condition, and lead a healthy life.