Asthma is a serious condition and needs serious care.
It usually happens in episodes, called "attacks", during which the airways to the lungs narrow, making it hard to breathe. If there’s immediate and correct treatment, asthma attacks are seldom lethal.
If you suffer from asthma, you should carry medication or treatment a bronchodilator (asthma pump). This works by relaxing the Constricted muscles so that the airways can open and ease breathing difficulty.
Symptoms of an asthma attack:
- Shortness of breath or panting, especially after being active.
- Rapid, loud or uneven breathing.
- Wheezing, or a whistling sound when exhaling.
- Breathing problems that make talking difficult.
- Tight or sore chest.
- Spaces between the ribs become visible when inhaling.
- Hunching over.
- Sweating.
- Paleness.
- Vomitting.
- Coughing.
- Nostrils flaring.
- Throat-clearing.
- Anxiety.
- Fatigue.
Get help immediately if:
- Someone is struggling to breathe or is unusually short of breath.
- A person is asthmatic and his medication doesn't bring relief.
- The person has difficulty walking or talking.
- Fingernails and lips turn bluish-grey.
First aid for asthma
Help the person find and take his medication quickly. Talk to him in a calm, reassuring manner, and encourage him to rest and sit quietly until help arrives.