Asthma and how to help someone during an asthma attack
Many people have asthma so chances are you know someone or work with someone with the condition. Would you know what to do if someone with you started to have a bad asthma attack?
In the UK, there are more than 25,000 emergency hospital admissions in the UK just for children so imagine the figure including adults! During an asthma attack, a person’s airways become inflamed and constricted, making it difficult to breathe.
Some of the symptoms of an asthma attack include:
- Coughing
- A shortness of breath
- Wheeziness
- Chest tightness
- Difficulty in breathing out due to phlegm production
Here are some tips to help someone dealing with an asthma attack:
- Try to keep the person calm and get them to sit up straight and not lie down.
- One puff of their inhaler every 30 to 60 seconds with a maximum of 10.
- If feeling better, sit with the person until they are ok. If not better, call 999.
- While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, repeat the one puff every 30 to 60 seconds.
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Some of the things that can trigger an asthma attack include pollen, pollution, other allergens like pet dander, stress, other respiratory infections, cold weather, very strong smells, exercise and emotional states. Tobacco, food additives, acid reflux and some medications can also be a trigger for asthma sufferers.
