TAKE CONTROL - Q&A to Coping with an Asthma Attack   Home | Asthma Assistant | Glossary | Disclaimer   Is it Asthma | Society & Self | Take Control | Treatment or Cure | Quality Living

What is an asthma attack? An asthma attack is when the common symptoms of asthma, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness, become much worse, particularly the shortness of breath. Attacks can vary greatly in how bad they are, from a few minutes of symptoms which disappear after a puff of reliever, to a severe attack which can be life-threatening. In an asthma attack, the changes in the lungs of people with asthma, inflammation, bronchoconstriction and mucus production, become much worse. Some of the smaller airways can even become blocked off completely making it even more difficult to breathe. You will know you are having a bad attack when you take your reliever and find no benefit from your breathing difficulties within five minutes of taking it, or you continue to get worse in that time. Can I prevent an asthma attack? Asthma attacks very rarely happen without any warning. There are a small group of people with a type of asthma called brittle asthma; they can have attacks with little or no warning. For the majority of people, there are usually warning signs. If you know how to identify these signs, a bad attack can usually be prevented. What are the warning signs? In a majority of cases an asthma attack follows an episode of uncontrolled asthma. There is often plenty of time in advance to detect and prevent the decline in your condition. Monitoring your asthma at home can help you learn how to spot if your asthma is worsening or uncontrolled. You can find out more about this in the sub-top Getting to Know Your Asthma. The common signs that asthma is poorly controlled or worsening are outlined in the page What to Look for. Many people notice unusual symptoms before an attack. Some examples are a runny nose, itching on the nose or upper body and a change in the colour or thickness of mucus which is coughed up. Note: It is very important to remember that the signs before an attack can vary from one person to another, and even be different in the same person from one attack to another. What should I do in an asthma attack? Always take your immediate reliever medication straight away. As each case is individual, you should really discuss any further steps with your doctor or nurse. It is also useful for your close friends and/or relatives to know what to do if you have an asthma attack. Some general steps are given below. (1) Try to remain calm and breathe deeply and slowly. This will help you to relax and make you less exhausted. (2) Get help if possible by getting someone to call an ambulance or your GP or take you to casualty. (3) Continue taking your reliever medication until help arrives; you cannot overdose on it, only help yourself. You can take 15 to 30 puffs one at a time with about 10 seconds in between each puff. (4) Do not lie down; you are better to sit leaning over a table if possible. (5) Never be afraid of making a fuss! if you are unsure as to how bad you are, get help; it is much better to call the doctor early. How do I know when to get help? This may vary slightly depending on your individual asthma and situation. It is very important that you are clear about when to seek help and you should discuss this with your doctor or nurse; these instructions should form part of your personal self-management plan. This is explained in more detail in Having a Self-Management Plan. As a general rule, if your reliever medication is not working within five minutes of taking it, or you continue to get worse, you should get help quickly. If you have very severe symptoms these are life-threatening and should be treated as an emergency. Some examples of such symptoms include the following: (1) Severe asthma symptoms of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest. (2) Breathing which is shallow and fast or slower than usual. (3) Breathlessness which is brought on by walking. (4) Hunched shoulders. (5) A bluish/grey tint of the skin (cyanosis). This list of symptoms is by no means exclusive; there are other signs of a severe attack. In addition, you do not have to have a number of symptoms: only one can be enough to indicate a severe attack. If in doubt, always get help.

Topic "Take Control" Updated 14th August 2003

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