HEALTH TALK: Asthma attack signs

Dr. Victor Emanuel MD
Dr. Victor Emanuel MD

How to Avoid an Asthma Emergency

Very seldom do asthma attacks happen without warning. Knowing the signs of a pending attack could help you prevent an asthma emergency.  In fact, acting quickly could save your life. Read on to learn about the warning signs to watch out for.

Early Warning Signs of Asthma

•    A lack of appetite, fatigue, headache, or coughing often comes before an asthma attack.
•    Trouble sleeping and feeling tired are other typical signs.
•    So are dark circles under the eyes and less tolerance for exercise.

A Persistent Cough

Signs of an asthma attack can change from one attack to the next. One time there may be little or no cough before an attack. The next time, there may be persistent cough, especially at night.

An asthma cough is usually dry and hacking. A chronic or persistent cough that doesn’t disappear after other cold symptoms are gone could point to asthma.

Avoid taking cough medicine. Cough medicine won’t help the asthma.

Measurable Changes in Breathing

A peak flow meter can alert you to a pending attack. Be sure you always know your baseline measurement that reflects your best breathing.

•    If your peak flow shows numbers between 50% and 80% of your personal best, an asthma attack has probably started.
•    A number below 50% means an emergency that needs immediate attention.
•    Call 999 if you have trouble walking or talking due to shortness of breath, or if  your lips are blue or gray.

Follow Your Asthma Action Plan

•    Based on peak flow measures, an action plan shows you what medicines to take and when. It’s important to follow the plan and use the medications exactly as prescribed.
•    If the symptoms still get worse after following the plan, call the doc. Also, follow the plan’s emergency instructions.

Breathing Difficulties

During an asthma attack, muscles around the airways tighten, and the airway linings swell.

•    Too much mucus secretion occurs in the airways, and can block the air tubes in the lungs.
•    Air is trapped in the lungs and breathing becomes difficult, particularly expiration (exhaling).

You might notice symptoms of wheezing at first. But as attacks get worse there’s more chest tightness and shortness of breath. Eventually, you might feel like you can’t get enough air.

Posture Changes

The effort to breathe may make someone with severe breathing difficulties lean forward, speak in words instead of sentences, and become noticeably agitated.

As the severity increases, an asthma sufferer may increasingly move into a hunched-over sitting position with their hands supporting their upper body. This is called the tripod position.

Chest and Neck Retractions

When it’s hard to breathe, the tissue in the chest and neck may sink in with each breath. This is called retraction.

Retractions mean that not enough air is getting into the lungs, and are signs of a medical emergency. Call 999 or see the doc immediately.

In children, other signs of deterioration in breathing are:
•    Poor appetite
•    Fatigue
•    Decreased activity

Blue Lips or Fingernails

Blue or gray lips or fingernails are a sign of not enough oxygen in the blood. The condition is called cyanosis.

Cyanosis is an emergency situation. Call 999 as quickly as possible.

Other Signs of Asthma Emergencies

If you notice any of the following, get emergency help at once;
•    Difficulty talking
•    Inability to exhale, or inhale
•    Shortness of breath
•    Feelings of anxiety or panic
•    Coughing that won’t stop
•    Pale, sweaty face.

See you next week. For real.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

4 Comments

  1. Gwatance
    June 13, 2013

    Thanks Doc for your information on asthma the symptoms and reliefs Ventolin inhalers should be in the pockets and purses as a regular and needy tool and prevention

  2. Josh
    June 13, 2013

    Doc. I would like you to an article on anxiety attacks – How do you know you’re having one and what to do when you do have one.

  3. peter piper
    June 13, 2013

    I found out that stress can trigger off asthma and if you’re hypertension drag it up as well. Thanks Doc.

  4. shasha
    June 12, 2013

    nothing worst then a asthma attack and end up in a hospital and seeing you cant breath proper and it only get worst and them pump are so useless at time

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available