Asthma Assistance

When you have an asthma attack, it can be very scary. That’s especially true the first time it happens, because you might not recognize it for what it is. You may not understand that you’re having a problem with asthma, and may think that you’re experiencing a heart attack. There is not usually chest pain with asthma, but your chest can feel tight and restricted, and the inability to breathe properly and get enough oxygen can easily make a person think the worst. If you’re used to asthma attacks, you may be able to keep yourself calmer during one, unless it begins to get very bad. Breathing as easily and fully as possible during an attack can help you stay calm, as gasping for breath won’t actually make things better.

When you’re dealing with an asthma attack, remember to try breathing slowly and from your diaphragm. The desire, of course, is to gasp for air in short breaths from the top of your lungs, because you feel like you can’t get enough oxygen. Most people do that, and they make their attack worse by panicking and hyperventilating. Instead of allowing yourself to do that, don’t panic. Try to relax. It’s understandable to be scared when you can’t breathe well, but you don’t need to panic the instant you get a little bit of a wheeze or some tightness in your chest. That’s especially true if you have only mild asthma. For those with severe asthma, it’s important to be a little bit more vigilant.

Try to remain calm when an asthma attack strikes. The calmer you stay, the more likely it’ll be that your attack will ease up before getting much worse. Of course, if the attack progresses and you’re having serious trouble breathing, you may still need to declare an emergency and get to the hospital where you can be treated properly. Generally, though, you can take your medication or use your inhaler and get through an attack if you breathe slowly and don’t allow the ‘what if’ thoughts to run away with you.

It’s no secret that the heat and humidity of summertime can make it more difficult for an asthmatic to breathe. A lot of people don’t realize, though, that winter can also be difficult for those who suffer with asthma. The dry, cold air on a windy day can literally take a person’s breath away, even if he’s healthy and doesn’t have any kind of breathing problem. For those who have trouble breathing, it can be even worse. Once they get started down the road to an asthma attack, it can be difficult to get it stopped if they’re forced to be out in the wind and the cold.

Obviously, staying inside when it’s very cold and when the wind is blowing hard is a good idea, but it can’t always be done. Sometimes it’s necessary to be outdoors, even if it’s just to walk to a car, go into a building for work, or run errands. The dry air in the wintertime isn’t really that much of a problem, but when it’s coupled with cold air it can be very difficult to deal with. If you find that you’re having frequent asthma attacks in the wintertime, the coldness and dry air combination is likely what’s causing them. You may need to adjust your medication – with the help of your doctor – so you can feel better during the colder months.

There are also things you can do on your own in order to have fewer attacks and lessen their severity. For example, many people focus on proper breathing techniques and exercises that will strength their cardiovascular system. When they do these things each day they end up as strong as possible, which helps them breathe better and get through problems that they might be facing. If you’re dealing with asthma during the winter, you can also do very simple things like covering your mouth and nose with a scarf or bandanna when you go outside to walk to your car or from your car into a building. That can help keep you from getting cold air into your lungs.