1. Asthma Attacks the Lungs
Asthma is a lung disease that responds to allergens and irritants by narrowing the air passages of the lungs, making it hard to breath. If the passages narrow sufficiently, the victim suffocates by not being able to get enough air into their lungs. The signs of a pending asthma attack include shortness of breath, wheezing and tightness in the chest.
2. Take Your Medication
Part of the control cycle of asthma is to take your prescribed medications on schedule and regularly. Many of the drugs that help your condition require several days to reach a level in your blood stream to provide effective relief of the symptoms and aid in the control of the asthma. Sporadic use of these medications leaves your body defenseless against an asthma attack.
3. Use Caffeine as an Emergency Rescue Medicine
When an asthma attack strikes, take action immediately to battle the symptoms and avoid disaster. There are medications specially designed for effective and immediate relief, like Ventolin. These drugs help the air passages to relax and allow air to flow into your lungs without difficulty. This class of drugs is bronchodilators. It is important to carry these with you at all times. If you are caught without one of your emergency medicines, there is usually another source available. A natural bronchodilator found readily is caffeine. Good sources of caffeine are Mountain Dew or espresso. Both have extremely high amounts of caffeine to battle the attack.
4. Eliminate the Triggers
Avoid exposure to common triggers of an asthma attack. Although not every one who suffers from asthma is susceptible to the same triggers, you will learn which triggers are bad for you. Common triggers are air pollution, dust, mold, animal dander, strong emotion and perfumes. There are many other common triggers, but these are just a few to watch out for. Smoke is a strong trigger and should be avoided and not allowed in your home.
5. Is My Asthma Getting Worse?
If you have asthma, you have the responsibility to monitor yourself. Physicians can help, but the ultimate responsibility is up to you. You must keep your doctor advised on your condition. Report any changes, especially if your symptoms are getting worse at night, you need to use your rescue medications more often or you notice a drop in your peak flow measurements over a reasonable period of time. These situations may indicate a worsening of your asthma. Good communication with your doctor is essential.
