If you or family memberssuffer from asthma, then pimportantfor Know the proper first aid methods for asthma. Therefore, You don't panic and know what to do if suddenly happened asthma attack.
Asthma can make it difficult for sufferers to breathe. When an asthma attack comes, the airways will swell, constrict, and produce a lot of mucus. This condition can happen to anyone, no matter what age and gender. Starting from babies to adults, both women and men.
The trigger factors for asthma attacks are different for each person. Things that can trigger asthma symptoms can include dust, cigarette smoke, animal dander, fatigue, stress, or side effects of drugs.
Although it cannot be cured, the appearance of asthma symptoms can at least be anticipated and prevented. With proper treatment, asthma symptoms can be controlled so that they do not interfere with the life of the sufferer.
Asthma Attack Symptoms
Asthma attacks can occur suddenly, anytime, and anywhere. Symptoms include:
- Wheezing (wheezing), which is a 'squeaking' sound when breathing.
- Shortness of breath or shortness of breath.
- Chest feels heavy or full.
- Coughing is severe, usually occurring at night, making it difficult to sleep.
- Suddenly feeling weak.
- Difficulty speaking, due to shortness of breath.
Be aware if the asthma attack that appears is quite severe, characterized by severe shortness of breath accompanied by pale skin, lips and fingers look bluish.
First aid pthere is asthma
If you think you are having an asthma attack, stay calm and take the following first aid steps for asthma:
- Sit down and take slow, steady breaths. Again, try to stay calm, because panicking will only make an asthma attack worse.
- Spray medicine inhaler for asthma every 30-60 seconds, maximum of 10 sprays.
- Call an ambulance if you don't have inhaler, asthma gets worse even after using inhaler, no improvement even after spraying inhaler 10 times, or if you are worried.
- If the ambulance has not arrived within 15 minutes, repeat step 2.
If you notice someone else is having an asthma attack, you can help them by practicing the following first aid techniques:
- Call an ambulance.
- Help the person to sit up comfortably, while loosening the clothes so they are not tight.
- Keep asthma sufferers who are relapse away from possible triggers, such as dust, cold air, or pets. Ask asthma trigger factors in patients, if possible.
- If the person has asthma medication, such as inhaler, help him to use it. If he doesn't have inhaler, Use inhaler in the first aid kit. Don't use drugs inhaler from other asthmatics.
- To use inhaler, first remove the cap, shake it, then connect inhaler to spacer, and pair mouthpiece on spacer.
- After that, paste mouthpiece in the patient's mouth. Try to keep the patient's mouth covering the entire tip mouthpiece.
- When the patient takes a slow breath, press inhaler one time. Ask him to keep breathing in as slowly and deeply as possible, then hold his breath for 10 seconds.
- Spray inhaler four times, with an interval of about 1 minute for each spray.
- After four sprays, wait up to 4 minutes. If breathing is still difficult, give four more sprays at equal intervals.
- If still no change, give four sprays inhaler every 4 minutes, until the ambulance arrives.
- If the asthma attack is severe, spray inhaler 6-8 times every 5 minutes.
If you are having an asthma attack or see someone else having it, seek help immediately by calling an ambulance. Perform the above steps while waiting for help to arrive, and don't leave the asthmatic person alone.
Emergency medical care should be given immediately if a person with asthma has difficulty breathing until he looks pale, his lips turn blue, he can't speak, or he faints.