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How to Help Someone Survive an Asthma Attack

Last updated: Thursday, October 5, 2017 | 5 min reading time

Dr Ong Kian Chung

Respiratory Physician

Someone around you starts wheezing and coughing vigorously. What should you do?

According to the World Health Organisation, about 235 million people suffer from asthma. Inhaled substances and particles that may irritate the airways or provoke allergic reactions have long been cited as the top risk factors for developing asthma.

Although the haze situation in our region has been improving over the years, it continues to plague the region yearly, making the air quality issue a very real one. Notably, increased air pollution owing to economic development is another culprit contributing to irritants in the air.

Dr Ong Kian Chung, respiratory physician at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, explains asthma and what to do when someone is having an asthma attack.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease caused by inflamed bronchial tubes in the lungs. These inflamed tubes increase the production of sticky secretions within. Hence, asthma patients' airways are often inflamed, tightened or filled with mucus.

Asthma attacks can take place when the airways become more inflamed than usual, thus producing thicker mucus.

How to treat asthma?

Asthma inhalers are commonly used to alleviate symptoms and attacks.

The inhaler delivers anti-inflammatory drugs that can help reduce swelling and mucus production, preventing and alleviating asthma attacks.

How to know someone is having an asthma attack

When you notice the person experiencing:

Quick, short and shallow breaths
Incessant coughing
Clutching chest
Whistling sound when breathing out
Pale, sweaty face
Difficulty talking
Blue lips or fingernails

How to help someone having an asthma attack

Remind the person to reach for an inhaler
Guide the person away from potential asthma triggers
Help the person to sit upright to ease breathing
Speak in a soothing manner and calm the person down
Loosen clothing if it appears to be restricting the person's breaths
Encourage the person to take long, deep breaths inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth

What if there is no inhaler available?

If there is no inhaler around, call an ambulance immediately. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, follow the above steps 2 – 6 to alleviate the breathing difficulty.