asthma treatment

Asthma is a respiratory condition that causes breathlessness, tightness in the chest, wheezing and coughing. If you have it, you will have it all the time, but will only have attacks when something bothers your lungs. Symptoms are often worse early in the morning and at night.¹

Asthma attacks happen in the airways of your body that carry air to your lungs. The sides of these airways swell, causing the airways to shrink and be clogged by mucous. This means that less air can get into and out of your lungs.¹

An attack may also cause bronchospasm, which is a tightening of the airways of your lungs, which are also known as bronchi. The muscles of those airways become tight and narrow, which also prevents air from moving normally in and out of your lungs, which limits how much oxygen gets into your blood and the carbon dioxide leaving it. This may cause dizziness and fatigue.²

If you have asthma (or believe that you do), you can help yourself by knowing the warning signs of an attack and staying away from triggers. You should also start regularly seeing a provider and following their advice which may include a personalized treatment plan.

If you have severe symptoms that don’t respond to normal medication, you should seek immediate medical attention from an emergency room. These symptoms include:³

• Agitation
• An attack not relieved by an inhaler
• Blue or gray lips or fingernails
• Breathing issues
• Chest tightness
• Confusion
• Feeling faint
• Inability to concentrate
• Inability to speak without getting out of breath
• Nausea
• Needing to sit or stand to breathe better 
• Pain in shoulders, abdominal muscles or neck
• Pale, cold or moist skin
• Rapid pulse rate
• Severe wheezing, coughing and breathlessness
• Shortness of breath, even when lying down
• Sweating

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Symptoms

Those with asthma deal with these asthma attacks, which happen when their sensitive airways become swelled up and cause the following symptoms:¹

• Frequent coughing
• Sensitivity to things you inhale
• Shortness of breath
• Tight feeling in the chest
• Wheezing

It’s important to remember that a minor asthma attack may become severe quickly, especially if you don’t treat it. If you have the following symptoms, get immediate medical attention:⁴

• Blue lips
• Confusion
• Low blood pressure
• Silent chest, which blocks your ability to even wheeze
• Slowed heart rate

How to Manage Asthma

Asthma attacks can be triggered by:⁵

Allergy conditions

• Airborne irritants, such as chemical fumes, secondhand smoke and strong odors like perfume
• Air pollution
• Animal dander, dust mites or pollen
• Certain foods
• Medications

Mental and physical reasons

• Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
• Respiratory and sinus infections
• Strenuous exercise
• Stress
• Strong emotions

Weather and environmental conditions

• Cold temperatures
• Dry air
• High humidity
• Mold
• Smoke from wildfires
• Sudden weather changes

Asthma may be managed by following these steps:⁵

• Have an air cleaner attached to your HVAC system.
• Keep the humidity in your home to 30 to 50 percent.
• Keep your pet out of the bedroom and wash them frequently.
• Stay away from pillows, quilts and comforters filled with down feathers. For further help, choose allergen-proof mattress and pillowcase covers.
• Vacuum your home regularly using a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum.
• Wash bed sheets, blankets and pillowcases weekly and always dry them completely in the dryer.

How to Manage an Asthma Attack

Everyone’s asthma attack symptoms are different and each attack is unique. That’s why it’s important to recognize your symptoms as soon as they happen. Everyone can follow the most basic of immediate steps, such as sitting up straight and using a quick-relief inhaler. However, it’s important to have an asthma action plan, which includes:⁶

• Medication (everyone takes different medications and some may require a prescription for a long-term medication) and how much to take based on your level of symptoms
• How to identify worsening symptoms
• A plan in case of a severe asthma attack Asthma action plans are based on three colors: green, yellow and red.

Here’s how they work:⁶

Green: This level means you are doing well if:

• You don’t have a cough, wheezing, chest tightness or trouble breathing.
• You can easily do your regular activities.
• When you measure your breathing with a peak flow meter, it is at 80 percent or more of your best peak flow.
• You are taking your daily control medicine, if necessary.

Yellow: This level means that you may be feeling worse if:

• You are having some coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or trouble breathing.
• Your asthma causes you to wake up at night.
• You are limited in some of your regular activities.
• Your peak flow is 50 to 75 percent of your best peak flow. If you are in the yellow zone, check and see if your symptoms improve in an hour. Continue taking your daily control medicine. You may have additional steps provided by your primary care provider to take to stave off a full blown attack.

Red: This level means that you are having a medical emergency if:

• You are having major issues with your breathing.
• Your relief medication doesn’t stop the symptoms.
• You can’t do any of your regular activities.
• You were already at yellow and have not improved in 24 hours.
• Your peak flow is less than fifty percent.

At this point, you should contact your provider and make plans to get immediate medical care.

If you have children with asthma, you should create a plan with their provider and share it with them. Additionally, you can fill out an asthma action plan form that you can give to their school (and if you have asthma, your employer) in case of emergency. You can download them from the CDC.

What Causes Asthma?

There is no single cause for people to get asthma. Instead, it is a combination of several factors that can either cause the condition or make you more sensitive to different triggers. These factors include:⁷

• A family history of asthma (however, there is no genetic reason for having asthma)
• Allergy exposure
• Eczema
• Environmental issues such as air pollution, secondhand smoke or exposure to dust, chemicals and fumes
• Medications
• Obesity and lack of physical activity
• Poor hygiene (which can impact your immune system)
• Respiratory or viral infections in your childhood
• Stress

Allergies are often associated with asthma. However, not everyone with allergies will develop asthma. If your provider believes that you have allergic asthma, they may recommend allergy testing.

Are you concerned that you are allergic to something in your workplace and that it may be increasing your asthmatic symptoms? Learn more about allergies in the workplace.

Managing Asthma Symptoms

In addition to creating your asthma action plan, you can manage your symptoms with the following suggestions:

Medication

• Always keep a spare inhaler in case you lose one.
• For information on using inhalers properly, check out these videos on the American Lung Association website.
• Make sure that you are following all of the instructions that your provider gives you with your prescription.

Monitor your asthma symptoms and triggers

• As part of your asthma action plan, you should continually track your symptoms as they may change over time.
• Avoid allergens and triggers.
• Maintain a good air quality inside your home.
• Pay attention to the Air Quality Index.

Lifestyle and health

• Get plenty of exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight and stress level.
• Prevent respiratory infections by getting vaccinated to reduce your risk.

Note: Always seek the advice of a provider prior to beginning an exercise program, making dietary changes or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition that you are experiencing.

Be prepared

• Educate others about your asthma and what to do in an emergency.
• Get regular check ups. 
• Recognize early warning signs and know when to seek help.

Why It’s Important to Treat Asthma

What are the complications of untreated asthma? It may lead to serious health complications and significantly impact your daily life:⁸

Adults

• Frequent sick days
• Higher risk for depression

Children

• Delays in growth
• Higher risk for learning disabilities

Both

• Frequent coughing
• Higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity
• Increased ER visits
• Medication side effects including rapid heartbeat, hoarseness, throat irritation, oral yeast infections, insomnia and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
• Permanent narrowing of the bronchial tubes Concerned that you may have asthma or dealing with the effects of it?

MedExpress is here every day from 8 to 8 to help. And if your child six and up has asthma and plays sports, your MedExpress provider can identify tips and ways they can remain active as part of their sports physical.

References:

1  CDC. About Asthma. Last updated January 22, 2024. Accessed May 28, 2024.

2 Healthline. What Is Bronchospasm? Last updated October 19, 2023. Accessed May 28, 2024.

3 Emergency Physicians. Asthma. Accessed May 28, 2024.

4 Healthline. What Is an Asthma Attack? Last updated January 19, 2019. Accessed May 28, 2024.

5 CDC. Controlling Asthma. Last updated January 22, 2024. Accessed May 28, 2024.

6 CDC. Living With Asthma. Last updated January 22, 2024. Accessed May 28, 2024.

7 Healthline. What Causes Asthma? Last updated August 16, 2018. Accessed May 28, 2024.

8 Healthline. Complications of Asthma. Last updated January 10, 2019. Accessed May 28, 2024.