People with asthma usually carry their ventolin with them to relieve symptoms in the event of an attack. But it can happen that a crisis occurs in a place or at a time that does not allow access to treatment. Our advice for calming an asthma attack without ventolin.
What is an asthma attack?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchi. In a person with asthma, the bronchi are abnormally sensitive to certain factors such as physical exercise, cold, cigarette smoke or even exposure to certain allergenic substances (pollens, mites, etc.).
These factors can trigger an asthma attack which manifests itself by a set of symptoms:
- shortness of breath;
- feeling of chest tightness;
- wheezing ;
- cough…
At the first signs of an attack, the reflex of asthmatics is to take puffs of ventolin. But, there are other ways to calm an asthma attack if you don’t have your ventolin with you.
Sit with your back straight
In this position, your airways are wide open. If you have an asthma attack, avoid lying down as this can make symptoms worse.
Stabilize your breathing
During an asthma attack, breathing speeds up. Breathing exercises can help stabilize it. There is in particular the technique of diaphragmatic breathing, more commonly called belly breathing.
Straighten up then inhale and exhale deeply. When you inhale, you should feel your stomach expand (put your hand on it) and not your chest. As you exhale, you should feel your stomach deepen. During this exercise, the abdominal muscles are relaxed.
Keep calm
Easy to say but not to put into practice!
Yet it is essential to remain calm during a crisis because panic and stress can make symptoms worse. To help you stay calm while waiting for help to arrive or for symptoms to subside, try doing an activity that relaxes you (listening to soft music, meditating, doing breathing exercises, etc.).
Move away from triggers
Certain external factors can trigger an asthma attack or worsen the symptoms of an attack. In the event of a crisis, move away from the triggering factor. This can help gradually reduce symptoms.
The most common trigger factors are:
- allergens such as pollen, certain foods, certain animals, dust, etc.;
- physical exercise;
- cigarette smoke;
- the atmospheric pollution ;
- stress and anxiety;
- certain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or beta-blockers;
- respiratory infections such as colds, flu;
- cold and dry air.
