Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation in the airways, making them narrower and harder to breathe through. And while rescue medication like an inhaler can help relieve tension around the airways and make it easier to breathe, it doesn’t stop the inflammation, says Janna Tuck, MD, an allergist and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. But taking the right steps when you feel symptoms setting in can help you get back to normal faster. Here’s what you should do. Step #1: Stop what you’re doing. For example, if you’re exercising, stop and sit down, or at least slow down to see if your symptoms subside. Try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, says Dr. Tuck. This helps warm up the air you’re bringing into your lungs. Step #2: Use your rescue inhaler properly. Surprisingly, most people don’t use their inhaler very well, says Tuck. They either position the device incorrectly or inhale their medication too quickly, directing it to the back of their throat instead of the airway. A doctor, nurse, or even a pharmacist can help you to practice and perfect your technique. Adding a spacer, or an open tube that’s placed on the inhaler mouthpiece, can also help you to get more medicine farther into your lungs. You simply connect your inhaler to the spacer, then inhale through the spacer. Step #3: Get away from the trigger. If you think something outside is causing your symptoms, go indoors. If you’re exposed to an allergen, take a shower and wash it off your skin and out of your hair. Blow your nose and rinse with saline to clear out as much of the irritant as possible. Step #4: Focus on breathing. Tuck says that some children with asthma have breathing buddies, who encourage them to slow their breathing, breathe through their nose, and relax. Entrust a friend or family member to help you do the same thing. Although there’s no proof that yoga breathing, or pranayama, will ease an attack, some people find that it can help relieve their symptoms, says Tuck. Step #5: Stay calm. “Strong emotions can make asthma symptoms worse or even be a trigger themselves,” says S. Christy Sadreameli, MD, MHS, a pulmonologist and spokesperson for the American Lung Association. During an asthma attack, “the best thing you can do is sit down and take your medication.” Keep in mind it can take 10 to 15 minutes for your medication to kick in, so even if you feel better right away, it’s best to wait for the medicine to take its full effect before returning to your activity, Dr. Sadreameli says. Step #6: Have a drink. But make sure it’s at room temperature: Beverages that are either too cold or too hot could cause muscle spasms in the airways, according to Tuck. Staying hydrated with plenty of fluids such as water, juice, and tea can help alleviate asthma symptoms. Step #7: Know your asthma action plan. Developed with your healthcare provider, an asthma action plan is a personalized strategy that logs what steps you should take when you’re doing well (green), when your asthma is getting worse (yellow), or when you need medical attention (red). “We hope people don’t use the red zone that much, but I like them to know about it because it could save a life,” explains Sadreameli. While it’s rare for an asthma attack to require a 911 call unless you’re sick, making the call could save your life. If your lips or fingernails are turning blue, you’re having trouble walking, or you can’t speak in complete sentences, even at rest, call or go to the hospital right away. If you haven’t recovered after 15 minutes of using your rescue inhaler, head to the emergency room.
