Asthma Attacks and Ways to Manage Them

If you are prone to asthma attacks you are probably always looking for ways to avert or manage one when you get one.  Following are some ideas that may help to keep you healthy when that asthma attack comes.

When you get an asthma attack it probably feels alot like someone who is drowning.  You can't get any air into your lungs and you can't breathe.  This can be very scary when it happens so you need to know some ways to stop this when it happens to you. 

First here are some things that may trigger an asthma attack.  Stress, exercise, cold or flu, pollutants in the air, perfumes, cold or dry air, allergens, animal dander, pollens, and molds are a few things that trigger asthma. But alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, tartrazine a food additive, foods with sulfiting agents such as fruit juices, fresh and dried fruits and shellfish may also cause an attack.  So if you come into contact with any of these things be prepared to stop an attack that they may trigger.

If you feel an asthma attack coming on, if possible sit down and drink some water.  It will mainly help to distract you and slow down your breathing.  If that doesn't work then try doing breathing exercises that will help to control your breathing.  Take a long, deep breath and at the same time use folded hands to push on your upper abdomen.  Pucker your lips and then let the air out slowly. To make this work better keep your lips almost closed to cause more resistance.   Try to do this exercise three times.

If you are are about to do some kind of strenuous physical exercise always warm up before you start with light stretching for about five minutes and do some moderate to more vigorous stretching for an additional five minutes.  This should help get your body prepared with more oxygen in your blood circulation.  If you are exercising outside when it is very cold be sure to cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or mask to help warm and moisturize the air going into your lungs. Also if you are indoors a warm, humid area is easier on your breathing then a cool and dry, air-conditioned area.

Remember that an asthma attack isn't just in your mind. But when you control what you are thinking then when an attack occurs it will probably go a long way in helping you to calm down so you can get the attack under control.