Asthma attack: what to do in the absence of ventolin?

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 is the 24th edition of the World Asthma Day and the theme chosen is “Asthma: many constraints in everyday life”.

This is an opportunity to highlight the challenges that asthmatics face on a daily basis in living with this disease.

To date, there is no definitive treatment for asthma, which is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that makes it difficult to breathe.

An asthma attack is characterized by coughing and wheezing.

The only way to relieve the asthmatic is to use inhalers such as Ventolin to dilate the bronchial tubes.

If you don’t have any with you at the time of the seizure, it’s important not to lose your cool. Don’t panic.

Take deep breaths. You can sit or lie down. Breathe in through your nose, then out twice as slowly with your lips pursed; then breathe in through your nose with your hands on your stomach; relax your neck and shoulders as you breathe out very slowly.

The best way to reduce asthma attacks is to stay away from factors that can trigger them.

Therefore, asthmatics should not smoke or go to smoky places, stir up dust (sweeping, shaking carpets or sheets, etc.), use products that irritate the airways (paints, glues, household products, etc.), or have stuffed animals in the bed or on the sofa (skin fragments, saliva or hair from certain animals are triggers for asthma attacks).

In addition, taking a bronchodilator medication half an hour before exercise helps prevent an asthma attack caused by exercise.