Dealing with Asthma

Dealing with asthma can take a toll on children and adults. The symptoms of asthma can be easy to ignore at first, but if they are continually ignored there can be consequences that may involve a trip to Altus Emergency Center in Baytown. Asthma can be controlled by avoiding triggers and learning how the signs of an impending asthma attack. Your doctor also has some valuable knowledge, so make sure to ask them about how you can manage asthma symptoms.

Avoid Asthma Triggers

Some of the more common triggers of asthma are:

Create an Action Plan

It is important to have an asthma action plan in place in the event of an asthma attack at any time. Each person in your household should know the plan and be able to carry out some or all of it. Use the rescue or maintenance inhaler or asthma medicine at the first sign of asthma symptoms. If you feel as though you are having an acute flare up of asthma and it is not getting better with your inhaler or medication, seek help from your local emergency room.

Do not hesitate to visit an emergency room if you notice:

• Your asthma attach seems more severe than they usually are
• You find no relief from symptoms after using the appropriate inhaler
• The nail beds of the fingers and toes turn blue
• You notice that you or a child is breathing abdominally (using stomach muscles to breathe)
• The ribs look as if they are retracted
• Inability to speak full sentences
• Confusion or an altered mental status

Our emergency room is open every day for 24 hours so that you and your loved ones can get the care you need when you need it most. Do not wait out your asthma attack – get medical attention.