Asthma attacks can be a scary thing. According to WebMD, you may experience tightness in your chest, rapid breathing, wheezing, and panic to just name a few. If you are experiencing these signs of an asthma attack, it is important that you go to an urgent care center immediately. According to Insider, 85% of medical and urgent care center patients are treated within the hour. If it is a sever asthma attack, call 911 and go to the nearest emergency room. However, it is always better to attempt to prevent asthma attacks in the first place. There are many things that you can do to lessen the chance of getting an asthma attack.
Identify Triggers
There are many triggers that could send you to an urgent care center. They include cold air, exercise, sinusitis, air pollution, smoke, allergies, and colds to name a few. There are many more triggers that aren’t on this list. It may be worth keeping an asthma diary to keep track of what triggers your asthma. It is impossible to avoid all triggers, however, this list may help.
Exercise Carefully
You likely noticed that exercise is on the list of potential asthma attack triggers. This does not mean that you should stop exercising. In fact, exercise is good for you regardless. However, you must be intentional about exercising carefully. Avoid exercising in humid, cold, or dry environments. According to WebMD, you can take Albuterol through your inhaler ahead of an intense exercise. Make sure to consult with your doctor about this medicine.
Avoid Smoke
All types of smoke can trigger asthma attacks. Some examples include candles, incense, fireworks, fire, and tobacco. One of the best practices is to avoid places that allow smoking entirely. If you smoke yourself, consider getting help to start quitting as soon as possible. If not, in time you may have a whole new reason to visit a urgent care center.
Allergies
Allergies have also been known to trigger asthma attacks. Allergens cause your airway to become inflamed. This causes it to close up and make it harder to breath. As you can imagine, this makes asthma significantly worse. However, there are a few things you can do according to WebMD. First, if you ever have to stay somewhere, bring your own bedding and pillows. This ensures that they are not laden with dust. Further, rent a smoke-free hotel room. Another relatively new preventative measure is allergy shots. These shots can lessen your allergies over time.
Prevent Colds and Viruses
Colds and viruses can trigger your asthma. Therefore, preventing colds and viruses will go a long way to preventing asthma. There are a few things you can do. First, avoid people who are sick. Also make sure to wash your hands. You will also want to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Lastly, make sure to get your flu vaccine each and every flu season. The flu can cause your asthma symptoms to last for a prolonged period of time. For more information, contact us today.
