Saving the ‘Asthmatic Life’
Written by Prince Assandoh-Mensah in 2015
- For a known asthmatic, always ensure that his medications are always present, with him and available in the home, for example ventolin inhaler or syrup, becotide inhaler.
- Attacks are usually caused by certain triggers. The following triggers must be avoided
- Allergens such as household dusts and animal hairs
- Drugs such as Aspirin
- Extraneous exercise
- Certain foods such as groundnuts and head cold
- Emotions and hyperventilation(excessive deep breathing usually due to anxiety)
- Environmental e.g. air pollution, climatic changes, strong scents and smoke
- Symptoms of asthma attacks include
- Wheezing
- Cough
- Episodic breathlessness
- Tightness of the chest
- At the onset of an attack, start asthma medication and remove or loosen any tight clothing around neck.
- If there is no response, quickly send the person to hospital; taking along his medication.
- If one experiences an attack for the first time, report to the hospital as soon as possible.
