When people with asthma are exposed to a substance that they are allergic to (allergens), their airways swell which decreases the amount of air that can get to the lungs. This is known as an asthma attack.
There are a variety of triggers depending on the sufferer. Some common ones are animal hair, cold air, dust and dust mites, infection, mold and mildew, over-exertion, pollen, pollutants, severe stress, smoke, various medicines etc.
Symptoms vary from attack to attack and from individual to individual:
Mild:
Agitated.
Increased respiratory rate.
Moderate wheezing at end of breath.
Pulse under 100 bpm.
Shortness of breath while walking.
Moderate:
Agitated.
Loud wheezing.
Prefers to sit.
Pulse 100 to 120 bpm.
Shortness of breath while talking.
Talks in phrases.
Use of accessory muscles (shoulder girdle and chest wall) when breathing.
Agitated.
Cyanosis (blue, gray or purple coloration of the skin; usually lips, fingertips and/or face).
Confusion.
Drowsiness.
Higher pitched wheezing.
Lung sounds may be loud or diminished.
Pulse over 120 bpm.
Respiratory rate greater than 30 bpm.
Shortness of breath while resting.
Sits upright.
Talks in one or two words.
Unconscious.
Treatment for an Asthma Attack
When treating asthma the main idea is to avoid the cause and to maintain an open airway.
In mild to moderate cases, patients will often know what to do and can treat themselves.
Minimize the causes.
Pharmaceuticals:
Albuterol: 2 puffs and rest will usually do the trick. An increased heart rate is a common side effect.
If patients do not respond to their self-medication and/or severe symptoms are present, the following action can be taken:
PROP; Must Read - Immediate First Aid - Critical First Aid - Breathing – PROP.
Epinephrine if needed: 0.01 ml/kg of body weight, maximum dose of 0.3 ml, injections can be repeated every 5 minutes if needed.
Corticosteroid: prednisone 1 mg/kg of body weight, maximum dose of 60 mg, once a day.
Albuterol or the patient’s equivalent, 6 to 10 puffs which can be repeated every 20 minutes for up to three doses.
Seek advanced medical care.
Alternative/Natural Remedies:
Alternative/natural remedies may be effective in mild to moderate cases:
Herbal teas: chamomile, ginger and garlic, nettle, rosemary.
Coffee: black unsweetened coffee.
Honey: breathe deeply from a jar of honey for quick relief.
Honey: drink raw honey tea a few times a day.
Stay away from known allergens and other triggers.
Diet control: avoid dairy, eat organic, hydrate well, increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids and replace animal proteins with plant proteins.
Breathing methods: activities such as swimming, yoga, meditation etc. can help to regulate and improve breathing habits.
Dirgha Pranayama:
Dirgha Pranayama (3 part breath), is a yoga breathing exercise.
Sit in a comfortable cross legged position, don’t slouch.
Relax your abdomen.
Place your palms on your belly.
Breathe deeply into your lower lungs, feeling your belly expand.
Repeat this breath 3 to 4 times.
Next, place your palms on the sides of your rib cage.
Breathe into your chest, feeling your rib cage expand.
Repeat this breath 3 to 4 times.
Now, place your fingertips on the front of your chest just below your collarbones.
Breathe into the upper part of your chest and feel your hands lifting.
Repeat this breath 3 to 4 times.
Finally, combine all three in-breaths.
Exhale completely and gently squeeze your abdomen to expel all the air.
Repeat the whole cycle 3 to 4 times.
Focus on filling and emptying your lungs completely.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the tubes that carry air to your lungs (the bronchial tubes). If left untreated it may lead to pneumonia; Diagnoses and Treatments – Respiratory System – Pneumonia.
There are two main types of bronchitis:
Acute Bronchitis:
Acute bronchitis is common and usually stems from another respiratory infection, e.g., common cold. It will usually only last a few days, although the cough may linger for weeks.
Chronic Bronchitis:
Chronic bronchitis is more serious and requires advanced medical care. Smoking is the most common cause but dust, pollution, toxic gases etc. may also cause the condition.
Chest tightness.
Cough producing mucus.
Fatigue.
Mild fever and chills.
Shortness of breath.
Wheezing.
The difference in symptoms between acute and chronic bronchitis:
Acute bronchitis will resolve quickly although a nagging cough may persist for several weeks.
Chronic bronchitis will have a productive cough for at least three months and will reoccur.
Avoid irritants (fumes, smoke etc.).
Hydrate.
Rest.
If suspected chronic bronchitis, seek advanced medical care.
Pharmaceuticals:
Antibiotic: amoxicillin-clavulanate 875 mg every 12 hours for 7 to 10 days.
Antibiotic: ciprofloxacin 500 mg every 12 hours for 7 to 14 days or 750 mg every 12 hours for 7 to 14 days for severe cases.
Antibiotic: doxycycline 200 mg on the first day, given in 2 doses, followed by 100 mg per day or 100 mg every 12 hours for severe cases.
Antibiotics, other: amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, levofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, tetracycline.
Cough suppressant: not for chronic bronchitis.
The common cold and influenza are both respiratory infections. Technically they are different, but for practical purposes, and because initial treatment is the same, the flu can be considered a more serious cold.
The common flu can be countered with a yearly vaccination. Special precautions must be taken if in threat of more serious strains of influenza, e.g., swine flu, bird flu.
Caution: meningitis is a potentially deadly virus that has very similar symptoms to influenza; Diagnoses and Treatments - Head – Brain – Meningitis.
|
Symptom |
Influenza |
Cold |
|
Symptom onset |
3 to 6 hours |
Gradually |
|
Aches |
Usual, often severe |
Slight |
|
Chest discomfort |
Often severe |
Mild to moderate |
|
Chills |
Fairly common |
Uncommon |
|
Coughing |
Dry, unproductive |
Hacking, productive cough |
|
Fever |
Usually present |
Rare |
|
Headache |
Common |
Uncommon |
|
Sneezing |
Uncommon |
Common |
|
Sore throat |
Uncommon |
Common |
|
Stuffy nose |
Uncommon |
Common |
|
Tiredness |
Moderate to severe |
Mild |
Basic treatment for cold and minor flu is the same. Flu will probably take a week or 2 until complete recovery, whereas a cold may only take a few days.
Treat symptoms, e.g., throat lozenges, pain and fever meds, decongestions.
Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs.
Avoid flying.
Hot or cold packs around your congested sinuses.
Hydration with hot clear fluids, e.g., soup, water.
Rest.
Steam inhalation and/or steamy showers.
Seek advanced medical care and consider antiviral medication for more serious bouts of flu with any of the following symptoms:
Altered skin color, i.e., grayish or bluish.
Confusion.
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough.
High fever for more than three days.
Hyperventilation.
Respiratory distress.
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen.
Severe vomiting.
Sudden dizziness.
Pharmaceuticals:
Antiviral: Tamiflu 75mg twice a day for 5 days.
If taken early enough Tamiflu may completely prevent the flu, but if not taken within the first 48 hours of symptoms, it won’t have much effect at all.
Clove oil.
Garlic, ginger and honey tea, 3 cups a day (acts as a cough syrup and will ease a sore throat).
Salicin tea.
Water and vinegar sponge baths (combats fever).
A cough can be a symptom in many cases, but sometimes it is also just a dry cough due to altitude, dry air, irritants etc.
If it produces phlegm, blood etc. or comes with other symptoms, e.g., fever, then it is more than just a cough and the underlying cause should be treated accordingly.
Pharmaceuticals:
Cough suppressants at night.
Throat lozenges.
Pneumonia is a disease of the lungs that often results from a lung infection. Lots of things can cause pneumonia including bacteria, chemicals, viruses, fungi, other infectious agents etc.
Chest cold.
Chest pain.
Chills.
Coughing colors.
Fever.
Mild fever; less than 38.5 °C (102 °F).
Muscle aches.
Productive cough.
Tiredness.
Wheezing.
Weakness.
Hydration.
Pain/fever meds.
Rest.
Seek advanced medical care for specific diagnosis and treatment if:
Coughing up blood.
Excessive vomiting.
Shortness of breath, either at rest or with just a little exertion.
Severe chest pain.
Severe weakness.
For serious bouts of pneumonia where no medical drugs are available, it is important to keep patient’s interested and on his/her feet. Do not let them “give up in a corner”.
Pharmaceuticals:
Antibiotic: amoxicillin-clavulanate 875 mg every 12 hours for 7 to 10 days in the case of pneumococcal pneumonia, or up to 21 days for other.
Antibiotic: doxycycline 200 mg on the first day given in 2 divided doses followed by 100 mg a day or 100 mg every 12 hours for severe cases.
Antibiotics, other: amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, tetracycline.
A sore throat is a common symptom for many ailments and also presents its own problems, e.g., hard to swallow, pain.
If there are red or white blotches in the back of the mouth, it may be pharyngitis (sore throat infection), e.g., strep throat; Diagnoses and Treatments – Respiratory System – Strep Throat.
Gargle warm salt water.
Pharmaceutical:
Anti-inflammatory.
Lozenges.
Alternative/Natural Remedies:
Clove oil: gargle diluted clove oil.
Garlic, ginger, honey and lemon tea(s).
Salicin tea.
Strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis) is a contagious bacterial throat infection spread via close contact with an infected host. If untreated it may lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever.
Fatigue.
Fever.
Headache.
Rash.
Small, white spots on the back of the throat and/or tonsils.
Sore throat.
Stomach ache.
Swollen tonsils.
Tiny, red spots at the back of the roof of the mouth.
Vomiting.
Hydration.
Rest.
Treat symptoms.
Pharmaceuticals:
Antibiotic: amoxicillin/clavulanate, 500 mg every 12 hours for 10 days or 875 mg every 12 hours in severe cases.
Antibiotic: doxycycline 200 mg on the first day, given in 2 evenly divided doses followed by 100 mg per day or 100 mg every 12 hours in severe cases.
Antibiotics, other: amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, cephalexin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, tetracycline.
Symptoms usually subside after 48 hours of antibiotic treatment, but finish the whole course.
Whooping cough (pertussis), is a highly contagious bacterial infection. It is most common in un-immunized infants and teenagers whose immunity has started to fade. Vaccines are available.
Symptoms come in 3 stages.
Stage 1:
Usually last 1 to 2 weeks and mimic the common cold:
Cough (mild).
Fever (mild).
Nasal congestion.
Runny nose.
Sneezing.
Red, watery eyes.
Stage 2:
Usually last 2 to 4 weeks.
Severe, uncontrollable coughing which may cause:
Extreme fatigue.
Red or blue face.
Vomiting.
Whooping sound on inhale (mainly in children).
Stage 3 is recovery:
This is a gradual easing of symptoms which may last months.
Cool-mist vaporizer.
Hydrate.
Remove irritants, e.g., aerosols, smoke.
Rest.
Smaller, more frequent meals (prevents vomiting).
Patients should cover their cough and wash hands often.
People in contact with patients should wear a mask.
Pharmaceuticals:
Cough medicine will probably not help.
Antibiotic: amoxicillin/clavulanate 500 mg every 12 hours for 10 days or 875 mg every 12 hours for severe cases.
Antibiotic: doxycycline 200 mg on the first day, given in 2 doses followed by 100 mg per day or 100 mg every 12 hours for severe cases.
Antibiotics, other: amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, cephalexin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, tetracycline.