Serving the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire of Georgia and South Carolina.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
It is estimated that one in 13 people have asthma, which means more than 26 million Americans have it. Since this medical condition has been on the rise since the 1980s for people of all ages, it’s very likely that you or someone you know has experienced an asthma attack.
These situations can be extremely frightening with common symptoms being severe wheezing, non-stop coughing, rapid breathing, chest tightness, pressure on the chest, tightened muscles, inability to talk, sweat, paleness, and even blue lips.
“Any asthma attack has the potential to become life-threatening,” SouthCoast Health’s Dr. Wasil Khan stated. “The more people who know what to look out for and what to do in those situations, the more lives that are saved.”
Keep reading below to learn more about this medical occurrence and what you can do if you face it. If you find this blog while the asthma attack is occurring, stop reading now and call 911.
Before going into the details on how to help, it’ll be beneficial to explain exactly why an attack might be happening.
Asthma causes the airways to spasm, creates tightness in the chest, inflames the lining in the airways, and also produces phlegm. All of these symptoms lead to overall difficulty in breathing.
Generally, what causes these attacks are triggers specific to each person. If you are aware of your asthma triggers you can do your best to avoid them, however, sometimes run-ins are inevitable. A few common triggers are allergens (like pollen, pets, dust), pollution, exercise, stress, respiratory infections, tobacco, and strong irritating smells.
These situations can be frightening, so take a deep breath, stay calm, and use these following steps to help you and the person suffering from an attack:
If you have any more questions or concerns about asthma, the expert allergy and immunology department at SouthCoast Health is here to help. Click here to make an appointment today!
Whether you are looking for a primary care doctor or a pediatrician, or another medical specialist, SouthCoast Health has you covered with its wide range of world-class healthcare services, available throughout the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry. SouthCoast Health has 120 physicians and medical professionals in 18 locations in Savannah, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Rincon, Baxley, Hilton Head, Hinesville, and Statesboro. SouthCoast Health offers comprehensive medical services including: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Allergy and Asthma, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Eye Care, Imaging, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Neurology, Physical Therapy, Podiatry, Surgery, Clinical Trial Research Studies, Diabetic Self-Management Training Sessions, Dietetic Counseling, Laboratory Services, Massage Therapy, Optical Shop, Pharmacy, and Urgent Care.
SouthCoast Health has 120 physicians and medical professionals in 18 locations in Savannah, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Rincon, Baxley, Hinesville, and Statesboro.
