Monthly Archives: March 2022

Early Asthma Attack Warning Signs to Watch out for

When you have an asthma attack, you will feel your asthma symptoms suddenly worsening, and that is caused by muscle tightening of muscles on your airways. The tightening is known as bronchospasm and when you have an asthma attack, the lining of your airways become inflamed or swollen. You will start to produce thicker mucus and a lot more. These factors like inflammation, bronchospasm and mucus production can cause an asthma attack like wheezing, trouble breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, and challenge in performing daily activities.

Before you call up your asthma doctor, you should be well aware of those signs and what you can do to stop them from getting worse. Read on to find out more.

Warning Signs of an Asthma Attack

  • Breathing changes
  • Mucus changes (sputum)
  • Congested/runny/stuffy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Your throat is sore/itchy/scratchy
  • Itchy chin or beck
  • Watery/itchy eyes
  • Dark eye circles
  • You are always feeling tired, weak, or fatigued
  • Moody
  • Feverish
  • Restless
  • Dry mouth or hoarse voice
  • Not sleeping properly
  • Headache
  • Paleness
  • Anxious
  • Excitable
  • Chest pain
  • Symptoms worsen despite taking medications

Some asthma patients can go for long periods without experiencing an asthma attack or other symptoms as well. The interrupted worsening of symptoms because of asthma trigger exposure like exercise or cold air exposure are also signs.

It is generally more common to experience asthma attacks. Normally, it takes a few minutes to a couple of hours for the airways to open up after treatment. Severe asthma attacks are not as common, but they last longer and need medical help right away. Treating and recognizing mild symptoms early on is important because it will prevent you from having severe episodes.

Severe Asthma Emergency Symptoms

  • Worsening asthma
  • Worse shortness of breath
  • Your skin is sucked in around the neck or ribs
  • Experience trouble in walking or talking because of shortness of breath
  • Breathing becomes hard and fast
  • You cough a lot
  • Shoulders are hunched over
  • The asthma quick-relief and medicine are not helping at all
  • Your nostrils are wide open (could be rare if you are an adult)
  • Fingernails or lips are blue

What to Do During an Asthma Attack

If someone is experiencing a milk asthma attack, all they could need is an asthma medication, like a quick-acting inhaler. Some mild attacks may sometimes go away on their own.

It is essential that people who have asthma consult with their healthcare team about an action plan. This plan helps in guiding people on how their asthma can be treated, based on the symptoms they go through and what can be done.

A person would have to carry an inhaler and reliever with them, which can have asthma medication to relax their muscles in the airways. The medications can include rapid onset, short-acting, and anticholinergic bronchodilators.

The asthma attack can be dealt with by trying these first:

  • Sitting upright
  • Staying relaxed and calm
  • Using quick-acting medications, normally use a blue inhaler, and following an action plan for asthma
  • Call an emergency medical hotline if the symptoms worsen or if the medications are not helping

Your Asthma is Not Well-Controlled if:

  • You have asthma symptoms 2 times a week or more
  • You are taking quick-relief medications more than twice a month
  • You need to take corticosteroids more than twice a year
Asthma Symptoms Act up at Night

You will have nighttime asthma if it is uncontrolled and has something to do with your body rhythms and hormone changes. You can sleep through the night if your asthma is well-managed.

You can also go to an allergy specialist doctor Manassas VA for better asthma management.

 

Why is Asthma Worse at Night?

Having interrupted sleep makes you feel tired throughout the day, and it will have negative effects on your health in the long run. You do not want this to become regular because you need the energy to tackle daily challenges. When you wake up in the middle of the night because of a coughing fit or you are having a hard time breathing, the experience can get terrifying.

The unfortunate thing is that asthma patients have to deal with that, especially if they do not see their asthma doctor regularly. When your asthma gets worse at night, you are not alone because it is very common. Sometimes, experts call this nocturnal asthma, and it makes it very hard for you to get the rest you need.

Asthma Attack Triggers

People experience different asthma triggers. Some people get triggered due to allergens exposure like grass or dust mites. Other people are triggered by irritants like strong odors or chemicals. Respiratory illnesses that are accompanied by mucus drainages like sinusitis or colds increase the chances of an asthma attack. Weather changes and exercise can also trigger attacks. There are people who may discover that more than one thing increases the possibility of an asthma attack, and can worsen at night.

Factors that Contribute to Nocturnal Asthma

For some reason, asthma gets worse at night. This problem is serious and most deaths from asthma are because of wheezing or other symptoms at night.

The factors are:

  • Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Dust mites or other allergens
  • Overproduction of mucus
  • Higher level of histamine
  • Breathing in cold air
  • Lower epinephrine levels
  • Sleep apnea
  • Obesity
  • Not elevating the head while sleeping
  • Psychological stress

Nocturnal asthma can be caused just by seeping because the bronchial function changes. During sleep, the airways become narrow and it creates more resistance for air to come in and out of the body. This causes coughing, which further tightens the airways. After that, your sinuses will drain, and trigger asthma reactions. Therefore, breathing worsens between 4 to 6 hours after you sleep.

Other Causes

  • Postnasal drip – People are more prone to postnasal drip during the night. When you are laying down flat, fluid can easily drip down towards the back of your throat and causes you to start coughing. Lying down can also cause the fluid to flow from your legs to your chest, and this leads to more fluid accumulation in the airways and narrows down breathing passages.
  • Timing of Medication – If your asthma medication starts to wear off while you sleep, you are more likely to have nocturnal asthma.

Medication

Asthma specialists normally prescribe 2 primary medications: a long-term inhaler and a rescue inhaler. The asthma triggers are individual-specific, and people should consult with their asthma doctor to find the right care plan for them. A lot of doctors prescribe both kinds of inhalers.

Treatment

If your asthma attack wakes you up in the middle of the night, reach for your rescue inhaler. Sleeping in a more upright position is also helpful. Some people discover that drinking water eases a cough.

In case you have regular asthma symptoms during the night, talk to your healthcare provider to address the problem. It may be helpful to adjust the timing of your medication.

There are times when your healthcare might have to add or increase medication. Asthma can get worse in the long run, and if you have nocturnal asthma, your asthma care plan might need tweaking to eliminate the symptoms.

You can visit an allergist specialist Manassas VA as well to find the best asthma treatment plan for your nighttime symptoms.

How to Sleep Better with Allergies

If you are one of the people who have respiratory allergies, then getting a good night’s sleep is hard. They cause nasal congestion, itchy nose and eyes, post-nasal drip, and they can really bother you at night. Aside from that, untreated allergies can block your sinusitis, sinuses, and snoring. All of these cause night-times disturbed sleep and awakenings.

It is challenging to deal with allergy symptoms while you are awake, and you need to see an allergy doctor to help you treat these symptoms. In addition, you can follow some tips on how to sleep better at night with allergies. Read this article until the end to know more.

Anti-Allergy Bedding

You can try investing in anti-allergy bedding because it helps stop pollen, dust, and dirt from going into your mattress since it uses advanced fabrics. It is a great idea to not use feather-type and wool bedding because it harbors more dirt and dust compared to synthetic fibers. This kind of bedding cannot easily be washed either.

Close Your House

If possible, shut the windows and outside doors shut during pollen season, especially during the day. If you use central air conditioning, use it so that you can shut outside doors and windows. If your pets spend time outdoors, do not let them inside the bedroom. Aside from the animal dander, they can carry and deposit pollen that got stuck in their fur.

Air Purifier

This is a very important tool for managing allergy symptoms. They are household machines that will actively filter out the harmful contaminants in the air and they can be very effective in removing any chemicals left in your home. You can use different filters, which include pleated filters and activated carbon.

Sleep in a Different Position

Your sleep deprivation from allergies can also be because of the position you are sleeping in. if you have seasonal allergies, you can prevent any flare-up and alleviate any sinus pain by changing your sleeping position. If you want to drain your throat and nose because of congestion, you should try tucking 2 pillows to elevate your upper back and head so your sleeping position is upright. This position is going to help your breathing.

Take Allergy Medication at Night

Sneezing, itchy eyes and sneezing are all symptoms of hay fever, and they normally peak during the early morning, which starts shortly after waking up. The morning symptoms will be reduced when you take allergy medications before sleeping at night. This assures that it will flow in your bloodstream when you need it the most, especially early the next morning. In general, the symptoms peak at 4 am.

Keep Dust Mites Away

Dust mites are lurking in the bedroom, and they can disrupt your downy sleep. You need to use dust-mite-proof mattresses and pillowcases so that there is a barrier separating you and the dust. You need to wash your bedding weekly using hot water at 130 degrees F to kill allergens and dust mites. These microscopic critters hide in the bedding, carpets, and curtains, which is why it is recommended that you have hardwood floors and remove fabric curtains and furniture upholstery.

The humidity in your home should be less than 50% using an air conditioner or dehumidifier. That is why dust mites will survive in the humid and warm environment the entire year.

Shower Before Bed

Showering before bed helps wash pollens away that you collected all day.

If you cannot manage it alone, you need to go to an allergy clinic Manassas VA to get the treatment you need.