How to Manage Asthma and Panic Attacks: Expert Tips for Relief

08/26/2024

What is an Asthma Attack? 

Asthma often results from inflammation or constriction in your lungs’ airways or bronchial tubes. Both inflammation and constriction can make breathing a difficult task. As a result, you may come across symptoms like chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. 

The bronchial tubes contract more when you encounter an asthma attack, making breathing more challenging. You may even find wheezing audible, along with symptoms like chest tightness or a rattling sensation in your chest. The symptoms may dwell from minutes to hours/days, depending on the trigger and severity of the attack. In order to avoid asthma attacks, you must pay attention to triggers that cause irritation to your lungs, such as allergens and chemicals.

Top Ways to Manage Asthma Attacks:

Asthma is one of the common non-communicable lung diseases, affecting thousands of individuals every year.  This condition become responsible for more than half a million deaths every year across the globe. Asthma can’t be cured completely, but following the guidelines and treatment suggested by the doctor can help you continue your everyday life. The following ways can help you manage asthma attacks better than ever:

Know Your Symptoms:

If you are constantly experiencing the following symptoms: coughing, trouble breathing, and wheezing, it indicates that your asthma is not well managed. If you find your symptoms worsening or multiplying, please follow the guidelines stated by the doctor on your prescription. In order to dilate your airways and improve breathing, use a reliever inhaler such as salbutamol. 

Recognize Asthma Triggers:

Recognizing the asthma triggers can help you avoid asthma attacks and flare-ups. The following are the common triggers of asthma: viral infections, pollen, smoke, fumes, animal fur, strong fragrances, and changes in the weather. If any of these affect you, try to break the communication with them, if possible. On the other hand, if not possible, keep your reliever inhaler with you so that you can manage the symptoms easily.

Understand Your Inhalers:

A bronchodilator, also known as a reliever inhaler, widens the small airways and improves airways in the lungs. You should use this type of inhaler when you come across asthma symptoms. On the other hand, a steroid (preventer) inhaler works to subside the inflammation in the lungs and is an essential component of long-term asthma management. Kindly take your steroid inhaler as directed by your doctor in order to ease your symptoms and diminish the risk of developing a serious asthma attack.

Note: Inhalers are considered the most effective and reliable treatments for asthma and help you live a normal life like other people without asthma.

Take a Spacer

A spacer comes as a plastic chamber that joins the inhaler with your mouth at one end through the mask at the other. It works by facilitating the reach of inhaled medication to the lungs’ small airways, improving functioning. Inhaling the medication via a spacer takes longer and demands less coordination. On the other hand, without a spacer, you will have to press the inhaler and breathe in deeply simultaneously. Without the spacer, the inhaled medication often finishes in the mouth or throat, becoming ineffective. 

What is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is considered a severe event of intense fear that brings on evident physical signs such as chest tightness & breathing problems without a precise cause or a real danger. Panic attacks can lead to many symptoms, other than chest tightness and shortness, that are commonly associated with an asthma attack. The following symptoms might arise during a panic attack: 

• Nausea

• Chills

• Tingling hands and face

• Increased heart rate

• Dizziness

• Lightheadedness

• Hyperventilation

A panic attack usually reaches its peak after 10 minutes and then starts to fade out gradually. You may stumble upon these symptoms amidst the state of severe anxiety, but they can strike when you are calm as well. 

Top Ways to Manage Panic Attacks:

Stick to your Medications: 

Lifestyle changes can help you manage the mild to moderate symptoms of panic attacks. However, if you are living with panic disorder, you might be suggested to take medications. There are several medications on the market that can help you tackle the symptoms brought on by panic attacks. However, before you take any medication, you should consult your doctor first. Medications that are used to manage such conditions hold a high potential to be abused and to lead to addiction. Therefore, please see your doctor to find the treatment that is appropriate for your medical history, age, ongoing conditions, etc.

Of all panic disorder medications, Xanax (alprazolam) stands out as one the most selling medications. However, this medication can lead to an addiction in no time. Therefore, doctors only recommend this medication for the short term to prevent such fallouts. Different psychological disorders demand different treatments. Hence, you should avoid using medications that are meant to treat other conditions. 

Benzodiazepine misuse and addiction can lead to outcomes like death. Please adhere to all the guidelines and precautions while you use them.

Look for Counseling 

CBT, commonly known as(cognitive behavioral therapy) and other types of counseling, has already benefitted thousands of individuals around the globe living with panic attacks or panic disorders. In CBT and other counseling, your behavior and how you react to situations is improved. By incorporating new approaches, counselings help you develop a new perspective toward things that frighten you. As a result, you are less likely to encounter a panic attack in situations that daunt you. Also, CBT may affect the brain regions that usually trigger panic attacks.

Take a Panic Attack as a Panic Attack

Whenever you encounter a panic attack, try to remind yourself that it is just a panic attack, not a heart attack, that will pass, and you will be okay. Positive affirmations can help you deal with a panic attack in a better and wiser way. On the other hand, if you start panicking, you will find confronting symptoms like challenging tasks.

Thinking that you may die or you won’t be able to survive will worsen the situation and may trigger other symptoms as well.  Instead of thinking about this, try to work on techniques that can help you manage these symptoms.

Try Releasing your Emotions with your Loved Ones.

Whenever you encounter a panic attack, try to let your friend, colleague, or loved one know about it. This way, you will be less alone and worried, easing your symptoms.

You should surround yourself with people who can help you calm down by helping you. It would be better if you share previously with your friend the time you are prone to have a panic attack so that they know what to do to help you.

Ask your friend or loved one to take you to a place with less stimulation so that you can calm down if you have a panic attack in a public space.

Also Read: 6 Common Myths About Asthma

The Bottom Line 

As listed above, both conditions may share a few identical symptoms but have different triggers, causes, and treatment plans. Asthma comes out as a lung disease, whereas panic attacks are associated with your mental health. While asthma usually results in symptoms like chest tightness and shortness of breath, a panic attack may have a broad range of physical and mental symptoms. There are plenty of ways that can help to manage panic and asthma attacks. If the condition is severe, you must see a doctor to find the apt treatment. 

FAQs

1. How do you calm down when you have an asthma attack?

Stick to the following ways to manage asthma symptoms when you don’t have your inhaler with you:

• Try to take deep, long breaths

• Calm yourself

• Get far from triggers

• Try sitting upright

• Try a hot caffeinated drink

• Look out for emergency medical help

2. Can inhalers help with panic attacks?

Inhalers are considered the first-line treatment for addressing the symptoms brought on by panic attacks. In some cases, this may be used to deal with panic attacks. However, before you do so, you first consult your doctor. Based on your symptoms and medical reports, the doctor will let you know whether it is safe for you.

3. What is the immediate relief for asthma?

Living with asthma can be overwhelming and stressful at the same time. In order to manage the symptoms associated with asthma smartly and quickly, use short-acting beta-agonists as they are quick-relief medication. You can use these right before or after exercising to avert asthma symptoms.

4. What drink is good for asthma? 

Water, milk fortified with vitamin D, caffeinated drinks, and other drinks can be highly effective and advantageous in managing asthma symptoms. These drinks work by minimizing the constriction in the airways. In addition to this, you should avoid taking sugary drinks and alcohol as they can worsen your symptoms in no time.