Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system, which is more and more often diagnosed every year in people of different age categories. The increase in morbidity is associated with an unfavorable ecological situation, a low active lifestyle, widespread use of household chemicals and other factors.
The main manifestation of the disease are periodically occurring seizures of bronchial asthma associated with bronchial obstruction. This is an acute condition, in which there is a spasm of the bronchi, which prevents the normal flow of air into the lungs and back. Provoke an attack can as an external stimulus on the respiratory tract, and the influence of ingested substances in the body-allergens.
Symptoms of an attack of bronchial asthma
In most cases, the beginning of an attack is preceded by manifestations-precursors, which usually occur 30-60 minutes before it. These manifestations are associated with physiological and emotional changes in the body and can be expressed in the following:
- cough;
- frequent sneezing;
- wheezing;
- headache, dizziness;
- feeling of restraint, pain in the chest;
- Persecution in the throat ;
- the appearance of a cold;
- severe fatigue, malaise;
- palpitation;
- anxiety;
- change of mood.
With the progression of the attack, bronchial narrowing occurs, there is swelling of her bronchial mucosa, increased secretion of glands, which causes a violation of the function of breathing. An attack of bronchial asthma is accompanied by such symptoms:
- increased cough;
- the appearance of dyspnea ;
- noisy wheezing in the chest;
- pallor, cyanotic skin tone;
- forced sitting position;
- sharp exhalation obstruction;
- excretion of viscous sputum.
What to do if you have an asthma attack?
Regardless of the severity of an attack of bronchial asthma, the patient should immediately provide first aid. To relieve an asthma attack or ease a patient's condition, it is necessary to undertake the following:
- Remove or unfasten clothes that impede free breathing, open the window.
- Help the patient to take the right position: standing or sitting, placing his elbows to the sides and resting on the surface with both hands.
- Calm the patient.
- If the patient has a drug to stop the attack (tablets, inhaler), you need to help him use it.
- If possible, make the patient warm hand and foot baths (lower your arms to the elbow and legs to the middle of the shank in warm water).
- It is also necessary to call a doctor and in no case leave the patient alone.