How to Treat Asthma at Home
Except for the severe attack that mandates hospitalization, this article will only cover mild attack of asthma that can be handled at home. When you feel an asthmatic attack coming on just follow these simple steps.
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Instructions
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1
Pour drinking water (preferably from a filter) in your steamer or a sterile pot and boil over the stove.
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2
Start inhaling the steam. Steam is a very good mucolytic agent means it loosens the secretions that may clog the smaller airways during an asthma attack. It also decreases the airway hyper-reactivity by soothing the epithelium and the nerve endings. Hyper-reactivity of the airways is one of the main mechanisms behind an asthmatic attack
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3
Cough gently and try to bring up the secretions. Do not cough vigorously as it may worsen your symptoms. Vigorous coughing increase the sensitivity of the airways.
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Drink plenty of warm water. Again, this has similar effects on the secretions as steam inhalation has and helps to loosen them.
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Drink tea. Tea has theophyllin in it. Theophyline was once one of the main drugs used to treat acute attack of asthma. It is still used in selected patients.
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Tips & Warnings
Recognize the symptoms as early as possible.
Stay calm do not panic
If you are experiencing shortness of breath and you hear audible wheezing (musical sound) each time you breath in and out it's time to rush to the nearest ER
If you have a prior history of hospital admission for asthma, especially, if you had been intubated in the past for asthma do not waste time trying home remedies, call 911.
