How to help asthma attack?

An asthma attack is a medical emergency. Always keep the rescue inhaler ready and head to a doctor if the breathing does not improve in a few minutes.

Just like managing my high blood pressure, keeping asthma under control requires a proper lifestyle and regular doctor visits. During an attack, use the prescribed rescue medicine immediately. Do not ignore these episodes; make sure to get your lung function checked regularly by a specialist.

Listen to me closely. If someone is struggling to breathe, make them sit upright immediately and loosen any tight clothing around their neck. Give them their reliever inhaler as per the prescribed dose, and if they still find it hard to speak or breathe, take them to the nearest hospital emergency room without waiting.

When an attack happens, there is no time to waste on hit-and-trial remedies. Make the person sit up, administer the rescue inhaler immediately, and if there is no relief within 5-10 minutes, call an ambulance or drive them straight to the emergency room. Always keep a backup inhaler in your office bag.

Sitting upright and sipping warm water can sometimes help soothe the throat slightly during mild wheezing. But let us be very clear: during an actual asthma attack, home remedies will not work. You must use the prescribed rescue inhaler or seek urgent medical help if the symptoms are severe.

During a severe breathing difficulty, one must remain sitting upright and try to take slow, focused belly breaths to avoid hyperventilating. While regular pranayama helps strengthen the lungs over time to prevent issues, please rely strictly on your doctor's emergency inhaler when an active attack occurs.