An Action Plan For Your Next Asthma Attack

What would you do if as an adult, you were identified as having Asthma? Would you be shocked like I was?

I was hiking at Spray Falls in the Mt. Rainier area about 15 years ago. I am an active person and didn't understand why I had shortness of breath while traversing up the mountain. I had to keep stopping. Talk about a long hike. When I reached the top, somehow I managed to shoot a great deal of pictures. Spray Falls is one of the most gorgeous sites I've seen. Since that incident, I haven't returned. I plan to go back someday to take more pictures.

The shortness of breath continued at home. I didn't understand what was going on. I had to keep stepping outside for air. What was up? It was getting scary!

My allergist advised me that I had asthma. How could I have asthma? I'm an adult. How could this be? Why was this happening to me?

I was sent on my way loaded with an emergency and a daily preventive inhaler, which I refused to use. I was still in disbelief that I had asthma. One day I was out on a trail walking with a friend and suddenly I was out of air. I couldn't walk any further. All I had with me was a preventive inhaler, not the emergency inhaler. Why? I don't know. The preventive puffer won't work during an attack, so I suffered but survived.

That awful experience forced me to finally listen to the doctor and start puffing daily. At first my voice went away, but I was breathing and that's all that mattered.

After using the higher dosage for a while, I was able to switch to a lower daily dosage. After doing that for a while, I felt like my asthma was gone forever and stopped using my meds. I was so happy that I was cured and could go on with normal life. After about a week, my asthma returned with a vengeance and the attacks got the best of me. I was spending the nights in hotels and hanging out in movie theatres and malls just so I could have some air. I didn't have air conditioning at my condo. This could not continue. I had to do something.

Back on the inhaler I went. I've been using it every day for years and seem to have it under control. I'm down to the lowest dosage, maybe a puff every other day. If I start flaring up, I use it more frequently. I actually am doing quite well now. I keep a few preventive and emergency puffers around my house and in the car just in case!

I used to completely PANIC when having an Asthma attack, but I've learned secrets to deal with it and they've really helped me.

1. Don't panic, go to a designated quite place (mine was my bedroom) and puff, lie down, and RELAX.

2. Sit down next to a hot pan of steamed water or humidifier or get into a hot steamy shower for about 10 minutes.

3. Outside COLD air can set off an attack. Don't go outside.

4. Drink hot water every day. You will make your lungs happy. Cold water can make you tight.

5. Talk to your doctor before going off of your daily inhaler. Never go off just because you feel better.

6. Don't stuff yourself when you eat. It can put pressure on your lungs.

7. Take your emergency inhaler wherever you go. I have several that are stored in different places like bedroom, family room, purse, and each of our cars.

8. Carpets collect dust. Replace with hardwood floors.

9. Install air conditioning, if you can, it works wonders. ALWAYS keep your windows CLOSED during pollen season.

10. To eliminate dust, buy a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner. Other Non-HEPA vacuums can redistribute dust in other parts of the house.

Do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you experience breathing problems or think you might have asthma.