How To Save Someone From An Asthma Attack

Asthma is a condition that inflames the airways, making it difficult to manage normal breathing. There are a wide variety of ‘asthma triggers’ such as dust and fur from pets. These nuisances cause the body to release histamine, which inflames and narrows the airways. It usually takes a course of medication to alleviate the symptoms of an asthma attack. A small amount of training on the treatment protocol can go a long way in helping a sufferer.

One of the main symptoms of an asthma attack is an overall feeling of breathlessness. The resulting narrowing of the airways will also cause the chest to tighten up, whereby the sufferer may even be clutching on this region of the body. Bouts of coughing can accompany the above symptoms, alongside ‘wheezing noises’, which are caused by a blockage when breathing in and out.

Cyanosis is also quite common. This is visible by the skin taking a grey / blue appearance, and may also be evident in the extremities like the lips and finger tips. These symptoms are similar to other serious breathing disorders; therefore it is important to talk to the casualty and those around them to work out if they suffer from the condition.

The first port of call when treating a casualty is to sit them down, and allow for a period of rest. This is by no means the cure; however the sufferer will increase the pressure on the respiratory system by standing up, or by being in an agitated state. The next step after recognising an ‘asthma attack’ is to search for the sufferer’s medication. This usually takes the form of a small blue / brown cylinder, which should be carried at all times. The casualty should be encouraged to draw two puffs from this, every two minutes, for a maximum of ten puffs. The emergency services should be called if there is no access to medication, no improvement, or after ten puffs from the inhaler.

As with most conditions, the treatment protocol does not always go entirely to plan. The main issue that arises is insufficient access to the sufferer’s medication. This may be because they have forgotten to take it out with them, or possibly as a result of not being diagnosed with the condition. The inhalers are vital in alleviating the symptoms of an attack. A casualty’s breathing will become more and more laboured without medication, up to a point where they could even suffer from a cardiac arrest. Those who have received first aid training need to be prepared to start cardio pulmonary resuscitations (CPR) in the event of a cardiac arrest.

Luckily there appears to be a new vaccination on the way, which could help stop asthma attacks all together. It has been dubbed the ‘supercharged’ vaccine as it fires electrical pulses through the skin, directly into the cells within the immune system. This then naturally increases the amount of helper cells, which fight against the harmful effects from mites and house dust. It may well be in the early stages, but this could be the answer that asthma sufferers have been searching for.

Bill Casserley is an experienced first aider, who truly believes “life is for learning”. Could you spot the signs of asthma? If not then visit the first aid training courses blog @ http://www.train-aid.co.uk for video tutorials.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Casserley

Healthy News: Asthma Attack

This is showing asthma attack and I think this is very dangers diseases in your health and personality because this disease is much sensitive I mean that is create any where and anyplace. Sp please you take care and this article is presenting child has asthma attack.

“Asthma is a risk factor for more serious flu and people who have asthma are more at risk for flu complications like pneumonia and hospitalizations, so if you can do anything to prevent the flu in that group, it’s important,” says E. Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “If your child has asthma, the recommendations remain the same.”
“It is too early to do an about-face on something that makes sense to do, and has been proven safe and effective in many other studies,” Dr. Schachter says. “The flu shot, although not 100% effective, is known to prevent the flu. Getting the flu shot, whether you are asthmatic, nonasthmatic, a child, or an adult, means you will be less likely to come down with the flu. This is based on bigger studies of wider numbers.” Via

Teenager, 14, who died of asthma attack saves FIVE other children by donating organs- UK

Daily Mail | Sam Webb

A final act of kindness; Cleo Lloyd, 14, a schoolgirl from Anglesey in North Wales died suddenly after suffering an asthma attack. Her organs are being donated to five separate children.

The family of a tragic schoolgirl who died of an asthma attack today revealed her organs have been donated to five other children.

Cleo Lloyd, 14, died when her life support machine was turned off – but her family gave permission for her organs to be used in transplant operations.

The schoolgirl’s heartbroken mum Fiona, 32, said: ‘I made that decision because she always put other people before herself.

‘It is what she would have wanted – she was thoughtful, always smiling, and a bubbly girl with lots if friends’.
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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}