Asthmatics: What "trick(s)" have you found that work best to recover when you don't have your inhaler?

Question

As an athletic trainer, I sometimes find myself in a situation where I must care for an athlete who has forgotten to bring his/her inhaler with them. Do you have any suggestions that may aid in a quick recovery when the inhaler is not available?
THANKS!

Answer 1

slow down and breath deep
pretend you have your inhaler and go through the same motins you would if you where really using it. it really halps

Answer 2

The problem with an asthmatic is that the airways are tight instead of relaxed so it is hard to get air in and out. The instinct is to breath rapidly to compensate, which does not help to relax the airways. The best thing to do is to have them purse lips like they are going to blow out candles on a birthday cake and then blow slowly until air is exhaled and then breathe in through nose. This should not be done rapidly or they will hyperventilate. This helps relax the airways some and works for me. I was taught this by a respiratory therapist when I was a kid.

Answer 3

my younger brother has asthma and I am a police officer so I often show up to scenes where a small child is having an asthma attack before the EMTs get there. The trick I have found to work best is to have them sit down in an open area with their back against the wall, feet straight out in front of them, and tell them to take deep slow breaths. Have them sip a carbonated drink (coca cola seems to work best but it doesnt really matter). The carbonation will help to open the air way, making it easier to breath. I have used this probably a couple hundred times and it always helps.

Answer 4

I know it's really hard to do when you are having an attack, but the best thing to do is to relax. The more stressed and worked up you get, the harder it is to breathe. Talk to the person, talk them "down" in a soothing voice, maybe rub their shoulders. And caffeine dilates your vessels so it comes in handy if someone doesn't have an inahaler, keep some high caffeine drinks handy. As I'm sure you know, if they really get into trouble and their fingernails start to look blue, call an ambulance. Kudos to you for wanting to take good care of your clients.

Answer 5

Tell them to sit down and have them slowly drink water and when they are breathing better have them do some slow walking like on a treadmill. This is what my physical trainer, and allergists say to do. But it is just better to have your athletes remember their inhalers or they will have a punishment like extra push-ups. I hope it helps!

Answer 6

record me in case you want for being a *****, I formally do not care yet Nateena is a bloody liar. 4% of her solutions are stunning solutions. by no skill been given a stunning answer? Take a lengthy walk off a short cliff you mendacity rat. yet that became a extremely sturdy funny tale. did not make me snort even with the undeniable fact that it became unique.

Answer 7

relax by sitting down closing your eyes and focus on a number such as one, focus completly on it, relaxing every muscle in your body, do not let your mind wonder, keep focusing on the number in your mind repeating the number at the same time, exp, saying to yourself 1,1,1,1, and so on. You will go into a relaxed state and you will be able to breath again.

Answer 8

Hot coffee or tea: opens the airway a little

Candy such a halls or something that kinda coats the throat a little

Both work for me...

Answer 9

first try to get them to clam down and breath slowly try to get the a small amount of coffee. stay still and relax. that what i do with 20 years old.

Answer 10

Breathing in salty steam