An estimated 300 million in the world suffer from asthma today. It is likely that you or someone you know has been affected by asthma in one way or another.

1. How to Treat Asthma Attacks
An estimated 300 million in the world suffer from asthma
today. It is likely that you or someone you know has been
affected by asthma in one way or another.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that
is caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors.
Symptoms of asthma include excessive coughing, wheezing, a
tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath.
Several triggers can aggravate asthma in an individual. One of these things is polluted air.
Pollution
The pollution in the air gets in the asthmatic’s lungs and causes severe irritation, which can lead to
excessive coughing and possibly blocked airways. Another trigger for asthmatics is the presence of mold
in a contained area.
When mold settles onto a surface, it begins releasing spores into the air as a form of reproduction. For
an asthmatic, however, this can be detrimental.
The mold spores act just as the flecks of pollution acted in their lungs. They inflame and irritate the lungs
and just cause problems for the asthmatic.
If you are close to someone who has asthma, it is important to know what to do if this person has an
asthma attack. When you’re near someone who is having an asthma attack, the first thing you should do
is try to determine whether it is a severe or moderate attack.
Signs of an asthma attack
You can recognize if the person is having a severe asthma attack if they are: coughing uncontrollably,
panicking, showing signs of not being able to breathe, having difficulty talking, or if these symptoms
continue despite taking their prescribed asthma medications. If you recognize that the person near you
is having a severe asthma attack, it is crucial that you call emergency medical services immediately.
If you do not take swift and decisive action then the situation could become dire very quickly. Moderate
asthma attacks are more common than severe ones, however, so it could be likely that the person is
experiencing a more moderate attack.

2. In the case of a moderate attack, it is important to first try to get the person to sit down. Another thing
they can do is lean forward with their hands on their knees, in order to reduce pressure on the
diaphragm.
It’s important to also ask the person if they have asthma, even though you may already be sure. If they
do not respond verbally, they will probably at least nod or gesture towards their inhaler.
Inhaler
The next step is to help them find their inhaler. Inhalers
contain special medication that helps the asthmatic’s airways
when they are having an attack.
Each asthmatic’s inhaler is specific to their needs, so this is why
it is important to find the inhaler. Make sure to shake the
inhaler in order to activate and mix the medication that is
inside.
The person suffering from the attack may be hunched forward, so it is important to try to move their
upper body back so you can put the inhaler up to their mouth. After you’ve given them temporary relief,
it is important to call emergency medical services so they can receive the help and care that they need.
Learning how to prevent asthma attacks is almost as important as learning how to deal with them when
they happen. One way is to make sure that there is no mold present in an asthmatic’s home.
Mold removal in Salem is quick and easy with Belfor, a company that specializes in property restoration.
If you or someone close to you is an asthmatic, they should be interested in mold removal in Salem
because it could potentially save their life.
Photo credit: Worid Bank Photo Collection, Jenn Durfey