What to do in an asthma attack

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are about taking your asthma medicines and avoiding your triggers, you may find that you have an asthma attack.

Recommended steps

The following guidelines are suitable for both children and adults and are the recommended steps to follow in an asthma attack:

1. Take your reliever inhaler (usually blue), immediately
2. Sit down and ensure that any tight clothing is loosened. Do not lie down
3. If no immediate improvement during an attack, continue to take one puff of your reliever inhaler every minute for five minutes or until symptoms improve
4. If your symptoms do not improve in five minutes – or you are in doubt – call 999 or a doctor urgently
5. Continue to take one puff of your reliever inhaler every minute until help arrives

You are having an asthma attack if any of the following happen:

Your reliever does not help symptoms
Your symptoms are getting worse (cough, breathlessness, wheeze or tight chest)
You are too breathless to speak, eat or sleep

Do not be afraid of causing a fuss, even at night. If you are admitted to hospital or an accident and emergency department because of your asthma, take details of your medicines with you.

After an emergency asthma attack:

Make an appointment with your doctor or asthma nurse for an asthma review, within 48 hours of your attack
You will also need another review within one or two weeks after your asthma attack to make sure your symptoms are better controlled

Do not ignore worsening symptoms

Most people find that asthma attacks are the result of gradual worsening of symptoms over a few days. If your asthma symptoms are getting worse do not ignore them! Follow your personal asthma action plan. If symptoms continue to get worse make an urgent appointment to see your doctor or asthma nurse. Quite often, using your reliever is all that is needed to relieve your asthma symptoms when you start to have an asthma attack. At other times, symptoms are more severe and more urgent action is needed