What to do when your asthma flares up

When it comes to asthma, you might have a lot of questions on your mind including “What are asthma flare ups?”, “What causes asthma flare ups?”, “What to do when your asthma flares up?”, “Can asthma flare up during pregnancy?” and “Can stress cause asthma flare ups”.  

In this article, we provide you with some practical tips on what to do if your asthma is acting up as well as some questions that we get asked frequently about asthma flare ups. 

Case 1: When you see a decrease in your peak flow readings 

A peak flow meter is a handheld device which measures how well your lungs are performing at their best. When the levels of your peak flow are less than 80 percent, your asthma becomes worse. This also means it is poorly taken care of. If the peak flow numbers are low or not on a consistent basis, immediately contact your doctor. 

Case 2: When you are unable to keep your typical exercise routine 

With your asthma getting worse, if you do need to use your inhaler more frequently and you chest feels tight more often when you are doing physical exercise such as walking around the block or climbing the stairs, have a discussion about this with your doctor. There is a chance that your existing medications need a change so you are in a better position to control your asthma flare ups.   

Case 3: When you have occasional speaking difficulty 

If you need to pause to take a breath while you can’t finish speaking a whole sentence, you do need to consult your doctor. This typically stems from the fact that you cannot take sufficient air into your lungs to enable you to speak out at the slow rate necessary for general speech.    

Case 4: When you are using your inhaler more than normal 

If you feel that using your inhaler is of no much help when you use it, this signals that you have asthma flareups. You are advised to start monitoring how many times you use your inhaler on a given week. You can do so by taking a note on your phone or write it in a diary. This helps you with detecting what exactly causes your asthma flareups. For example, pollen might be the reason if you use your inhaler mostly following your outdoor activities. 

FAQs 

What are asthma flare ups and what does asthma flare up feel like? 

An asthma flare-up is a medical condition in which your asthma symptoms becomes worse. You usually wheeze, cough or feel short of breath when you have an asthma flare-up. 

An asthma flare-up is also known as an asthma attack or an asthma exacerbation.  

What causes asthma flare ups? 

Causes for asthma flare-ups include air pollution, family history or even medication. 

Can asthma flare up cause fever? 

No. Instead, asthma flare-ups cause chest tightness, frequent coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing.  

Can asthma flare up from stress? 

Asthma flare-ups can happen because of stress and anxiety. It will sometimes make you breath improperly. Stress is unavoidable as it is part of your daily life. 

Can asthma flare up after years? 

Asthma can happen at any time in life whether you are 50, 60 or even later and can flare up after years. 

Can asthma flare up during pregnancy? 

Yes, it can. The key reason why asthma can flare up during pregnancy is that several moms-to-be do not take any more quick-relief asthma medications after they get pregnant. 

Can asthma flare-ups cause fatigue? 

Yes. Asthma flare-ups can cause fatigue. Despite not being one of the more typical asthma symptoms, fatigue can happen because of asthma flare-ups. Imagine when your body is putting more effort in breathing that is going to exhaust your body. 

Can stress cause asthma flare ups? 

Yes, it can. 

Why does asthma flare up at night? 

Even physicians are not completely certain why asthma flares up at night. However, the following things are perceived as contributing factors: higher levels of the hormone histamine, which blocks your airways, delayed response to an allergen you experienced in the daytime, exposure to allergens, for instance, dust mites in the mattress at night or sleep-related medical conditions like obstructive sleep apnea. 

Why does asthma flare up when it rains? 

Asthma can flare up when it rains because heavy rain can make pollen grains break up. After they break up, they get smaller and easier to breathe in, especially with the presence of the wind from the rain storm. 

Takeaway 

On the whole, being able to notice the symptoms of your asthma flare ups is very important. Do everything you possibly can to prevent your asthma triggers from happening. Besides, never hesitate to contact your physician if you believe that your existing treatment approach is not as effective as it is supposed to be.