ASTHMA FIRST AID: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
23-year-old Onneile Tshukudu has been struggling with asthma for years. Now a student at Botho University (BU), she discovered she had asthma when she was 12.
“It started one morning while in class, I felt my chest tightening, followed by a sharp pain as if my heart wanted to pop out. I was gasping for air as if in a tight box.
“It felt like there was no oxygen and everything was in slow motion, My classmates just stared at me, not knowing what to do as I wheezed and struggled to breath until I was rushed to the nearest clinic,” she shared.
She says the condition prevented her from participating in sports at school nor can she indulge in strenuous activities and is also allergic to dust.
She has to carry her inhaler everywhere she goes because an attack can occur at any time.
Dr Obonye Lentswe explains that asthmatic attacks can be life-threatening. To manage them, he says the first step is staying away from triggers as much as possible.
For example, if one is allergic, it is best to stay away from the sources of the allergens if they trigger your symptoms.
According to Dr Lentswe, an attack happen anytime. It can be triggered by environmental factors, especially when one is not aware of what is happening, or the triggers. Asthma can be controlled by regularly using rescue inhalers and other medications as recommended by the doctor.
The medic said anyone with asthma needs to know basic first aid, and so should their partners or the people they live with.
“As soon as you notice the symptoms of an asthma attack such as chest tightness, wheezing, gasping for breath, take your rescue inhaler,” he said.
“If your symptoms are mild, take your quick-relief medication right away, and you should be able to feel better after 20 minutes.” Dr Lentswe advises asthmatics to always be alert on the triggers surrounding them and if the condition worsens or doesn’t improve after the action plan, one should get help immediately.
“After an attack, don’t stay alone. Sit upright and take slow, steady breaths as it helps you stay calm. Asthma attacks worsen quickly, especially in children, therefore monitoring them is necessary or taking them to the nearest health facility can help prevent subsequent attacks.”
He said recovery from severe asthma attacks can take hours to several days depending on the severity of the condition, and if there is damage to the lungs, treatment may be needed.
He also advised regular check-ups on children at least once a month, and adults at least once a year so that if one is asthmatic, treatment can commence early.