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# Asthma

Asthma Emergency Room Treatment

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## What is Asthma?

Asthma is a respiratory condition that causes the airways to become inflamed and narrowed. It has several notable symptoms including coughing, wheezing, chest tightening, and mucus production.

## When to Go to Emergency Room (ER) for Asthma

If you are experiencing symptoms associated with Asthma, a chronic lung disease, you should go to your nearest emergency center (ER) for immediate help. If you are experiencing a bad flare-up or your medicine isn’t working as intended, then it is time to seek emergency room help.

## Common Asthma Symptoms

People experience several symptoms when they have the disease or are having an asthma attack. These symptoms can be caused by a variety of factors. Asthma symptoms can manifest in many ways. Below are common signs of the disease.

1. Coughing
2. Wheezing
3. Mucus Production
4. Chest Tightening

## Causes of Coughing and Wheezing

- Common Cold – The common cold can cause a person to a cough and wheeze as the virus travels to and infects the person’s sinuses and lungs
- Sinus Infection – Mucus produced in the infected sinuses can travel to a person’s throat and lungs that leads to coughing and wheezing
- Pneumonia – A serious viral or bacterial infection of the lungs can lead to fluid build-up and difficulty breathing as a person tries to cough up the mucus in his or her lungs
- Cold Air – Cold air can cause an asthmatic to experience temporary loss of breath or a “winded” feeling, as well as a dry throat and nose that induces coughing
- Scents and Odors – Many people with asthma are sensitive to strong smells like perfumes and flowers
- Smoke – Tobacco smoke or smoke from cooking, barbecues, campfires, and more induce coughing spells in many people with asthma

See Also: How Houston Humidity Can affect your Asthma

## Causes of Mucus Production

- Aspiration – Inhaling foreign substances like water, dust, powder, pollen, or in the case of babies, meconium can lead to excessive mucus production
- Choking – Choking on food, medicine or beverages can people with the condition to experience mucus product that can lead to an asthma attack
- Allergies – Seasonal or chronic allergies often encourages excessive mucus to build in the throats, noses, and airways of people who have the disease

## Causes of Chest Tightening

- Exercise – Running, jumping or even brisk walking can cause the chest to become tight and induce an attack
- Laughing –Chest tightness when they laugh or have bouts of giggling can cause an attack
- Menstruation – Some women report experiencing chest tightness when they have their menstruation accompanied by severe cramps are known to be causes of asthma symptoms
- Panic – Panic attacks or people who are stressed and fearful can experience any or all of these symptoms
- Injuries – An injury to the upper chest, ribs or back can cause an attack
- Roaches – Roach droppings and shed cockroach dander are known asthma triggers
- Medications – aspirin medications like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium cause asthma symptoms in people who are allergic or sensitive to aspirin.

## Asthma Treatment Options

At SignatureCare Emergency Center, there are several methods that our ER doctors may use to treat your asthma symptoms including asthma in children. These include:

### Asthma CPAP Treatment

We may use a CPAP machine to gently move air through your lungs. The machine, which features a mask and a motor, may help to open up your airways while providing you with the oxygen your body needs in order to function. In some cases, you may need to use a CPAP machine at home in order to help control your asthma.

### Ventilator Treatment

If your condition is severe, we may put you on a ventilator so that we can improve your lung function. This treatment will require you to wear a mask as a machine pumps air into and out of your lungs.

### Nebulizer Treatment

A nebulizer is a machine that is used to administer medication, and it is often helpful for people who need larger doses of medicine for their asthma symptoms. The nebulizer transforms liquid medication into a mist so that you can inhale it through a mask. In addition to placing you on a nebulizer during your visit, we may write a prescription so that you can purchase a nebulizer to take home with you for future asthma attacks.

If you are having asthma emergency, please visit the closest ER immediately. Our board-certified medical doctors and other emegency medical professionals can treat your symptoms so that you can breathe easily once again.

Our board-certified physicians will take care of you, within the comforts of our fully-stocked facility. Schedule an appointment with us. Having trouble breathing is considered a medical emergency and you should visit the ER immediately or call 911 right away.

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