Helping Someone Live with Asthma

Helping someone live with asthma can be a frightening responsibility. Attacks can be scary, especially if you don’t know what will trigger an attack, or when an attack will take place. But by understanding the condition you can effectively and successively help your loved one manage, treat and control asthma.

Understand the Symptoms

Some common asthma symptoms include:

• Coughing (usually worse at night or early in the morning)
• Chest tightness (feeling like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest)
• Shortness of breath (feeling out of breath or feeling like you can’t get enough air into your lungs)
• Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe)
• Faster breathing or noisy breathing

Note the symptoms and treat them as early warning signs of a possible asthma attack.

Care-giving Tips

It’s not easy to care for a family member or friend with asthma. You may be unsure of the best way to help, and helping may mean making adjustments in your own life. The following are some tips to aid you in helping someone with asthma:

• Make sure your loved one has an Asthma Action Plan. Familiarize yourself with it so that you will know exactly what to do if needed.
• Learn about the asthma medications your loved one takes: know whether the medication is quick-relief or long-term, the correct dosage required, and the times it should be taken.
• Know what to do during an emergency and know which medication will help and how to administer it.
• If you think your loved one is having a severe episode, get medical help immediately.
• If your loved-one’s asthma is allergy-induced, allergy-proof the environment as much as possible.

Helping a Child with Asthma

See: Children with Asthma