Asthma

Question 1

What can trigger asthma?

Answer 1

→ Viral respiratory infections

→ Exposure to known allergens

→ Exposure to chemicals or other occupational sensitisers

→ Exposure to irritants eg. Smoking, bush fire, perfume

→ Reflux

→ Drugs eg. Aspirin, ibuprofen and beta-blockers

→ Foods

→ Food additives eg. Sulphite preservatives, colourings, metabisulphite, monosodium glutamate

→ Changes in weather, exposure to cool air

→ Exercise

→Emotion

Question 2

What’s the sign of a mild asthma attack?

Answer 2

→ Cough

→ Soft wheeze

→ Minor difficulty breathing

→ No difficulty speaking in sentence

Question 3

What’s the sign of a moderat asthma attack?

Answer 3

→ Persistent cough

→ Loud wheeze

→ Tightness in the chest

→ Obvious difficulty breathing

→ Able to speak in short sentences only

Question 4

What’s the sign of a saver asthma attack?

Answer 4

→ Very distressed and anxious

→ Gasping for breath

→ Unable to speak more that a few words in one breath

→ Pale and sweaty

→ May have blue lips

→ Little or no improvement from reliever medication

→ Feeling anxious and distressed

Question 5

What are the steps for using a puffer?

Answer 5

1. Sit the person upright, reassure them and attempt to keep calm
2. Do not leave the person alone
3. Without delay shake for each puff. A blue reliever puffer and give 4 separate puffs though a spacer if available. Use 1 puff at a time and ask the person to take 4 breaths from the spacer after each puff
4. Wait 4 minutes
5. If there is no improvement repeat step 3
6. If there is still no improvement after another 4 minutes or you are concerned call 00 and repeat step 3 and 4 until ambulance arrives