Stress as an asthma trigger

 

 We had a little family emergency last night.

We are worried about one elderly family member who is in the hospital caring for their spouse. The reason for our concern is that the caregiver has asthma -  and stress can actually trigger an asthma attack. 

I wasn't even thinking about that last night as we were discussing the situation with our kids. But Son #1 brought it up.

We were worried about the caregiver's coping skills, you never know how people will react in an emergency. Son #1 said, "I hope she's okay and doesn't get so stressed out that she has an asthma attack". 

Oh yeah, that.

We reminded Caregiver to take her inhaler with her to the hospital.

Belly breathing can also help your stress level or anxiety if you have an asthma attack. 

I taught a workshop in daughter Kitty's school on behalf of American Lung Association. The workshop is called "Open Airways". They are short 40 minute lessons about asthma and how to self manage. One of the lessons teaches kids to belly breathe. 

You can put one hand on your stomach and one on your chest, then you breathe slowly in through your nose, and out through your mouth. I usually do it 5 times in a row.

You need to take care of yourself when you have asthma. 

Otherwise, you won't be any good to our loved one in the hospital - especially if the staff has to deal with two patients instead of one.

Asthma is so strange, because there are so many triggers and it affects everyone so differently. There is no one size fits all set of triggers and treatment plans.

So, if you happen to find yourself in an emergency, remember belly breathing. Take deep breaths and make sure you have your inhaler with you just in case. The last thing you need in an emergency is an unexpected asthma attack.