TL;DR:
If you’re having an asthma attack without an inhaler, stay calm, sit upright, and practice breathing exercises. Call 911 if symptoms escalate. Avoid triggers and consider doctor-approved natural remedies. Preparedness matters—get certified in first aid to handle emergencies effectively.
Main Points:
- Call 911 if symptoms are severe or worsening.
- Sit upright and stay calm to ease breathing.
- Use breathing techniques like diaphragmatic or Buteyko methods.
- Avoid known triggers like smoke, pollen, and cold air.
- Consider natural remedies with doctor guidance (e.g., honey, eucalyptus).
- Get certified in first aid and CPR for emergency preparedness.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects people of all ages and over 200 million people in the world. Caused by inflammation and muscles tightening around the airways, asthma often manifests as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and rapid breathing. The severity of these symptoms will vary from person to person, but they can be life-threatening.
Rescue inhalers are important for those with asthma to carry at all times because they provide immediate relief, reduce asthma symptoms, and prevent asthma attacks. They work by delivering asthma medication directly to open your airways and relieve an asthma flare.
But what if there’s an instance where you do not have an inhaler handy? Before such a situation arises, you should talk to your doctor and come up with an asthma action plan, so you are prepared to manage symptoms and treat asthma even if you don’t have an inhaler.
There are natural ways to treat asthma, which we’ll explore in this article, but first what four steps should you keep in mind?
How to Stop an Asthma Attack Without an Inhaler
- Call 911
While this may not be your first response nor instinct the moment you experience asthma-related symptoms without an inhaler, calling 911 should remain in the back of your mind as you monitor your symptoms. If they worsen or escalate, seek emergency services immediately.
You should call 911 if
- You have trouble speaking or breathing
- Your chest is very tight
- Your lips or face appear blue
- You feel faint, dizzy, or tired
- Your shortness of breath and/or wheezing is severe
If you are with someone who can speak, make them call 911 for you as you focus on your breathing.
- Stay calm and sit upright
In the meantime, as you wait for emergency services or monitor your symptoms, immediately sit upright. Laying down will make your symptoms worse and restrict your breathing. Sitting upright and staying calm helps keep your airways open.
- Breathing exercises
Do your best to take slow, steady, and consistent breaths if you feel an asthma attack coming.
Some breathing exercises can help reduce symptoms.
These include
- Diaphragmatic breathing: breathing intentionally and deep through your diaphragm rather than your chest
- Yoga breathing techniques: controlling the duration and timing of your breaths and staying consistent
- Buteyko method: breathing slowly, calmly, and intentionally through your nose rather than your mouth
- Papworth method: relaxed breathing based on breathing patterns with your diaphragm and nose, not your chest and mouth
Practice these breathing exercises in your own time when you are not experiencing asthma symptoms, so you understand how to do them. Speak with your doctor about them as well.
- Move and stay away from asthma triggers
Similar to how the severity of people’s asthma symptoms vary, so do the things that trigger asthma symptoms in people.
If you have asthma, you should be aware of what aggravates your airways. If you start to have trouble breathing, move away from noticeable triggers you can get away from or wherever you are quickly until you start to feel better.
Common asthma triggers include
- Smoke (cigarettes, fire, cigars, pipes, vapes, cars, pollution, etc.)
- Pollen
- Pet dander (tiny flakes of dead skin that pets like cats, dogs, and birds shed)
- Cold, dry air
- Dust
- Mold
- Specific foods and additives
- Drugs/Medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, beta-blockers)
- Intense exercise
- Respiratory infections (common cold, flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, etc.)
- Stress/Anxiety
Recognizing triggers before you experience any symptoms is important when it comes to preventing an attack. It’s crucial to remain alert and observant.
How to Help Asthma Without Inhaler
If you do not have an inhaler handy and you are experiencing mild asthma symptoms, there are natural remedies you can try. None of these natural remedies are a replacement for your inhaler, asthma medication, or asthma action plan.
Before trying any of these remedies, you must talk to your doctor first. It’s also important that you are near a trusted and responsible person when you try any of these remedies in case any of these ingredients are an asthma trigger for you that you didn’t realize was one before.
- Eucalyptus oil: Drop a few drops of eucalyptus oil in a bowl of boiled water and breathe in the scent and steam to open your airways.
- Mustard oil: Warm oil from mustard seeds can open your airways and rubbing this oil on your chest can help you feel better.
- Caffeine: Drinking coffee, tea, or soda can open your airways.
- Honey: Eating a spoonful of honey or mixing it in some warm water can help you feel better and rid your throat of phlegm.
- Turmeric/Ginger/Garlic: Consuming turmeric, ginger, or garlic can reduce inflammation.
Take First Aid Certification Courses
You never want to anticipate a medical emergency, but it’s so important to always be prepared for one. The best way to prepare? Getting first aid certified.
Sign up for online classes through the American AED/CPR Association and get CPR and First Aid certified today.
These nationally accredited classes are available for free. You only need to purchase the certificate itself. Don’t take something as simple as breathing for granted. Learn how to properly react in any emergency in which you or someone near you is having trouble breathing.