According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Albuquerque is one of the most challenging places to live with asthma. It comes in at number 38 on its list of asthma capitals, partially because of all the dust and allergens in the air, which can trigger attacks. Even if you have lived with the condition for years, it can still become quite dangerous. Thus, learn more about serious medical symptoms that indicate it’s time to go to the emergency room. Also, go over treatment options to control your asthma at home.
Emergency Asthma Symptoms
Asthma can cause various symptoms, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing that gets worse at night. If a doctor is treating you, you can manage many of the symptoms at home. However, don’t hesitate to go to the emergency room if you:
- Have extreme anxiety, panic, or a feeling of impending doom
- Experience intense chest pain or pressure
- Are coughing persistently, and it won’t stop with asthma medication
- Are breathing rapidly
- Have a hard time talking
- Are pale and/or sweating profusely
- Have bluish lips and/or fingernails
- Have gray or whitish lips and/or gums
If you are in extreme distress, call 911. If not, you can go to the emergency room.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed?
If you have yet to be diagnosed with asthma, the emergency room staff will need to conduct an examination and run tests to confirm you have the condition. This might include:
- History and physical
- Discussion of symptoms
- Lung function test
- Chest X-ray
- Sinus X-ray
The emergency room doctor will then review the test results to confirm the diagnosis. Then the doctor will determine the severity, which could be intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, or severe persistent asthma.
If your condition has progressed to moderate or severe persistent asthma, you might be terrified, especially since there isn’t a cure. Fortunately, treatment can lessen the symptoms and severity. Thus, if you have severe persistent asthma now, you could be downgraded to moderate asthma after following your treatment plan.
Treating Asthma
Doctors have lots of options at their disposal to treat asthma. Quick-relief medications are commonly prescribed for those who suffer from the condition. If prescribed, you can use the medication at the first onset of symptoms. Then you’ll be less likely to experience a life-threatening asthma attack or another medical emergency.
Your doctor also might prescribe controller medications for you to take daily. These medicines can reduce inflammation and other changes to the airways because of asthma. Once on controller medicines, you shouldn’t have to use quick-relief medications nearly as often.
Finally, your doctor might inject or infuse biologics to treat severe persistent asthma. Biologics prevent your airway from swelling, so you won’t struggle to breathe.
Seek Relief From Asthma Symptoms
If the condition feels like an emergency, call 911. If you’re experiencing asthma symptoms, seek medical attention and visit PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care.
Unlike most ERs or urgent care centers in the area, PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care in Albuquerque, patients are only billed for the level of services they need. The ER and urgent care are open 24 hours a day, every day. No appointment is required for in-person visits.
PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care has four convenient locations:
- PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care Paseo/San Pedro is located at 6400 Paseo Del Norte Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, and may be reached at 505-596-2100.
- PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care Coors/Western Trail is located at 4515 Coors Blvd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87120, and may be reached at 505-596-2200.
- PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care Isleta/Rio Bravo is located at 3436 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, and may be reached at 505-596-2300.
- PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care Menaul/Pennsylvania is located at 7400 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, and may be reached at 505-596-2400.
