How to Treat Bronchospasm at Home
There are ways to treat bronchospasm at home. Bronchospasm rather than a disease is a symptom that occurs when bronchi become temporarily clogged due to an internal swelling. Because bronchospasm provokes the narrowing of the airways, the main symptom is a difficulty in breathing normally, together with the emergence of a wheezing cough and an oppressive feeling in the chest. It is a common sign in patients with asthma though it can also be caused by other factors, as discussed in this OneHowTo article. Read on and discover how to treat bronchospasm at home, in addition to learning about its common causes and symptoms.
Steps to follow:
Bronchospasm can be caused by muscle contractions in the walls of the lungs, inflammation of the lung mucosa or both simultaneously. Some common conditions that cause its appearance are:
- Asthma.
- Respiratory infections.
- Chronic lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis.
- Allergic reaction to certain chemical components.
- Anaphylactic shock.
It should be noted that the symptoms of bronchospasm may vary from one patient to another, the intensity as well as the duration of the spasm can vary. Typically, sufferers of this condition experience the following symptoms:
- Tightness or chest pain.
- Wheezing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Difficulty breathing normally: when the bronchi are obstructed a greater pressure for the air to pass through them is required.
- Cough.
- Excess of sticky mucus, which can further clog the bronchi and make breathing even more difficult.
Given the intensity of the symptoms of bronchospasm, it is essential to see a doctor as soon as possible. A specialist will make a diagnosis to find out whether the symptoms of bronchospasm are due to asthma attacks, or something else.
Normally the treatment for bronchospasm includes administering medicines called bronchodilators. These promote the release of the airways, facilitating airflow and therefore contributing to improved breathing. Their action is quite fast and in about 10 minutes the patient may begin to notice an improvement. It is important to follow the doctor's instructions and respect both dose and duration of bronchospasm treatment at all times.
As noted earlier, asthma is one of the main causes of bronchospasm, so in addition to bronchodilators the doctor may prescribe other types of drugs to prevent and treat asthma attacks. Furthermore, it is also possible to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce bronchial inflammation and an excessive presence of mucus. All this will help the patient to breathe with less difficulty. It is likely that the latter will be alternated with those discussed previously, so always follow the doctors' instructions for the bronchospasm treatment to take effect.
In some cases, acute respiratory spasm can be caused or intensified due to anxiety or stress, which can cause the patient to hyperventilate. When this situation occurs the doctor will consider prescribing medication for the treatment of anxiety. Thus, tension, nervousness and difficulty breathing will all be reduced and the occurrence of bronchospasm due to emotional disorder will be avoided.
Once you know the proper medication, and you have been carefully examined by your doctor, you can take some steps to treat bronchospasm at home. The steps detailed below will be important for preventing the appearance of bronchial spasms and treating brochospasms at home:
- Avoid environments that are smoky, damp or dusty.
- Keep domestic spaces well ventilated and clean.
- Avoid sudden temperature changes.
- Avoid contact with agents or components that cause us allergy.
- Get vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal. This reduces the chances of respiratory infections and the occurrence of bronchospasm.
- Avoid smoking.
Other ways to treat bronchospasm at home, that are more long term oriented are:
- Acupuncture: it works very well as a natural treatment for asthma
- Learning breathing techniques such as yoga will help you better oxygenate and clear the airways, thus treating bronchospasm
- Adequate diet: first of all, you should avoid obesity if you want to treat bronchospasm at home. You should follow a healthy diet and excercise
- Gingko Biloba can work very well as a natural anti inflammatory, helping you treat bronchospasm at home
- Echinacea will help you breath better
- If your problem is cough, you should use honey as well
- You should wash your nose with salt water every day. It will help clear the airways and breath better
- Lastly, the remedy for just about everything: water, drink plenty if you want to treat bronchospasm at home
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Treat Bronchospasm at Home, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
