How to Cope With an Asthma Attack

By Madeline Vann, MPH everydayhealth.com

You start to panic because you are short of breath. If you’re out in public, you’re likely to also become embarrassed by your situation. And next, your asthma control disappears. It’s a vicious cycle: fear of an asthma attack can actually make the experience of an actual asthma attack even worse, which creates more fear and worry about when the next attack might occur.

But the good news is that you can get a handle on this escalating cycle by learning how to cope, relax, and be prepared, all at the same time.

An Asthma Attack and Stress: What’s Going On?

The problem starts in your brain, and spirals from there. “The interesting mind-body part of asthma is that the anxiety parts of our brain are very finely attuned to breathing problems, meaning that if people’s carbon dioxide levels go up or their oxygen levels go down, the brain very quickly tweaks the fight or flight response,” explains Wayne Katon, Read Full Story

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