Did you know that asthma is one of the most common chronic health conditions in Indiana? One in 13 children and 7.5 percent of adults in the state currently live with the condition. Unfortunately, there’s no cure, but you can manage your symptoms with an effective treatment plan. First, learn more about dangerous asthma attack symptoms to know when to go to the emergency room. Then find out how it’s diagnosed and treated, so you begin the process of getting your life back.

Asthma Difficulty Breathing

When Is Asthma an Emergency?

This chronic condition can cause various uncomfortable symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. You likely have these asthma symptoms under control if you’re currently taking medication.

Still, severe symptoms can appear at a moment’s notice. If this happens, take quick-relief medications and go to the emergency room if they persist. Additionally, go to the emergency room or call 911 immediately if you have dangerous symptoms and aren’t currently treated for asthma.

Call 911 or go to the ER if:

  • Your symptoms persist or worsen after taking medications
  • Your fingernails or lips have turned blue or gray
  • Your gums or lips look white or gray
  • You’re sweating profusely
  • You have a rapid pulse
  • Your skin is pale, moist, and/or cold
  • You are having trouble talking
  • You’re breathing rapidly
  • You have severe pain, pressure, or squeezing in your chest
  • You experience severe wheezing when breathing

If you have these symptoms, you might be going into shock or experiencing status asthmaticus, which can be fatal without prompt medical intervention.

Diagnosing Asthma at the ER

When you visit the emergency room, the staff will work to stabilize you quickly. Then you’ll need to undergo testing to confirm an asthma diagnosis. First, the doctor will examine you and go over your symptoms. Then your provider will order diagnostic tests to evaluate you further.

Lung function tests are common when diagnosing asthma. This might include spirometry, peak airflow, provocation, or FeNO tests. Additionally, your doctor might order a chest or sinus X-ray to take a closer look.

Diagnosing the Severity of Asthma

If you have asthma, your ER-trained doctor will then determine the degree. Mild intermittent asthma is the least serious of the four levels. Those with this condition have mild symptoms up to two days per week.

You can experience mild symptoms more than twice a week with mild persistent asthma. Then moderate persistent asthma includes significant symptoms each day.

Finally, severe persistent asthma is the most serious and includes severe symptoms most days of the week. You can also experience significant symptoms at night.  

Fortunately, treatment can help you reverse some of the damage and downgrade the severity of the condition.

Treating Asthma

While you need to follow up with your primary care provider, an ER physician can start your treatment plan. You might require quick-relief medications, such as asthma inhalers and controller medicine to treat changes in your airway. That, in turn, will reduce the severity and frequency of asthma attacks.

Unfortunately, these medications aren’t as effective on severe persistent asthma. However, a biologics injection or infusion can prevent your airways from swelling. Thus, it can help you manage your symptoms.

Choosing Riverview Health ER & Urgent Care

Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care is the only health system in Hamilton County offering ER and urgent care services under one roof. Unlike most ER or urgent care centers, patients are only billed for the level of services they need. The ER is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The urgent care center is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. No appointments are not necessary for in-person visits; however, pre-registration is available.

Riverview Health Emergency Room Urgent Care has four convenient locations: