What to do when breathless is an emergency?

What to do when breathlessness is an emergency?

Most of the emergency calls are usually related to shortness of breath or dyspnea. It can occur due to an underlying medical condition or manifest due to other conditions such as strenuous activities like running or climbing stairs very fast. However, in such cases, breathing becomes normal after sometime and they doesn’t require any treatment.

When breathlessness is an emergency?

Shortness of breath can be a sign of medical emergency if it occurs due to an underlying medical problem.   

• Asthma
• Heart attack
• Anaphylaxis or allergic reaction
• Respiratory or lung infections

Mild shortness of breath can become normal after resting for a few minutes. However, some people may experience the following symptoms:

• Blue lips or fingernails
• Chest pain
• Swelling of the face or tongue
• Palpitations
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Excessive drooling

Act fast if you experience breathlessness and above-mentioned symptoms. Visit a clinic near you or call 1066 immediately.

First-aid steps to be taken when breathlessness is an emergency:

• Call for help and ambulance right away.
• Check the person’s airway, breathing, and pulse
• Begin CPR if necessary
• Monitor the breathing until emergency care arrives

If the patient is responsive:

• Help the person to take any prescribed medicine, like using inhaler in cases of asthma or epinephrine shot in case of anaphylaxis
• Loosen the tight clothing
• Close or bandage the open wounds if any present
• Don’t give the person anything to eat or drink
• Don’t move the person if there is a neck or chest injury, unless necessary