Remaining calm and taking prescribed quick-relief medications can help a person manage or stop an asthma attack. People should seek medical assistance if rest and inhalers do not resolve symptoms.

An asthma attack happens when a person’s airways narrow and swell. This makes breathing more difficult and worsens symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.

Research has not shown that home remedies can stop an asthma attack, but breathing exercises, eucalyptus oil, or ginger may offer some benefits.

Avoiding exposure to known triggers and maintaining a moderate weight may help prevent asthma attacks. Eating a nutritious diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, also may reduce the risk.

This article discusses steps to take immediately for an asthma attack and possible home remedies. It also examines the symptoms, causes, stages, prevention, and outlook.

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A person should always keep an up-to-date action plan available. This tells people how to recognize an attack and what to do when it happens. The instructions should specify the following details:

  • what medications to take and their dosage
  • when to take medications
  • when to call a doctor or seek emergency treatment

Since people never know when they may encounter something that triggers an asthma attack, they should keep their doctor-prescribed medications with them at all times.

The following actions can help someone manage an asthma attack:

  1. Remain calm.
  2. Follow the action plan’s instructions, which will likely advise taking a quick-relief medication, usually an inhaler.
  3. If the inhaler does not relieve symptoms, an inhaled corticosteroid such as prednisone (Rayos) may be necessary. A doctor can provide a prescription.
  4. If shortness of breath or coughing persists or worsens, seek immediate treatment by visiting a local emergency center or calling a local emergency number.

Learn more about asthma attacks.

There is no proof that home remedies or alternative treatments can stop an asthma attack. More research is necessary to determine whether these methods are safe for asthma treatment. However, breathing exercises, eucalyptus oil, or ginger may offer some relief.

Breathing exercises

Breathing exercises may increase lung strength and capacity and help improve symptoms.

Researchers in a 2020 review looked at 22 clinical trials involving 2,880 participants to assess the value of breathing exercises for asthma. They found that breathing exercises may positively affect hyperventilation symptoms, lung function, and quality of life in individuals with mild to moderate asthma.

There are several types of asthma breathing exercises, two of which are pursed lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing.

Pursed lip breathing

This technique may help slow breathing and reduce shortness of breath. It involves the following steps:

  1. Inhale, or breathe in, through the nose while the mouth closes.
  2. Put the lips in a pursed position as if whistling.
  3. Exhale, or breathe out, through pursed lips. The exhalation should be at least twice as long as the inhalation.

Diaphragmatic breathing

The diaphragm is a muscle below the lungs that controls inhalation. Belly breathing is another name for diaphragmatic breathing. This method slows breathing and reduces the body’s oxygen needs.

  1. Place one hand over the stomach and the other on the upper chest.
  2. Inhale through the nose. The stomach should rise, but the upper chest should not.
  3. While keeping the shoulders and neck relaxed, exhale through the mouth. The exhalation should be 2 to 3 times longer than the inhalation.

Eucalyptus oil

In a 2020 review, researchers looked at prior studies to determine the effect of eucalyptus oil on asthma. The results suggest that eucalyptus oil may be a beneficial therapeutic add-on treatment for asthma resistant to steroid medications because of its anti-inflammatory effects.

Dilute eucalyptus or any other essential oil with a carrier oil before use. Place the diluted oil in a diffuser and inhale it, or apply it to the skin.

People should never ingest or use undiluted essential oils. Inhaled eucalyptus oil can also be toxic to cats and other pets.

Ginger

In a 2019 study involving test tubes and dust mites, researchers examined the potential benefits of whole ginger extract and 6-shogaol, a bioactive compound in ginger, for asthma. The results indicated that both supplements have the potential to relax airway smooth muscles and reduce inflammation in the airways.

Ginger is available in supplement form, but people should always check with their doctor before starting a new supplement. People can also add ginger to their diet by cooking it, consuming products that contain it, or drinking ginger tea.

“Peak expiratory flow can be an important part of managing an asthma attack at home. Peak expiratory flow (PEF), or peak flow, is the measurement of how quickly someone can fully exhale after a full breath in.

Peak flow numbers correlate well with asthma symptoms. People with asthma should have peak flow meters at home. They should be aware of their own normal peak flow numbers when feeling well, so that they are aware of a change potentially before an asthma attack takes place and can get it under control with medically-prescribed treatment.”

– Megan Soliman, MD

Symptoms of an asthma attack include:

Although other conditions can cause these symptoms, they frequently follow a pattern in asthma. This may include:

  • coming or going within the same day or over time
  • worsening in the morning or at night
  • starting in response to a trigger, such as exercise, cold air, or allergies
  • beginning or worsening with a viral infection

Exposure to various triggers can cause an asthma attack. Experts advise that a person keep a journal to record which things provoke symptoms. This may help a person avoid some triggers in the future.

Potential triggers may include:

  • outdoor triggers, such as mold and pollen
  • indoor triggers, such as pet dander, mold, and dust mites
  • physical activity, although doctors recommend that people exercise regularly
  • emotional stress, such as crying, laughing, or intense anger
  • infections, such as flu, colds, and COVID-19
  • issues with air quality or very cold air
  • some medications, such as aspirin

Asthma has the following four stages:

  • Intermittent: This involves symptoms occurring on fewer than 2 days per week and nighttime awakenings less than twice per month.
  • Mild: This involves symptoms occurring on more than 2 days per week and three to four nighttime awakenings per month.
  • Moderate: This involves symptoms occurring daily and nighttime awakenings more than once per week.
  • Severe: This involves symptoms occurring throughout the day and nighttime awakenings more than seven times per week.

The duration of flare-ups varies. It depends on the cause and how long the airways have had inflammation.

Mild symptoms may last a few minutes, but more severe symptoms may last hours or days.

According to 2020 research, certain dietary habits can help prevent asthma. Research associates greater fruit and vegetable consumption with lower asthma risk. It also links dairy consumption to higher risk and it may worsen symptoms.

Mediterranean and vegan diets may decrease the risk and reduce flare-ups. These diets focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes while limiting animal foods.

Other asthma prevention measures include:

When a person’s asthma is not flaring up, it may only cause minimal disruption to their daily life. However, uncontrolled asthma, which causes frequent or intense symptoms, can result in absences from work and school and a higher risk of emergency room visits.

Asthma is a life threatening illness in some people. On average, ten people in the U.S. pass away from asthma each day. That said, a person can manage asthma by following their doctor’s prescribed action plan.

How do you stop an asthma attack fast?

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) recommends sitting up straight, remaining calm, using an inhaler, and calling emergency services if this does not help.

How can a person stop an asthma attack without an inhaler?

Sitting up straight, taking long, deep breaths to prevent hyperventilation, and staying calm and away from triggers can help stop asthma attacks without an inhaler.

An individual’s action plan makes it easy to know what to do at home during an asthma attack. The plan lists symptoms of an attack and provides instructions on what medications to take and when to seek medical attention.

While home remedies do not stop an asthma attack, they may relieve it. A person should always check with their doctor before taking a dietary supplement, whether for asthma symptoms or other purposes.

Symptoms of an asthma attack may include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Various triggers may provoke an attack, so it helps to keep track of triggers and avoid them, if possible.

A severe asthma attack can be life threatening. A person should closely follow instructions in their action plan regarding getting emergency treatment.