Title: When to Go to the Hospital for an Allergic Asthma Attack
Headings: Allergic Asthma Attack: When Do You Need to Go to the Hospital?
Allergic Asthma Attack: When Do You Need to Go to the Hospital?
Overview
When to go to the hospital for an allergic asthma attack
What to do during a severe allergic asthma attack
Take medication and move away from triggers
Ask someone to stay with you
Sit upright and try to stay calm
Continue using rescue medication as instructed
Is it asthma or anaphylaxis?
Treatment at the hospital for an allergic asthma attack
Prevention and avoiding triggers
Long-term management of allergic asthma
The takeaway

Content: When to go to the hospital for an allergic asthma attack
The first step in treating an allergic asthma attack is to use a rescue inhaler or other rescue medication. You should also move away from any source of allergens that might be triggering the attack. If symptoms don’t improve after using rescue medications, or you have severe symptoms, call for emergency medical help. In the United States, that means dialing 911 to call for an ambulance. Severe asthma attacks share many symptoms with mild to moderate asthma attacks. The key difference is that the symptoms of a severe allergic asthma attack don’t improve after taking rescue medication. You might wonder how you can tell the difference between symptoms of a severe attack that requires emergency treatment versus a mild attack that you can treat on your own. Always seek emergency medical attention if your rescue medication doesn’t seem to be working. You should go to the hospital if you notice any of these symptoms: intense shortness of breath and difficulty speaking
very rapid breathing, coughing, or wheezing
straining chest muscles and difficulty breathing
a bluish color in the face, lips, or nails
difficulty inhaling or exhaling completely
gasping
confusion or exhaustion
fainting or collapsing
If you use a peak flow meter — a device that measures your peak airflow — you should go to the hospital if your readings are low and aren’t improving.