If you're experiencing a violent asthma episode, when is the right time to seek help? It might be that you won't recognize the feeling of being in an asthma emergency. Maybe you just assume that a fierce asthma episode will just ease up naturally. If you don't know what to do about treating an asthma emergency, don't hesitate to ask a doctor. Taking the time out of your schedule to ensure you can recognize and treat an emergency asthma episode could be the difference between life and death.

Asthma Emergency Warning Signs

Asthma emergency warning signs are unique to each person, and could even vary between episodes. However, the American Medical Association provides these guidelines to assist you in identifying an emergency asthma episode:

The symptoms of your asthma proceed to become more severe, even though you've used your fast-acting inhaler or other rescue medication. The majority of short-acting asthma rescue medications (like proventil or albuterol) work in about 5-10 minutes. Talk with your physician about the length of time your medication needs to start working and ease your symptoms.

The level of your peak flow drops into the red zone (usually half of what your maximum peak flow is), even though you've used an inhaler.

You have a difficult time breathing. If in order to get enough oxygen in your lungs you must contract your chest and neck muscles and lean forward (called retraction), your body is struggling to breathe. If your nostrils flare in an attempt to bring more air into your airways, then this is another sign of breathing difficulty.

Walking and talking is a problem or you. If you interrupt your normal activity to use an inhaler to treat an asthma episode, but still aren't able to continue doing what you were, then it might be an asthma emergency.

Your fingernails or lips turn a bluish-gray color. This is an indication that your body is being deprived of oxygen.

What to Do in the Event of an Asthma Emergency

Clearly, if you have experienced any one of the indicators listed here, it is time to seek emergency medical help, even if it might be at three in the morning. Regardless of the hour of the day or night, contact your healthcare provider or head to the emergency room at once. However, the majority of people don't experience these symptoms at their most extreme levels. Rather, asthma episodes that begin typically become more severe as time passes. This makes having a personalized asthma action plan ready. This is a document made by your doctor that contains directions for treating the different symptoms of an asthma episode, as well as when to seek emergency medical help.

If your parents are particular worriers, a written asthma action plan from the doctor could help in easing their concerns. They will have faith that your asthma symptoms can be controlled at home or at school. Your action plan could even keep you from going to the emergency room by letting you know when emergency care is needed.