What to do if you are having an asthma attack

You are having an asthma attack if:

  • ​Your reliever inhaler (usually blue) isn't helping, or you need to use it MORE than every four hours
  • You are wheezing a lot, have a very tight chest, or you're coughing a lot during the day and/or night
  • You are breathless and find it difficult to walk/talk​
  • Your breathing is getting faster and it feels like you can't get your breath in properly.

Some people do not have all these symptoms. If you are worried, feel unwell or have any difficulty in breathing call 999.

What to do if having an asthma attack

  1. Call for help, sit up straight - try to keep calm
  2. Take one puff of your reliever inhaler (usually BLUE) via spacer every one minute, for up to 10 puffs
  3. If you feel worse at any point or you don't feel better, call 999 for an ambulance
  4. REPEAT step 2 (10 puffs) after 15 minutes while waiting for an ambulance

If you are on a SMART/MART medicine regime, please follow your emergency action plan

If your symptoms improved without needing to go to hospital, please see our Emergency Recovery Plan, AND book an urgent same-day appointment with your GP

spacer.jpgInhaler Technique

Click here to perfect your inhaler technique.  Having a good inhaler technique is crucial to ensure the medicine gets to your lungs correctly to control your symptoms, and reduce side effects.  

Click here for inhaler technique information

CALL 999

If you or your child are having difficulty breathing that is not getting better