reply to post by dawnprince
First of all, I stopped having asthma attacks when I began smoking... Nicotine does the same job Ventolin does, but it doesn't harden the part of your
lungs that needs to be relaxed. If I smoke too much, I WILL have asthma attacks, tho. Like everything in life, it is about dosage.
Secondly, the best exercise I developed as a kid is, when I feel obstructed, to fill my lungs slowly, then release it in a slow, controlled way, until
I do not have air anymore. But as I expel my air, I contract slowly my chest muscles. If done well, you will hear bubbling sounds coming from your
mouth.
NEXT! You try very hard not to cough. If you feel the need to, stop the expelling, and wait for the coughing feeling to go, then proceed to finish the
exercise. It's very important you do not cough at this point.
When you take the next breath of air, do it slowly so you do not "throw back down" the mucus that has begun to leave your lungs.
Repeat the exercise between 3 to 5 times, and then you can cough, and everything will clear, mucus all coming out at the same time. It is,
essentially coughing in a very slow manner, and it is effective.
It is the less painful way I know without using medicine to clear my lungs. And you can do it in a bus and no one will notice.
Also, I exercised to hold my breath as long as possible underwater, in pools, and to extinguish a candle by blowing at it from 25 feet away. Why?
Because when you have an asthma attack, you fall short on air, and you need to be able to function with a minimum until your lungs are cleared, or you
risk panicking and block even more.
Don't forget some hockey players also suffer from asthma and can still play in the NHL.
It's a bummer, but if you take the time to manage it, no one will really know. I'm 42, and some people are surprised to learn I'm asthmatic.
About the cigarette thing, I'm not encouraging you to start smoking, just an ignored fact, by many, I've stumbled upon in my life.
So, lastly, the most important thing to remember when you have an attack is to breath as slowly as possible as it will cut down any burning
sensations, and prevent the impression of total blockage. It will allow you to GET air into your body.
Take care!
Nowan
PS: Rereading your OP, I don't know if it is usual to get asthma at your age.
edit on 11-4-2012 by NowanKenubi because: (no reason
given)