When to Seek Urgent Care for an Asthma Attack

When asthma is well-managed, it’s often easy to forget about. However, an extra hard workout, an allergy flare, or an extreme temperature change can bring it all back: the airway tightening, congestion, and inflammation that make it hard to breathe during an asthma attack.

Internal medicine specialist Dr. Manzoor Kazi and our team at Palm Desert Urgent Care provide primary care for adults living in and around Palm Desert, California, including chronic disease management for issues like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

Because we know it’s not always possible to wait weeks for an appointment, we also offer walk-in and same-day appointments for urgent care services.

Knowing the signs of an asthma attack and when to seek care can help prevent a serious situation from becoming life-threatening. Let’s break down what you need to know.

What’s an asthma attack?

An asthma attack happens when your airways become inflamed, narrowed, and filled with mucus. That makes it hard to breathe and can cause symptoms like:

• Wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe)
• Uncontrollable coughing
• Chest tightness
• Worsening shortness of breath (air hunger or dyspnea)

Some asthma attacks are mild and go away with your usual medication, typically a fast-acting inhaler like albuterol. But sometimes, they can escalate quickly.

Signs your asthma control is slipping

A severe asthma attack can occur suddenly without warning. However, there are often signals that your control is slipping that may develop over days to weeks, including:

• Frequent use of a rescue (fast-acting) inhaler (more than twice a week)
• Wheezing or coughing that wakes you from sleep
• Decreased ability to accomplish daily tasks due to shortness of breath
• Declining exercise tolerance
• General sense of malaise (feeling unwell) and low energy

Using a peak flow meter at home is one way to gauge your asthma control. Blowing into this simple hand-held device measures how much air you push out of your lungs. Green indicates well-controlled asthma, yellow indicates poor control, and red indicates a serious problem.

What happens at urgent care?

Urgent care services for an asthma attack may include:

• Breathing assessment with tools like a pulse oximeter
• Nebulizer treatment, which delivers fast-acting medication
• Steroids to reduce airway inflammation
• Referral to the emergency room for severe symptoms

Dr. Kazi may also recommend changes in your asthma plan, such as a daily maintenance inhaler and follow-up visits to ensure your asthma control has improved.

Signs you should seek emergency care for an asthma attack

Here are the red flags that mean you need medical care right away:

You use your inhaler, but it’s not helping

If you’ve used your rescue inhaler (usually albuterol) and still feel short of breath or wheezy after 15-20 minutes, it’s time to seek care.

You struggle to talk or walk

If talking in complete sentences or walking short distances leaves you gasping for air, your body isn’t getting enough oxygen. Consider that a medical emergency.

Your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray

That’s a sign of low oxygen in your blood. Call 911 immediately.

You feel panicked or confused

Severe shortness of breath can cause confusion or anxiety. If you or someone else seems disoriented, it’s time for urgent medical help.

Your peak flow reading is in the red zone

If you use a peak flow meter and the reading is in the red zone (usually below 50% of your personal best), that’s a serious sign that your lungs aren’t functioning well.

Need help with your asthma? Schedule a visit at Palm Desert Urgent Care today. Call the office or book an appointment online.