If you have asthma, you know just how stressful the condition can be. After all, not being able to breathe freely can turn an otherwise normal day into an all-out nightmare. Regrettably, just as asthma is stressful, stress can trigger an asthma attack.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Society of America, acute stress happens when a person goes through a stressful event. Even if your car accident appears to be a minor one, you are likely to have to deal with your body’s physiological response to acute stress. As an asthma sufferer, this may include breathing difficulties.
What happens when you have an asthma attack?
When you are in the middle of an asthma attack, you have two things going on. First, your already narrow airways constrict, making it more difficult for you to inhale and exhale normally. At the same time, your lungs produce excess mucus, which can clog your already constricted air passages.
How can you stop an asthma attack?
If you have an asthma diagnosis, you likely already have a treatment regiment that includes preventative medication and a rescue inhaler. Even if your rescue inhaler has effectively stopped asthma attacks in the past, it may be no match for a stress-induced flare-up. Therefore, you need professional help to stop your asthma attack.
Why should you go to the hospital?
Regardless of whether you use your rescue inhaler, your asthma attack may worsen for days after a car accident. Consequently, it is imperative for you to go to the hospital and let pulmonologists treat you. Obtaining immediate medical care is likely to reduce your chances of dying or suffering catastrophic complications.
Ultimately, even though a trip to the hospital may be more than you can afford, you can probably pursue financial compensation to help you defray the cost of critical asthma care.