Hi everyone,
I’ve got adult onset asthma and I’ve been struggling with several asthma attacks this year where I feel short of breath and very wheezy. My oxygen has always been ok-ish (always above 93% and was above 96% on recent attack). I’m wondering if anyone else experiences this (asthma attacks but oxygen levels not really bad) as I’m starting to get confused how this can happen!
Many thanks
Easy asthmatics become/are fantastic oxygen compensators...I don't think anyone really knows why .... but 100% it's the case
More than once I've had nasty infections, "reduced air entry", little to no air entry in part of a lung .... my oxygen has always been above 96%
Chip
Asthma causes difficulty breathing out rather than in so most asthmatics can breathe in oxygen but struggle to breathe out carbon dioxide. Even in severe asthma gas exchange can be normal, as asthmatics are generally great compensators!
For me personally, my O2 stays normal but my heart rate will increase. Its like a back up generator whereby the lungs are struggling so the heart takes over to oxygenate your body.
Unless advised by a healthcare professional I wouldn't pay attention to O2 SATs and go by your symptoms and asthma action plan
I have had a heart rate of 185bpm.... I didn't feel terrible but was also sure something was up... this was also in the early days (before medication) ... so can't blame ventolin/spiriva/fostair for increasing heart rate as I didn't have them ... this was just me struggling to breathe with a stupidly high heart rate
yes it’s possible please check this thread as it has got a lot of people experiences which I started because my daughter has the same issue … hope it’s informative for you and best of luck just make sure you do your research as asthma is different for everyone and drop of oxygen late is not a good sign it can mean bad asthma severe asthmatics go below 90% as far as I know but definitely always do your own research
On asthma attack my heart rate rises and maintains my oxygen levels. This is true for a moderate to severe attack, so the vast majority of attacks, which can still be quite nasty. Peak flow at 40 percent etc well into red zone..
When the asthma gets very severe my heart rate falls into the 50s, ecg gets irregular, chest goes silent and oxygen falls quickly.
I need to ask for ambulance before the second stage tips in, as I cannot ask once it is happening, so you need to know when your body is spiralling down and ask for help early ie i need to request help when my oxygen is still okish.
I was rescued by a very kind stranger once, who found me on a path, when I persisted too long, so could not phone.
My gp only accepts I am having an asthma attack if my oxygen level is very low, so I avoid him and go the asthma nurse.
yes i have but the dr is telling me its not asthma yet everyone else and my past yes its 110% asthma. this is where i get frustrated at the dr he said its an allergy to birds so i was tested again as he didnt believe i already did all that liie 10 times over so then said oh lets test for other things and when i go they want to find other things rather than asthma i dont get it. and the wheeze thing oh im so over that. we all have to wheeze no we dont but this dude dr wants us to or its not asthma. my sats were sometimes good like yours but keep pushing as if you think it is and you know your body dont give in.
My sats also don’t drop until I’m in serious trouble. As others have mentioned, the attack needs to be treated before you get to that point. GPs/a&e don’t always understand this in my experience and will often want you presenting with low sats before they’ll do anything. It can help to be very clear about how you personally present so that you’re able to explain it authoritatively (medical staff are more likely to take you seriously if they think you know your asthma/generally know what you’re talking about). You can also have this info written down/printed out so that you can show it to a&e staff if you’re too breathless to talk.
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