What is the first step in managing an asthma attack according to common practices?

During an asthma attack, effective management begins with controlling the patient's breathing, which primarily involves recognizing the importance of exhaling properly. This action helps to clear out trapped air and allows for better inhalation of medication subsequently. It is essential to understand that exhaling is often emphasized in asthma management because it can help alleviate some of the immediate symptoms by reducing the amount of air trapped in the lungs due to bronchoconstriction.

While identifying the trigger is important for long-term management and prevention and administering medication is crucial for relief, it is the act of consciously breathing out that starts to relieve some of the acute distress experienced during an asthma attack. Along with staying calm, which helps to reduce anxiety and further stimulate breathing issues, focusing on exhaling properly provides an immediate pathway to improving the patient's respiratory function in the short term.