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Trouble Breathing: Emergency Signs That Mean Call 911
Call 911 for severe trouble breathing, being unable to speak in full sentences, blue or grey lips or fingers, chest pain or pressure, confusion or drowsiness, coughing blood, or a swollen throat after an allergen. Do not drive yourself. A supplement, tea or steam is not first aid.
Written by the PureLung label deskUpdated · 5 min read
Signs that need 911
These are emergencies. Do not wait to see if they pass (NHLBI, COPD Symptoms).
- Struggling to breathe, gasping or very fast breathing.
- Unable to speak more than a few words at a time.
- Blue or grey lips, face or fingernails.
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness that does not settle.
- Confusion, severe drowsiness or fainting.
- A swollen tongue, lips or throat, especially after a sting, food or medicine.
- Coughing up blood.
- A rescue inhaler that does not help.
What to do while you wait
Call 911 or your local emergency number first. Sit upright and keep calm. Loosen tight clothing. If you have a prescribed rescue inhaler or an epinephrine auto-injector, use it as directed. Open the door and ask someone to stay with you. Tell the dispatcher your medicines and conditions, and stay on the line until help arrives, since the dispatcher can give steps over the phone and may ask you to check on breathing again.
What not to do
Do not drive yourself to the hospital. Do not lie flat if that makes breathing harder. Do not wait for a supplement, tea, essential oil or steam to work. Do not take extra doses of medicine beyond your plan, unless the dispatcher advises it.
A capsule works over days at best. It cannot act in a breathing emergency, and spending minutes on it can cost lives.
Urgent but not 911
Some signs need a same-day visit: breathlessness that is new or worse over days, a fever with a cough and chest pain on breathing, a cough that brings up thick green or bloody mucus, or wheeze that does not respond to your usual medicine. Call your clinician or use urgent care (CDC, About COPD).
PureLung: 60 capsules a bottlePacks of 1, 3 or 6 bottles · live price shown at checkout · guarantee as printed on the live listing
See packsChildren and older adults
Children may show trouble with ribs pulling in, nostrils flaring, grunting or a very fast pace. Call 911 if they look blue, cannot cry or speak or are very sleepy. Older adults may show confusion more than breathlessness. Treat sudden confusion with trouble breathing as an emergency.
What does the PureLung label say?
The label shows 60 capsules, a serving of 2 and a 600 mg Proprietary Blend of eleven names with no single amount; it names no disease.
| Item | As printed |
|---|---|
| Form and count | Capsules, 60 per bottle; serving size 2 capsules; 30 servings |
| Blend per serving | Proprietary Blend, 600 mg: eleven names, no single amount printed |
| Inactive | Rice Flour, Magnesium Stearate, Silica Dioxide |
| Distributor | MJO, Sheridan, WY 82801 |
Make a plan before you need it
Keep emergency numbers, your medicine list and your action plan near the phone. Teach family where the inhaler is, and make sure someone knows how to give a dose with a spacer. Review the plan twice a year, and update the contact list when numbers change. If you have a lung condition, ask your clinician what counts as an emergency for you. See the emergency breathing signs guide.
3-bottle pack
3 bottles: 180 capsules
Not listed on the packNot listed on the pack a bottle
Shipping shown at checkout · Guarantee as printed on the live listing
Order 3 bottles
6-bottle pack
6 bottles: 360 capsules
Not listed on the packNot listed on the pack a bottle
Shipping shown at checkout · Guarantee as printed on the live listing
Order 6 bottlesPrices are filled in once the live listing is confirmed. A single bottle is also sold. Check your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist before you order, and keep using every inhaler and prescribed medicine.
FAQ01
PureLung questions people ask
When do I call 911 for breathing?
For severe trouble, blue lips, chest pain or confusion.
Can I use my inhaler while waiting?
Yes, as prescribed.
Is it okay to go to urgent care?
For milder problems yes. Severe signs need 911.
Can a panic attack feel the same?
Yes, and it needs care too. Call if unsure.
Do supplements help in an emergency?
No.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label images, seller information and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. authorized retailer for PureLung. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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Check your medicines first, keep every inhaler and prescribed medicine, read the directions on the bottle that arrives, then pick a pack of 1, 3 or 6 bottles. The checkout shows the live price, any shipping and the guarantee.
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