Asthma

Question: How is exercise induced asthma different to regular asthma? My asthma only kicks in whenever I begin to run or jog, and it always last for the first 15 minutes making breathing difficult. But I refuse to use an inhaler and I push through and keep running even though the air going in to my lungs is tiny. After a while my chest loosens up and my breathing returns to normal. So how is my asthma different to regular asthma?

Answer: I have exercise induced asthma and at times I can deal with it without my inhaler but I find it's easier just to take the inhaler if it's not cleared out so I can breathe properly, hence a better run. I also have asthma of other triggers (dust, pets etc) They're the same thing, sometimes you can work it thru on your own but I just don't see the point to '*suffer* if I don't have to. I'll do it for a few mins etc but if it's not improving (and sometimes it can) I inhale-I don't care how it looks. It's not fun not being able to breathe!

Question: Is someone in a household has asthma, is raising a cat a bad idea? I have a short hair cat that I've had for 2 years now, and my father who has asthma says that we need to get rid of her because she'll irritate his asthma. I love my cat, but of course my father comes first, but I need to confirm whether cats irritate asthma or not. What do you think / know about this? Also, she has been peeing and pooping sometimes in random places (she is litter trained but she's been bad ever since about a year ago) How can I fix this?

Answer: There is a lot of varying factors that could play into this. Some asthma patients have irritation and inflammation of the bronchi from different reasons. Usually, they have nothing to do with the cat. With cat allergies, it is usually an allergy to the cat's saliva - you know, the human petting the cat after the cat has cleaned himself with his tongue. Then they touch their mouth and nose and face. Jus relax, don't be silly about the cat. In all likelihood, there will be no problem relative to the cat bothering the asthma. as far as the pooping problem - have you moved her stuff? is her food and water close to the litter box? Can she always get to her potty easily? If so, clean everything, put in new litter and put her in a secluded room for a few hours. During her seclusion, go in a visit with her, love her and pet her. Keep the littler box very clean. If you do this for a couple of days, then leave her out longer and longer, she should be solid on where she should do her business. Sometimes an illness or changes in routine can bring about a bit of a rebellion. I have a persian that if I miss cleaning the litter box, she will go poop on the dog blankets/beds. She will not use a dirty litter box. Just help her out, break it down for her, and she will understand. Cats are smart and clean and neat unless they are expressing a problem. We, as cat mommies, just have to learn to listen. goodluck

Question: What are the different types of asthma how many different types are there? I have Bronchoal Asthma. My doctor said it is not like other asthma. He also said it was the worst form of asthma. I really don't use any breathing devices much anymre and I very rarly feel breathless

Answer: two types bronchial asthma & cardiac asthma. In ur case it is an hypersensitive reaction, the basophill bursts & realease a chemical & it constricts the broncii thus u feel breathless

Question: What is the best exercise to improve my asthma and cardiac fitness? I have had asthma since I was 2 years old, and suffer from exercise induced asthma as well as weather and food affected. Running is the worst for inducing asthma in me. If I want to improve my asthma and my cardiac fitness, what is the best exercise for me to do?

Answer: light exercise and light swimming. because it is gentle and help develope your cardiac tissue. Donr over do it because the stress can make you drown or fall on a track. I have faults too because i have torn muscles in my knees. take time and do things very slow and you can do fun things , but please be careful. Also eat quality protein and fruit juice. Dont over do icant do it all. You can still be fit and healthy

Question: What is the best asthma inhaler or anything that can help asthma? i have tried everything. albuteral inhaler cingulair pill &advair. please help nothing works and i get asthma attacks every time i run! thanks a bunch i will give the best answer to the person that has personal experience and an explanation. thanks ps my doctor is stupid and doesnt know what to do now!

Answer: Your problem isn't just the inhaler, it's that few doctors understand asthma. I use the Ventolin inhaler but, honestly, what has really helped me is cutting out a lot of dairy in my diet. I drink AT LEAST 8 big glasses of water per day and avoid all dairy: milk, cheese, etc. I won't say I never have dairy but after a month of cutting way back on dairy, I noticed I wasn't needing my inhaler as often. Also, take a product with Guaifenesin in it like Mucinex. Guaifenesin is good for people with asthma. I buy stuff at the Dollar Store that has Guaifenesin in it and it really helps me.

Question: Asthma: What are some ways to control a cough for a child with asthma? My niece is staying with us and has asthma and has started coughing. It was a last minute decision and she didn't have her inhaler with her. She's sleeping and just starting to cough, but I don't want to let that go because it could throw her into an attack.

Answer: This has happened to me as well. I have asthma and when I sleep over at someone's house my lungs usually flair up. Its probably because of an alergin in the area. Is your niece sleeping on the floor or in a bed? If on the floor, it could be dust, and if in a bed, it could be that the bedding is feather. I would reccomend checking the bedding to see if it has feathers in it. Some other common triggers that could be causing the cough are pollen, cat or other animal dander, dust mites, or mildew/mold. If you can find the trigger and remove it, you should be good to go.

Question: What are the medical rules regarding asthma type conditions and commercial airline pilots? I am 17 years and always wanted to be a pilot with RAF. Have just been rejected because I had 'asthma type symptoms' when I was younger, although was tested for asthma and the diagnosis was negative. However they now say that because I am sensitive to respiratory conditions I can never fly. I don't have any problems now and you will be hard pushed to find anyone fitter than me. Are the medical rules the same for commercial pilots?

Answer: I'm not sure what the rules are in the UK, but they tend to mirror the US. And asthma isn't one of those listed. But even if they do restrict it, you can always apply for a waiver. It doesn't matter which bureaucracy you're in contact with, there's always a way to outmaneuver a requirement.

Question: How might my asthma react to the hot and humid weather in Thailand? Going on a 3 week holiday but unsure how humidity and heat and asthma mix? Thanks I'm going to Chiang Mai in the north.

Answer: It truly depends on your body and your symptoms. Mine act up more in a dry heat in the summer verses a humid heat.

Question: How much does asthma medicine for a nebulizer cost? My girlfriend may need to get a nebulizer to treat her asthma. We are having trouble finding an average cost for the medicine used with one. I realize that there different medicines that can be used, but what is the average cost we can expect for the medicine?

Answer: The actualy nebulizer is pretty pricy...from 100 to 300 hundred dollars and the actualy medicine itself actually is pretty cheep, about 55 dollars but it comes with 50 vial tubes and only one is needed in each treatment. THen again you need to see what your insurance covers because with our insurance the machine cost $50 and the medicine $22. Good Luck, hope you can find your answer!

Question: What's the difference between out of puff and asthma attack? I have read in the Asthma magazine a report to an asthmatic middle age man, he said that many people do not know the difference between being out of breath and asthma attack, can anyone explain? I think that gasping for air is like asthma attack or is not? Thanks for answers.

Answer: Exercise related gasping is just the bodies response to your cells needed more oxygen than your lungs are currently providing. This will soon pass as you stop exercising. In a full blown asthma attack the little air passages (bronchioles) become constricted and it is hard to get air in or out of your lungs. These people do gasp, but it doesn't stop until the bronchioles relax with medications (either inhaled or steroids) Or, in worst case scenario the person will be intubated and have a machine do the work for them. So to answer your question, it is completely different.

Question: Asthma???? Is it possible that i might have asthma? I have spells where it seems hard to take a full breath and times where it doesnt bother me at all. And is it possible that it could spring up overnight? Cause i have had some problems before when running, but three days ago i just woke up with the problem in the morning, and it doenst bother me when im sleeping or right after i get up...What could i have? Asthma?

Answer: I've had asthma for 19 years and what you describe does sound like it. Many things can trigger asthma and it's different for everyone. While running or waking up short of breath in the morning could affect one person, it doesn't mean someone else with asthma will have the same symptoms. Asthma can come and go and you can go through cycles where it's worse at one point and better at others. The best thing to do is talk to your doctor and talk to him or her about your treatment options. You should get a rescue inhaler that you can use whenever you have an acute attack. They might recommend that you go on a daily preventative medicine, also.

Question: Is it possible to have asthma and not have asthma attacks? I think I might have a minor case of asthma because my chest hurts badly when I run and for the rest of that day. I've never had an asthma attack, so is it at all possible to have asthma? I have an appointment to see a doctor but I wanted to know if anyone knew beforehand.

Answer: Yes, it is. Symptoms are * Tightness in the chest * Characteristic 'wheezing' sound, especially when exhaling * Shortness of breath * Persistent cough, especially at night * May have increased pulse, anxiety or fear Asthma has typically been divided into two major categories: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic, or atopic, asthma is generally considered an allergic condition, with a characteristic increase in levels of serum IgE-the allergic antibody. Intrinsic asthma is associated with a bronchial reaction that is due not to allergy, but rather to such factors as toxic chemicals, cold air, exercise, infection, and emotional upset. Both extrinsic and intrinsic factors trigger the release of chemicals like histamine that mediate (produce or control) inflammation from mast cells-specialized white blood cells that reside in various body tissues, including the lining of the respiratory passages. The rate of asthma in the United States is rising rapidly, especially among children. Reasons often given to explain the rise in asthma include: increased stress on the immune system due to greater chemical pollution in the air, water, and food; earlier weaning and earlier introduction of solid foods to infants; food additives; and genetic manipulation of plants, resulting in food components with greater allergenic tendencies. There are four important dietary therapies in asthma: elimination of food allergies, following a vegetarian diet, and elimination of food additives. If you'd like to read more, go here: http://www.doctormurray.com/conditions/A…

Question: If you're an asthmatic, how can you tell the difference between an asthma attack and a panic attack? I've had asthma for approximately 14 years but it's gradually getting worse as I get older and my attacks are more frequent. I've been put on additional preventative medicine but have always wondered about the difference between asthma and anxiety/panic attacks. I'm not sure if I experience the latter because my asthma does scare me on occasion. Is it normal to get scared during an attack? How can you tell if it's just a little fear or full blown anxiety? Things I have been experiencing lately are: wheezy cough, chest soreness and aches, breathlessness, and feeling as if weights are sitting on my chest. Sometimes I feel achey and weak all over. At times, I get frustrated when my asthma is out of control because it's hard to breathe but I do not hyperventilate or experience a racing heart. I just have difficulty getting a breath and I become really achey, especially after I take my rescue inhaler. What am I experiencing and is it typical for an asthma attack or panic attack?

Answer: I think you're experiencing asthma attacks. I have asthma and anxiety and I don't know.. I guess I just "know" the difference when it happens. An asthma attack is like.. no matter WHAT you do, you can breathe in or out without feeling like someone's choking the life out of you until you puff your inhaler. An anxiety attack is more... well.. i can feel it coming on. My body starts shaking a little, my mouth goes dry, and I hyperventilate. When it comes to actual breathing, I can better control my breathing during an anxiety attack as opposed to an asthma attack. This is probably one of the best questions I've read so far. You should ask a doctor about it though. These are just my experiences. Great question =)

Question: Do live chickens aggravate asthma? Are there ways to remove spurs from young and growing roosters? My mother-in-law is a teacher in an elementary school and has a chick as a classroom pet. She is wondering if live chickens are likely to aggravate asthma in children. Also, the chick appears to be growing spurs and she is concerned that when the chick becomes older that he will use them against the classroom children. Is there way to remove the spurs that grow on roosters (in a humane manner)? If so, what would something like that cost? Thank you for your assistance.

Answer: yes they carry pet dander (DOWN) like any other bird... about the spurs I can't tell you, because I know nothing about this sorry.

Question: How do you make your asthma lighter without an inhailer? I made my school's basketball team and it involves a lot of running. No matter what I do I end up getting an asthma attack. So do u guys have any tips on getting ready for running a lot. Anything that helps the best will get 10 points.

Answer: That's tough. I don't really know what to do. I have exercise-induced asthma too. Maybe you can try warming up more before you start the heavy running? Make sure you take your inhaler before practice if you doctor prescribed you to and be careful. That is pretty tight that you made your team though, you proved that even with asthma you can make the team. ;) So hopefully things get better man, and I think people will understand that you have asthma and have to take precautions.

Question: Is it possible to develop asthma from having a human to dog allergy? If you have a small allergy to a dog and you have a dog in your house is it possible that you could develop asthma or other serious problems? And she's a very small dog.

Answer: yes you can. Your best bet is to live dog-free, but in lieu of that.. Make your bedroom a dog-free zone. The dog is not allowed to enter or touch anything.. especially your bed and pillows. If the dog has been allowed on your pillows, you can try washing your pillows, but probably just best to buy all new ones. Breathing in that dander at night if you're allergic to dogs is highly suicidal. :) Wash after petting the dog. Do not touch your face with dog contaminated hands, and try to keep the dog off your clothes as much as possible. Wash up as soon as possible. If you like having the dog as a lapdog, change your clothes immediately after the snuggle time and wash your face & hands. At night, when you go to bed, change into 100% dog-free clothing before touching your bed. You'll want the place that you sleep to be as pristinely dog-free as humanly possible. Carpets are actually helpful with animal dander.. it seems to trap it that its not as airborne. That said, vacuuming regularly should be done with a hepa filter vacuum, and preferably by someone else when you're not home. If you are the one that vacuums, try wearing a filter-mask while vacuuming and for an hour after it until the "dust" settles.