I’ve recently been diagnosed with mild asthma. After my oldest daughter was diagnosed with it, I began to do some research and learn more about it, and suddenly I found myself saying, “Wait a minute. I have those symptoms too.” It seems we are often more attentive to the health of our children than we are with our own well being. I drag my girls to the doctor for every little cough and fever, yet I put off going myself as if it’s just not that important, or as if there is some sort of victory in not admitting I am sick.
Now that I know I have asthma, I am much more aware of it. In this sweltering 95 degree heat and humidity, the air seems thick and sticky and feels as if it takes a significant amount of extra effort to inhale and exhale. I have begun taking some medication, and I am seeing an allergist in a couple of weeks to try to get to the heart of what my allergies and triggers might be.
My daughter’s asthma and allergies seem to be under control at the moment, and I am optimistic that she may yet outgrow it. I don’t think, at my age, I can hold out the same hope for myself. I think the key will be learning the triggers and getting into a good routine where I can manage it well. Any advice?
Damian Daily 
I used to be on steroids as preventative meds for my asthma, but since I started practicing yoga — the breathing exercises in particular — and daily use of a neti pot, my symptoms have improved dramatically. I have been off the steroids for a year and rarely need my inhaler now. I do take Benadryl before bed during particularly allergic times of year, however. But I strongly recommend practicing yogic breathing. I’ve found that even when I’m having an asthma attack, I am often able to get rid of the symptoms simply with breathing exercises. I can’t promise it will work for everyone, but it does for me!
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I am sorry you have asthma. My sister outgrew it (she had it for several years as a teen). I had my first attack in 1999 I think and then have had an inhaler ever since. Mine is allergy induced only so I sometimes use it every 6 months or less. When I was pregnant it was worse and I had to use it several times a week depending on the circumstance. I would just keep the inhaler with you all the time and maybe get one for home and one for purse if possible. Hope it goes away for you. It’s sure nice to be able to take a big breath. 🙂
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[…] See the original post here: Asthma « Damian Daily […]
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I am Sorry to hear that you and your daughter is suffering from asthma but happy to hear that her asthma has been under control. I have my 4 year son suffering from asthma and every year we end up in the hospital with something that has been complicated by asthma.We have attended the asthma clinic and learned ways to prevent attacks, what triggers attacks etc. I thought I was on top of the asthma until our emergency visit and then I started thinking there was probably a lot more to learn than I knew.This is such a terrible thing for anyone to have, especially children. Please give your suggestions and tricks on how to decrease the asthma symptons.I began to do research on asthma after my son got asthma and I used to gather useful information about Asthma. In recent research I found that using Exhaled nitric oxide is an effective way to monitor asthma. I have come across medical journals, which states that Measuring Nitric Oxide (NO) from the breath (during exhalation) has proven to be a useful tool for some asthma specialists in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
An expert from a journal is given below.
Results and Conclusions from New England Journal of Medicine on Use of Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements to Guide Treatment in Chronic Asthma.
Results
Forty-six patients in the FeNO group and 48 in the group whose asthma was treated according to conventional guidelines (the control group) completed the study. The final mean daily doses of fluticasone, the inhaled corticosteroid that was used, were 370 μg per day for the FeNO group (95 percent confidence interval, 263 to 477) and 641 μg per day for the control group (95 percent confidence interval, 526 to 756; P=0.003), a difference of 270 μg per day (95 percent confidence interval, 112 to 430). The rates of exacerbation were 0.49 episode per patient per year in the FeNO group (95 percent confidence interval, 0.20 to 0.78) and 0.90 in the control group (95 percent confidence interval, 0.31 to 1.49), representing a non-significant reduction of 45.6 percent (95 percent confidence interval for mean difference, ¡78.6 percent to 54.5 percent) in the FeNO group. There were no significant differences in other markers of asthma control, use of oral prednisone, pulmonary function, or levels of airway inflammation (sputum eosinophils).
Conclusions
With the use of FeNO measurements, maintenance doses of inhaled corticosteroids may be significantly reduced without compromising asthma control.
Source:http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/352/21/2163
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you’re on the right track…paying attention to your health is the first step, and you’re making positive moves since paying attention.
one son has asthma, i hate to see him struggle to breathe, and i dislike that he’s on 3 meds for his allergies and asthma, but then, he doesn’t struggle to breathe. or sneeze his face off repeatedly, multiple sessions per day.
i hear you on paying attention to their health before your own. why do we do that? between copays, meds, and just the getting to the doctor business, it just seems easier not to go in my case. and yes, there’s a bit of the martyr in thinking i can handle this ache or pain myself, the kids need me and the dr first.
well, shouldn’t that mean that we take better care of ourselves, not put ourselves last on the list? you’d think, but in reality…
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Hi Lisa,
I do have one suggestion. Take 600 mg of NAC…twice a day.. am and pm.
N Acetyl Cysteine.. It is an amino acid that is the precuser to glutathione production in our body. Glutathione is a strong antioxidant that helps boost and protect our immune system. Turns out the NAC helps slow down the production of excess mucus in the lungs. I suffer from a bit of asthma at times during allergy season and have found NAC to help minimize the effects. I am not sure about your kids taking it but I know it may work for you. Staying on top of food allergies or intolerances as well as seasonal allergies will help immensely.
Here is a link I found on google.
http://www.advance-health.com/nacetylcysteine.html
xo, Judi
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Anna-Lise, you are the third person to mention the beneficial results of yoga on asthma symptoms. I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks!
Judi, I appreicate the tip. I always enjoy reading your Healthy Inspirations blog.
And thanks to everyone else for your comments and suggestions.
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swimming is good, too. about the only thing my son can do without wheezing and without having to take albuterol before going into it. i like the yoga idea, too.
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