Asthma or Aniexty?

Hi A.-

I use an inhaler every once in a while, and I get the same reaction, my heart races and I feel awful.

I suggest documenting what is happening when the anxiety comes on, and see if you can find a pattern. Try deep breathing and relaxation exercises and if your anxiety doesn't get better, try the inhaler.

When I have an attack, I actually wheeze. My doc taught me to blow out, like blowing a candle. If I start coughing, it's an asthma attack.

Remember, with asthma attacks, if you don't use your inhaler soon enough, it will get so bad, the inhaler doesn't work.

Good Luck!

R. Magby

yes stress can trigger asthma as the previous poster said.
Also, the Asthma meds, do create symptoms like that and can make one feel "nervous" and anxious... and "hyper."
You need to tell your Doctor, and he/she can adjust the dosage or have you take less puffs and less frequency, if possible.
OR, try another inhaler. There are many types.

I have asthma, since childhood. My inhalers make me feel a tad like that.

But yes, adjust your meds. Each person is different and their weight... so it metabolizes in your system differently, for example.

Next, make sure your chest-tightness is Asthma induced. Or, anxiety itself.
Discuss it with your Doctor.
If the inhalers/nebulizer does not work... then, that probably means it is something else. There are a lot of things, that can cause symptoms like that.

all the best,
Susan

I had zero history of tightness in my chest or asthma, but every now and then, I literally felt like I couldn't breathe. I was pregnant. I thought the baby was mashing on something or I thought it was anxiety. It got much worse. I went to the chiropractor thinking my upper back was out of whack and I was getting over a cold so I thought I might have pneumonia. Which is pretty painful. By the next day I couldn't breathe at all and ended up at the ER. I had shingles. I hadn't broken out yet, so they didn't know that's what it was at first, but all I could say was that I felt like I was being crushed and I simply couldnt breathe. I was in the hospital for 3 days before I noticed a tiny bump on my breast....it was shingles.
Anxiety certainly causes chest tightness which is a clear sign you need some good relaxation tecniques.
But, if the smashing feeling continues or gets worse, definitely speak to your doctors about it. Their are antivirals they can give you and things to help with the anxiety brought on by the fear of not breathing.
I'm not saying you don't have asthma, but there are other things it could be, including just a panick attack.
Stress is a bad thing and that's what brought on my shingles.
It's definitely something to need to learn to manage.

Follow up with your doctor, and if a medication makes you feel worse, say so. Depending on where your pain is located, you might ask about shingles. But, I have to say, my doctors never even thought of that. I felt my chest being crushed, but hurt in my back and the first lesion showed up on my breast. It's just a suggestion to run by your doctor.

I hope you will be feeling better soon.

Stress can trigger asthma. It's hard to tell by your description if it's solely one or the other. I would talk to your doctor about it.

I went through this last fall when I was pregnant, I swore I had asthma, since I've always had a little bit of breathing troubles. I would even wake up out of a deep sleep not being able to breath, so I was sure it was asthma. My Dr. had me take some pulmonary tests and I definately had no signs of asthma or any breathing issues at all. After I delivered I had a little bit of post pardom depression and had a few anxiety attacks. I had no clue what an anxiety attack was until I did some research and all of the symptoms were what I was feeling. I felt weird that I had anxiety because I have always associated that with people who were, well...not really all there. After I had a very long talk with my husband I felt so much better and realized that anxiety happens to us normal people too! I was also under tremendous stress too, so I'm sure that contributed alot. Talk to your husband, because after I talked with mine it was like all of my built up stress and tension just escaped me immediately and I haven't felt any anxiety since January. It was like an emotional backrub talking to him. :) Good luck to you!!

Very random question but do you get like that when you spray stuff or have the dishwasher going? Products these days have chemicals that worsen asthma.

there is a nebulizer treatment that won't cause that nervous feeling. I hate it too. As your doctor, I am sure that they will be able to tell the difference!

M.