Need Helpful Information on Asthma

I have not experience with asthma - but I listen to a radio show Duke and the Doctor. There was some information on today indicating that a lack of Vitamin D could be one of the reasons for asthma.
You can go on line at www.dukeandthedoctor.com
Their website had all sort of information and you can listen to the last week of shows.

Good luck.

I have an unpleasant symptom that was not mentioned. When i have a bad enough attack i throw up. This only happens at night after laying down. I start with a wheeze and i can tell when it is going to be a bad attack. The one other time i will always need my inhaler is after laughing really hard. I wish you luck on your journey...it is a LONG journey...i am finally seeing a pulmonologist to see if he can help since the inhalers seem to be a joke.

(I think the lightheaded and wanting to pass out is you panicking. The only time i feel like that is the major vomit asthma attacks...not the minor ones.)

Hope i helped a little...

Nope...all three of my kids have asthma. They are all mild and never had an "attack." The only time you notice it is when they are sick. They have an increase of wheezing or coughing. There are a couple elements to asthma--airway constriction and airway inflammation. You can check out more on asthma.com. If you are having problems now, see if your doc can get you in earlier. What you will do is have a breathing test. This will show the doctor how much air is actually to and from your lungs. Because of inflammation, which most asthmatics have all time time, there is less room for air to pass through. When you have an asthma attack, the airway becomes more constricted leaving even less room.

My kids take a low-dose steroid each morning and night to decrease the inflammation. When they have trouble coughing when they have a cold, etc. (this would be during an attack for an asthmatic who had them) they take a "rescue" inhaler. This is also called a broncho-dialator. It helps keep the constriction of the airway to a minimum and leaves room for the person to breathe.

In all, you don't have to pass out to have asthma! Check out online info!

The two comments you've gotten so far are true. However, I'd like to point out that unfortunately, signs and symptoms of an "attack" for one individual are not the same for another. Asthma is a very individual disease. Please check out this website www.astrazeneca.com/medicines/respiratory/ (I do work for the company, so I'm obligated to tell you I work there for full disclosure). Another good site is www.kidshealth.org. Although it's intended to help parents educate themselves/teens/kids about their teens/kids health, it is also helpful for your own health as it puts everything in layman's terms.
I've been an officially diagnosed asthmatic for 20 yrs now. Typically symptom free, but suffered 2 yrs in a row with asthmatic bronchitis and on multiple meds & steriods. As I said, each person's symptoms are different & it's important to know what are your triggers & what are your signs of an attack so you can manage your asthma well. If your triggers are, for example, dust/mold, you know you just need to try & keep your house clean. If your signs of an attack are tight chest/wheezing, find your rescue inhaler, try getting fresh air into the house, or prop yourself up in bed if you're trying to sleep.
Good luck!

I deal with mild or athletic induced attacks usually only and very rarely.

My dd now 19 has had acute asthma where she has been hospitalized in an emergency situation countless times. She has went through all the maintenance "corts", singulair, and allergy meds.

Asthma deprives the red blood cells from taking in oxygen. You can feel overwhelmed, tired, exhausted even, short of breath and overall not feeling well for days before it could become more threatening or immediate. My dd like mentioned above was a vomiter. She did not necessarily wheeze, but she coughed and when she vomited it was our emergency flag to get to an er and quickly, often times arriving on the 4th nebulizer on the 13 minute ride in to childrens in the car.

We had a turn of events about 3 years ago. I removed the steroids and corts and introduced allergy shots in combination with chiropractic care.

The results are remarkable and my dd has been medication free to over two years and has only had ONE attack, and I sadly note she is a smoker at 19.

Do some research -- you might just be surprised at how much info you find on chiropractics

Hi A.,

Talk to your doctor about your concerns.

Good luck. D.

HI A.,

The posts you have already received provided good, solid information. I have been an asthmatic all my life, undiagnosed until I was in my teens. I would always get short of breath when I was young when I ran around, but I always just thought I was no good at sports, etc.

If you're not actively experiencing any symptoms, go see your Doctor at your scheduled appointment. The only thing I wanted to add is do take the diagnosis seriously... make sure you understand and have an action plan for when your symptoms flare up. It is a chronic, but overall very manageable illness. However, if it is untreated, it can result in death. (Sounds dramatic, but I know someone who died from their asthma, very sad. In today's world, with the medicine available, this should almost never happen.)

Also... don't use over the counter medicines (such as Primateen Mist) to treat flare ups. This can make things worse.

Don't be too worried... go to your appointment with questions and be prepared to discuss a treatment plan with your doctor. Don't leave until all your questions are answered. Best of luck!

nope- that whole unconscious thing is some kinda hollywood spin on asthma (in that it is quite uncommon.) i have moderate to severe asthma and have since i had kids. i take up to 13 drugs to manage it. right now i have been suffering a flare up that is over a week old. we are trying to keep me off of prednisone, so i am trying a few new things. however, in all these years i have never lost consciousness b/c of this illness.

instead i have chronic cough that lasts weeks. i do get tightness in my chest and occasional wheezing. it is difficult to get anything done, and nearly impossible to sleep (completely impossible laying down.)

so, it is possible to have asthma untreated for a while, and many people do have it for quite a while w/o a diagnosis & treatment. your light headedness is likely unrelated. your anxiety is probably the cause. so don't panic. for the most part this is a very managable condition. i had it for years without even a single daily medication. and then a few years with only one. something about having children seemed to make mine worse, but the dr. swears they are unrelated. try to relax and make sure the dr. tells you the reason behind your diagnosis.