asthma and treatment

asthma and treatment questions and answers

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Q: Asthma treatment help!?
I am taking a Flexhaler Turbohaler by AstraZeneca for my asthma, and I was wondering something. Ok, so there is the bottom trigger that opens the dose. The mouthpiece is at the top. The mouthpiece lays on a twist able cap. What happens if I say, accidentally twists this cap? I did already, and for some reason the doses taste bitter, but this could just be because I have not taken the inhaler for a while. This is a corticosteroid which is used to prevent asthma attacks. Will this problem cause any adverse effects?

A: It was not possible for me to comprehend. All I can say is that follow the instructions and don't experiment with it. There may be a risk of overdose or any other complication.

Q: Asthma treatment making me HUNGRY??!!!!?
I wound up in the ER the other night from a combination of a chest cold and an asthma attack, now I have to toke up on albuterol in the nebulizer every 4 hours. In addition to the increased heart rate, I am freaking STARVING!! OMG I could eat everything in the house. I just ate my usual breakfast of Activia, a piece of whole grain toast, and 10 almonds, which usually does me fine until mid afternoon, but I feel like I've not eaten in days. Does the albuterol cause this?? I don't seem to remember being this ravenous the last time I had to use it like this, but it's been a few years. They didn't give me Prednisone this time, yah that always used to make me hungry. I did get a cortisone shot though, would that do it? Next time I'm going to tell them to give me a script for phentermine to go with it.

A: It doesn't effect me that way. However when I have to take steroids for my asthma, it sure does. Did they give you (inject or orally) Prednisone? That can make you super hungry, mean, and the feeling of restlessness.

Q: Are steroids & some inhalers used for asthma treatments dangerous for your health?
Specifically prendisone, symbicort/advair, and even albuterol/xopenex. Are these dangerous for us? I use asthma meds almost daily to control my asthma, and I take prendisone for emergencies. I almost always feel weird, nauseous and just tired/worn out after taking all of these, but it definitely helps my asthma go away.

A: for most people if used correctly; no. the dangers of un or undertreated asthma is a much greater risk to your health. prednisone is an oral steroid and it can cause problems with organs etc if used long term at high dosages..which is why it isn't. advair is a combo of inhaled steroid and long lasting bronchodialator. inhaled steroids are one of the most researched and safest meds there is available (natural or allopathic). Inhaled steroids go directly into the lungs where they are used. What is not needed is quickly excreted by the body. Inhaled steroids are considered non-systemic. albuterol is a bronchodialator...meaning it dialates the bronchi...caffeine is a mild natural bronchodialator. Remember medication is medication..whether natural or allopathic and all have the potential for side effects and interactions..and chronic illnesses also cause side effects..in the case of asthma scarring and thickening of the bronchi and lungs known as airway remodeling.

Q: Singulair or Advair as add-on asthma treatment?
I'm having some issues with my asthma control on FloVent alone (1000 mcg/day [2 puffs 250 mcg twice a day]) and my doctor gave me the option to add Singulair or Advair. I chose Singulair but I'm slightly regretting it because the Advair would just continue my ICS and give me relief quicker, but I am wondering what others would do in my position? FloVent is an inhaled corticosteroid (Sorry, I wasn't clear. If we added Advair, I'd be off the FloVent). Singulair is a leukotriene modifier. I'm fully aware of the differences between them, but I was just wondering what other people would do :) I thought it was kind of weird she gave me the choice, too.

A: That sounds really strange. Advair and Singular are different products. Advair is an inhaled steroid for your lungs. Singular is an allergy pill. So, they serve different purposes. Also, I can't recall, but is FloVent a steroid or is it a quick bronchodialator? If it's a steroid, then it seems strange that the doctor would want you on 2 of them at the same time. You might want to ask him again, maybe your remembering some of the names wrong, or maybe a 2nd opinion wouldn't hurt.

Q: What can a woman do to target a change of bodyshape probably caused by years of asthma steroids as a child?
My wife has long wondered why she has a strong body shape that makes it more difficult than you would expect to loose weight. She has always said that she had extremely bad asthma for years as a child and took alot of medecine for it. I recently learned that asthma treatments use steroids. Now, it seems obvious to me that it is related. I wonder if exercise/health gurus know of ways to specifically address this. I can not find anything online about it though. Can anyone help? Thanks!!!!!!!

A: This site should help you out, specially concerning your link between asthma and body shape: http://starturl.com/asthmafree Some things listed there include: >> How to safely and effectively lose any excess weight – and therefore treat your asthma >> How to increase your energy, endurance and fitness levels >> How to increase your circulation >> How to make anxiety and depression a thing of the past

Q: What are some emergency asthma treatments?
I have a friend who has lost his inhaler and has no transportation to a hospital...is there any other way to help him in case of an emergency?

A: If he is having an asthma attack and you have no medicine around, you need to make sure he remains as calm as possible. Make sure he can talk because when an attack becomes really bad, you can no longer talk. For me, I've been in the situation where I don't have medicine. The best thing is not to panic. Also, make sure he is sitting up straight. Don't have him standing up because that just takes more energy and if he were to pass out, that could make even more problems. Have him lean against a wall when sitting on the floor. when you lie down, it makes a lot more work for your lungs. If someone else has an emergency inhaler (albuterol) that you know, you could have them bring it to the house or wherever you are. Also remember, you can always call for an ambulence to get to a hospital. A lot of times we don't want to go to the hospital for this kind of stuff, but sometimes it really is the best thing because they can help. Most importantly, he needs to get another inhaler. I went for three years in high school without medicine and it was the worst thing I did for my lungs. It will just continue to get worse without treatment. Now i've tried 5 different medications and have finally found one that works. If your friend is having to use his inhaler more than twice a week, he should see his doctor and they might put him on a preventative, longer-lasting medicine. Just don't let it get out of hand because it can put you in a bad position. Good luck with all of this. email me if you have any other questions. i'll be glad to try to help.

Q: Do you have any good asthma treatments?
Im not having an asthma attack but ive had asthma my entire life (since i was 10 days old) and right now im sick which makes it even worse than normally. Ive taken my inhaler and sat by the shower for 30 mins (for the steam) which normally makes it better but i cant get this annoying cough (and yes the cough goes along with the asthma) to go away and i cant seem to start breathing normally agian. thanks for any help you give me!

A: Asthma can be life threatening so you really need to be prepared in case you have an attack. The cough you're experiencing could be an indication that the treatment you're using isn't working and the asthma attack is worsening (this is how it effects me). Sometimes steam inhaled from a bowl (with menthol in it) with a towel over your head MIGHT help a little but once the attack starts there's little chance it'll give you any relief. If your reliever hasn't helped, do you have a nebulizer? If not, it's a good idea to buy one as this can save you a trip to the hospital if it's not a severe attack. Being asthmatic already your doctor should have sat down with you and made out an 'asthma action plan' of what you're to do when you have a bad attack. An asthma action plan is a written set of instructions that assists you to manage your asthma at different times. Your plan should help you to: Recognise worsening asthma symptoms Start treatment quickly Seek the right medical assistance You need to know what triggers your attacks so you can hopefully avoid them or at least be prepared. Some of the triggers can be: Colds and flu Exposure to cigarette smoke Exercise/activity Inhaled allergens (e.g. pollens, moulds, animal dander and dust mites) Environmental (e.g. dust, pollution, wood smoke, bush fires) Changes in temperature and weather Certain medications (e.g. aspirin) Chemicals and strong smells (e.g. perfumes, cleaners) Emotional factors (e.g. laughter, stress) Some foods and food preservatives, flavourings and colourings Every person's asthma is different. Not all people will have the same triggers, nor will they react to every trigger listed above. You may not always know what triggers your asthma. It's helpful to identify triggers in order to avoid them however this is not always possible (e.g. colds and flu). ASTHMA FIRST AID PLAN Step 1. Sit upright and have someone stay with you Step 2. Without delay take 4 separate puffs of your reliever ( The medication is best taken one puff at a time via a spacer device Take 4 breaths from the spacer after each puff of medication. 3. Wait 4 minutes. If there is little or no improvement repeat steps 2 and 3. Step 4. If there is still no improvement call an ambulance immediately (DIAL 911). If you can't call an ambulance have someone take you to the ER urgently. Continuously repeat steps 2 and 3 while waiting for the ambulance. Unfortunately asthma can't be cured, but it can be controlled.

Q: Alternative asthma treatments?
I have recently been diagnosed with mild/moderate asthma stemming from severe allergies. I am on a steroid inhaler, and albuterol when needed, but is there anything else I can do to reduce my dependance on the inhalers? Natural, holistic treatments that can help me breathe easier? Would air purifiers help? Deep breathing techniques?

A: Keep your home clear of dust and pollen. Avoid cigarette smoke. Stay away from cats; their dander is highly allergenic. Remain calm. Managing stress helps fight asthma. Treat colds and the flu promptly to reduce the chances of an attack. Wear a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm the cold winter air. Keep an asthma diary to help you determine your asthma triggers. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep mucus loose. Substances in green tea can help reduce the airway inflammation that accompanies an asthma attack. Taking time for a cup of tea can be soothing and calming as well. You can safely drink several cups of green tea a day in combination with other nutritional and herbal remedies. Yoga is an excellent activity for people with asthma. Not only does it enhance breathing, it is also relaxing. An inexpensive device, called a peak-flow meter, measures how fast and how hard you can exhale air from your lungs. Its results, compared to levels set by your doctor or to previous readings, can often predict an asthma attack, even a day or two in advance. Eating lots of onions may help asthma sufferers. The mustard oils (isothiocyanates) they contain seem to promote healthy lungs. The supplements in the list below are meant to complement conventional asthma therapy. Never stop taking medication prescribed for asthma without consulting your doctor. Vitamin C: 1,000 mg 3 times a day. Reduce dose if diarrhea develops. Magnesium : 400 mg twice a day. Take for 6 weeks to achieve adequate levels. Vitamin B6: 50 mg twice a day. Especially important if you take the prescription asthma drug theophylline. Quercetin : 500 mg 3 times a day. Use 20 minutes before meals; often sold with vitamin C. Licorice : 200 mg standardized extract 3 times a day. Can raise blood pressure. Use DGL.

Q: Weight gain and asthma therapy?
My doctor prescribed Singulair and a new inhaler as part of asthma treatment. As I have been taking it, I have noticed an increased appetite and increased waist line! Could it be associated as I know there are steroirds in the treatments?

A: I take both these drugs, and I haven't experienced that side effect. Now, mind you, drugs affect different people in different ways, so just because I don't have this result doesn't mean you shouldn't have it either. Definitely consult your doctor, and see if that can be expected. If not, may be time to hit the gym!

Q: Asthma nebulizer treatment???
My beautiful wife has really bad asthma at the moment and needs to use her nebulizer four times a day and i just want everones ideas of how to make it easier and more fun for her when she is on the nebulizer doing a breathing treatment.

A: It really should not take any longer than 10-15 minutes for a neb. treatment with a single medicine or with 2 medicines mixed together. If it is taking much longer than this maybe your nebulizer machine is old or your nebulizer itself is old and needs to be replaced.