Asthma & Shortness of Breath

Asthma is also known as Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) in which a person experiences a narrowing or spasming of the airways as a result of exposure and then allergic reaction to some irritant. Common things contribute to asthma include: dust, pollen, dead insect parts (microscopic like dust mites), animal dander. It can also be triggered by cold air and exercise, smoke, aspirin, emotional stress, and just about anything else. People have even been known to suffer asthma attacks from a reaction to certain foods.

Asthma is strongly associated with heredity and childhood environmental factors. If your parent had it, you
probably will too. If your kids are exposed to cigarette smoke in the home as an infant, chances are they will suffer from it. The good thing is that most kids will end up outgrowing the asthma, but they are always at risk for a recurrence.

Treatment and Expectations: Colds and flu have a way of making the body hypersensitive to things that normally wouldn’t bother us, like asthma and shortness of breath! In the same way your nose gets plugged up, you can also suffer bronchial spasms and narrowing of the airways resulting from having a cold, and then being exposed to things that you are allergic to. It makes sense that you would want avoid all the things that could trigger an attack (make the dog sleep in the yard, and stick the cat outside, or at least not let ‘em sleep in the bedroom!!)

You should work closely with your health care provider to find the right regiment of medicines that will work for you. Until then, if you get an asthma attack:

1. Relax and stay calm to avoid increasing the need for more oxygen.
2. Do not take anti-inflammatory medicine such as aspirin, Motrin, etc. Extra Strength Tylenol is O.K.
3. Use your inhaler as labeled if your Healthcare Provider has given you one.
4. Drink lots of fluid to thin out the bronchial mucous.
5. There are some OTC products that work well such as Primatene Mist or Primatene Mist with Epinephrine, but be sure to consult your own Healthcare Provider before using this or any other OTC product on a regular basis.
6. If you are ever caught without your inhaler and are suffering an attack, you can drink a large amount of strong coffee to temporarily relieve some of the asthma on the way to the Healthcare Provider’s office, or ER.
7. For more great information I highly recommend reading The Asthma Source Book: Everything You Need to Know. This book was given a five star rating time after time by readers just like you who suffer from asthma. Provides very practical explanations and treatments for you and your family, and is also available in paperback.

Seek a Medical Professional if:

1. You are in doubt.
2. You run out of your usual prescription medications.
3. You have not been previously treated or followed for shortness of breath or asthma.
4. You cannot catch your breath or there is no relief of your symptoms after
your usual treatment, or if the OTC medicines do not work.
5. Your sputum become foul tasting and discolored, or if you have fever >
103.0° F (39.4°C)