New Treatment Ways: Asthma FAQ

Showing posts with label Asthma FAQ. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Asthma FAQ. Show all posts

Can dogs and cats really prevent asthma?

Your question: I read about a recent study that showed that exposure to a cat or dog can prevent asthma or allergies. So why don't doctors recommend that all parents get a dog or a cat to prevent asthma and allergies. I know it sounds goofy, but...

My humble answer: I'm going to give you the oposite answer that you'd expect me to give. I'm the kind of person who doesn't like to jump on the popular bandwagon. I don't like to support something just because everyone else does. By this I'm going to imply, that even thoug I wrote an article about it called "Having a dog or a cat may help prevent asthma," doesn't means I think the study is even viable. In fact, if you think about it, asthma is a hereditary disease. By this you must realize that most people who have asthma and allergies are more likely than those without asthma to have pets. So it's only fitting that such a study would show that people who have a dog or cat are more likely not to have asthma. So I'm going to say that there is no evidence a dog or cat will prevent asthma, and suggest that if you have a family history of asthma that you don't get a dog based on studies like this.

How can I manage asthma around smoke?

The following Q and A sequence is from healthcentral.com/asthma:

Your question: How can I manage asthma around smoke? I am currently having trouble managing my asthma because of the brush fires that are around my neighborhood. Do you have any advice for management when there is a trigger you cant control?

My humble answer: That's one of the things that's kind of crappy about having asthma: there are certain things beyond your control. It's not like you can walk up to all your neighbors and tell them all to stop burning wood. The same can be said of backyard campfires and bar b ques.

The same can also be said of allergens. You can close all your windows and sit in a hot and stuffy house if you want, but tree, grass and ragweed pollen still have a way of getting indoors. And no matter what you do, you'll have to go outdoors at some point.

At least for allergies there's a few medicinal options that aren't avaiable to prevent smoke induced asthma

Of course another option may be to move to a neighborhood that bans brush fires, camp fires and the like. However, from my own personal experience, such asthma triggers will find you no matter where you live.

The best advice I can give is to try to stay indoors as best you can on days the air is filled with smoke. The only other really good option is to continue to do what you've already been doing, and that's work with your doctor to obtain good asthma control.

Does Albuterol lower potassium?

Your Question: Does Albuterol lower potassium?

My answer: Albuterol does have the effect of lowering potassium. While one treatment can lower potassium in your system, it's usually by an insignificant amount. However, if you are using a lot of Ventolin throughout the course of a day, it can have the effect of lowering potassium. It's generally not something that's considered significant, however. I have never heard of a physician not prescribing an asthma rescue medicine due to it's potassium lowering effect. However, it's something to consider if you have other medical problems. It may also be a good idea to eat a banana or two if you use Ventolin a lot, because bananas are a good source of potassium. Maybe that's why I crave a banana for breakfast every day because I used to use Ventolin a lot. Anyway, here is a good article written by a good friend of mine that answers your question in more detail if you're interested. I actually wrote a post on the subject myself but it's location presently eludes me.

Can a methacholine test be a false negative?

Your question: Can a methacholine test be a false negative?

I have been tested for asthma, but my results came back negative. My doctor has ruled out all other possible conditions that could be a cause for my symptoms. I have all the symptoms for asthma, but they are mild. Is it possible I got a false negative because my asthma is not that severe? I did not have the 20% drop on the test, but my symptoms were present by the last vial. Confused and worried, please help!

My humble answer: There really is no difinitive test to diagnose asthma. However, the methacholine challenge is a pretty significant indicator. If you have a negative methacholine challenge chances are you don't have asthma. The reason I can say this is because if you have asthma the challenge will make you short of breath, and a bronchodilator breathing treatment will make you feel better. If none of these happen, chances are you don't have asthma. A second opinion is always a good idea, however.

What is a normal oxygen percentage in the blood?

Pocket size pulse oximeter

Your question: What is the normal percentage of oxygen in the blood?

My humble answer: I believe you are referring to pulse oximetry, or spo2. Your blood has many red blood cells (RBC), and each RBC has a hemoglobin molecule. After passing through the lungs, an oxygen molecule binds with a hemoglobin molecule. So, an spo2 gives a percentage of hemoglobin molecules (in arterial blood) that are carrying an oxygen molecule. A normal percentage is 98%. However, anything over 90% is acceptable. As we age, sleep, and with various disease conditions it's normal for this percentage to decrease. Pulse oximetry is now considered the 5th vital sign after blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature.

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Do I have to fill my Albuterol prescription?

The following is a question from a fellow asthmatic at MyAsthmaCentral.com.

Your humble question: I just left for college and I guess my new dorm room caused me to have an asthma attack. I haven't had one in years and so the only inhaler I have is from 3 1/2 years ago. I went to the health center and after a nebulizer treatment I feel better. My question is can i just keep this old inhaler with me or do I have to get a new one. What are the odds of even having another asthma attack. I really don't want my parents to know because they will over react and panic if they knew so I dont want to have to fil the prescription. Thank you for any help.

My humble answer: I always find the older the inhaler the worse it tastes. Old asthma medicines are proven to be safe. However, the longer the inhaler sits around the less potent the medicine becomes. So your 3.5 year old inhaler will probably work about 1/2 (if that) as well as a new inhaler.

It seems to me obvious your "old" inhaler wasn't working well enough to keep you out of the health center. So I'd recommend you bite the bullet and go see your doctor and get a new one. That way you'll have one to keep on hand for the next emergency. A fresh inhaler may be all you need to avoid the health center. You should toss out old inhalers and get new ones at least once per year.

I wrote a post about this recently. You may want tock it out by clicking here.

Do I have to fill my Albuterol prescription?

The following is a question from a fellow asthmatic at MyAsthmaCentral.com.

Your humble question: I just left for college and I guess my new dorm room caused me to have an asthma attack. I haven't had one in years and so the only inhaler I have is from 3 1/2 years ago. I went to the health center and after a nebulizer treatment I feel better. My question is can i just keep this old inhaler with me or do I have to get a new one. What are the odds of even having another asthma attack. I really don't want my parents to know because they will over react and panic if they knew so I dont want to have to fil the prescription. Thank you for any help.

My humble answer: I always find the older the inhaler the worse it tastes. Old asthma medicines are proven to be safe. However, the longer the inhaler sits around the less potent the medicine becomes. So your 3.5 year old inhaler will probably work about 1/2 (if that) as well as a new inhaler.

It seems to me obvious your "old" inhaler wasn't working well enough to keep you out of the health center. So I'd recommend you bite the bullet and go see your doctor and get a new one. That way you'll have one to keep on hand for the next emergency. A fresh inhaler may be all you need to avoid the health center. You should toss out old inhalers and get new ones at least once per year.

I wrote a post about this recently. You may want tock it out by clicking here.

Can mild asthmatics take preventative medicine only when needed?

I continue to receive some great questions from you guys. This is one I received a while back.

Your question: I recently read an article that stated mild asthmatics didn't need to take medication, and that there was no improvement for there lungs to take medication everyday as opposed to when they experienced an asthma flare up. Is this statement true. I have attached the article here... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7490689/ns/health-allergies_and_asthma

My humble answer: I read that article too, and like you it made me wonder. Back in the 1980s asthma was treated only during acute attacks, and modern evidence shows that daily treatment with preventative medicines are needed to control asthma. Personally, I am living proof that a daily dose of steroids in my lungs works, and using steroids only during an attack doesn't work.

However, I think the key to that article is the words 'mild asthma.' I believe there were some asthma experts who hypothesized, "Does EVERY asthmatic need daily preventative meds? Can those with mild asthma get by with using inhaled corticosteroids only during an attack?" The answer to the study they did obviously leans one to think that those with 'mild asthma' might be able to sneak by without taking daily preventative medicines. Or, at least this is something worth trialing under the supervision of a physician.

It actually makes sense. This study might explain why some asthmatics can go years by not taking any preventative medicines and not have any symptoms. And it's actually a good thing too, considering the less medicine you can get by with the better.

Asthma experts have contended for years that if you are on asthma controller medicines and have had no symptoms for years, you should work with your doctor on scaling down your medicine. If you try and it doesn't work, then you go back on your old medicine regime and leave well enough alone. So in this regard, the study results are not much of a surprise.

So if you have mild asthma, this is another option for you. Yet if you have moderate to severe asthma, chances are you'll need to stick with the daily preventative asthma regime that's been taught the past several years.

Other studies continue to confirm (such as this study) what asthma experts over the past several years have noted, that combination therapy works best to control asthma symptoms for those with mild persistent asthma.

A recent study performed at the University of Arizona of 400 children showed that those taking an inhaled corticosteroid to prevent asthma and Albuterol to treat acute symptoms were 35 percent less likely to have an exacerbation of asthma. The rate of treatment failure was reduced by 60 percent compared to those taking placebo.

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Can mild asthmatics take preventative medicine only when needed?

I continue to receive some great questions from you guys. This is one I received a while back.

Your question: I recently read an article that stated mild asthmatics didn't need to take medication, and that there was no improvement for there lungs to take medication everyday as opposed to when they experienced an asthma flare up. Is this statement true. I have attached the article here... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7490689/ns/health-allergies_and_asthma

My humble answer: I read that article too, and like you it made me wonder. Back in the 1980s asthma was treated only during acute attacks, and modern evidence shows that daily treatment with preventative medicines are needed to control asthma. Personally, I am living proof that a daily dose of steroids in my lungs works, and using steroids only during an attack doesn't work.

However, I think the key to that article is the words 'mild asthma.' I believe there were some asthma experts who hypothesized, "Does EVERY asthmatic need daily preventative meds? Can those with mild asthma get by with using inhaled corticosteroids only during an attack?" The answer to the study they did obviously leans one to think that those with 'mild asthma' might be able to sneak by without taking daily preventative medicines. Or, at least this is something worth trialing under the supervision of a physician.

It actually makes sense. This study might explain why some asthmatics can go years by not taking any preventative medicines and not have any symptoms. And it's actually a good thing too, considering the less medicine you can get by with the better.

Asthma experts have contended for years that if you are on asthma controller medicines and have had no symptoms for years, you should work with your doctor on scaling down your medicine. If you try and it doesn't work, then you go back on your old medicine regime and leave well enough alone. So in this regard, the study results are not much of a surprise.

So if you have mild asthma, this is another option for you. Yet if you have moderate to severe asthma, chances are you'll need to stick with the daily preventative asthma regime that's been taught the past several years.

Other studies continue to confirm (such as this study) what asthma experts over the past several years have noted, that combination therapy works best to control asthma symptoms for those with mild persistent asthma.

A recent study performed at the University of Arizona of 400 children showed that those taking an inhaled corticosteroid to prevent asthma and Albuterol to treat acute symptoms were 35 percent less likely to have an exacerbation of asthma. The rate of treatment failure was reduced by 60 percent compared to those taking placebo.

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What is persistent asthma?

Your question: What is persistent asthma? And what is a good treatment for it?

My humble answer: Actually, I'm going to quote a doctor for the answer to this question. Dr. James Thompson M.D. in his post, "Combination Inhalers for Asthma Control: The New Kid on the Block," provides the following definition tio persistent asthma:

When is asthma persistent? Great Question!

Asthma is persistent when any one of the following is true:

There are limitations in normal routine (work/school) because of asthma. For example, huffing and puffing as you walk up one flight of stairs, noticing classmates or coworkers gliding by with ease.
Symptoms of asthma (cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness) occur more than two days per week.
Reliever inhaler is required more than two days per week (don't count the inhalations taken to prevent exercise-induced asthma).
Night time awakenings from asthma symptoms occurs more than two nights per month.
Lung function is less than 80 percent predicted by lung function test (Spirometry or Peak Flow Rate).
There has been more than one severe asthma attack in the last 12 months.

When severe asthma is occurring most asthma experts now recommend the patient be prescribed the following therapy:

Bronchodilator inhaler (Every asthmatic should have one on hand at all time)
Singulair (if this alone does not control your asthma, move on to #3 below)
Inhaled corticosteroid (if this does not control your asthma, move on to step #4 below)
Combination inhaler (if this doesn't control your asthma, seek an asthma specialist)

Most persistent asthma cases are controlled with one or a combination of the above four medicinal options.

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What is persistent asthma?

Your question: What is persistent asthma? And what is a good treatment for it?

My humble answer: Actually, I'm going to quote a doctor for the answer to this question. Dr. James Thompson M.D. in his post, "Combination Inhalers for Asthma Control: The New Kid on the Block," provides the following definition tio persistent asthma:

When is asthma persistent? Great Question!

Asthma is persistent when any one of the following is true:

There are limitations in normal routine (work/school) because of asthma. For example, huffing and puffing as you walk up one flight of stairs, noticing classmates or coworkers gliding by with ease.
Symptoms of asthma (cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness) occur more than two days per week.
Reliever inhaler is required more than two days per week (don't count the inhalations taken to prevent exercise-induced asthma).
Night time awakenings from asthma symptoms occurs more than two nights per month.
Lung function is less than 80 percent predicted by lung function test (Spirometry or Peak Flow Rate).
There has been more than one severe asthma attack in the last 12 months.

When severe asthma is occurring most asthma experts now recommend the patient be prescribed the following therapy:

Bronchodilator inhaler (Every asthmatic should have one on hand at all time)
Singulair (if this alone does not control your asthma, move on to #3 below)
Inhaled corticosteroid (if this does not control your asthma, move on to step #4 below)
Combination inhaler (if this doesn't control your asthma, seek an asthma specialist)

Most persistent asthma cases are controlled with one or a combination of the above four medicinal options.

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Can you die from asthma/

I normally don't like to use other people's words to say something I want to say, yet I was reading the comments to this post over at MyAsthmaCentarl.com and the conversation ended up with the question many asthmatics ask: Can you die of asthma?

James Thompson, MD, who happens to be a fellow asthma experts (well, he's a well established asthma doctor, so he's actually far more expert than I'll ever be), gave an answer so brilliant that I couldn't possibly word it better, so I wont. Dr.Thompson's answer to this question is:

If I were forced to give a one word answer I would say, "Yes". Fortunately I can elaborate and tell you that although asthma can be fatal, the majority of people with the diagnosis of asthma do not die. In the early 1990s there were more than 5000 deaths per year attributed to asthma in the United States. Data from the about three years ago approximated about 4000 deaths annually (and falling). The bad news is that there are still people that die from asthma. Furthermore, the more than 20 million people that have asthma in this country are more affected by the impact of the disease on their quality of life.

Mortality and morbidity (in other words death and poor quality of life) are greatly reduced when asthma management is appropriate. Well controlled asthma leads to minimal impairment from breathing problems no limitations on activity, and a duration of life that is equal to someone who does not have asthma.

So, yes you can die from asthma, but good asthma management can prevent it.

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Can you die from asthma/

I normally don't like to use other people's words to say something I want to say, yet I was reading the comments to this post over at MyAsthmaCentarl.com and the conversation ended up with the question many asthmatics ask: Can you die of asthma?

James Thompson, MD, who happens to be a fellow asthma experts (well, he's a well established asthma doctor, so he's actually far more expert than I'll ever be), gave an answer so brilliant that I couldn't possibly word it better, so I wont. Dr.Thompson's answer to this question is:

If I were forced to give a one word answer I would say, "Yes". Fortunately I can elaborate and tell you that although asthma can be fatal, the majority of people with the diagnosis of asthma do not die. In the early 1990s there were more than 5000 deaths per year attributed to asthma in the United States. Data from the about three years ago approximated about 4000 deaths annually (and falling). The bad news is that there are still people that die from asthma. Furthermore, the more than 20 million people that have asthma in this country are more affected by the impact of the disease on their quality of life.

Mortality and morbidity (in other words death and poor quality of life) are greatly reduced when asthma management is appropriate. Well controlled asthma leads to minimal impairment from breathing problems no limitations on activity, and a duration of life that is equal to someone who does not have asthma.

So, yes you can die from asthma, but good asthma management can prevent it.

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Is homeschooling better for asthma kids

Your question: Would it be better to home school my child because he has hardluck asthma?

My humble answer: Some people simply have asthma worse than others. While asthma in itself can be a challenge, you also don't want to allow it to control you and your child. Obviously you have to do what you think is best for your child, but the education coupled with the social interaction that your son gets at school are also very important.

Even though your child is sick, you want to create as normal a world for him as you can.

On a side note, I too had chronic asthma growing up, and I can attest that school was a real challenge for me. In retrospect, I am glad that my parents never took me out of school.

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Is homeschooling better for asthma kids

Your question: Would it be better to home school my child because he has hardluck asthma?

My humble answer: Some people simply have asthma worse than others. While asthma in itself can be a challenge, you also don't want to allow it to control you and your child. Obviously you have to do what you think is best for your child, but the education coupled with the social interaction that your son gets at school are also very important.

Even though your child is sick, you want to create as normal a world for him as you can.

On a side note, I too had chronic asthma growing up, and I can attest that school was a real challenge for me. In retrospect, I am glad that my parents never took me out of school.

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could a fever lead up to my sons asthma attack coming on?

Your question: Could a fever lead up to my sons asthma attack coming on?

My humble answer: Asthma itself does not cause a fever. A virus may cause a low grade fever. A virus may trigger asthma symptoms. As long as you use your bronchodilator inhaler as instructed by your doctor, it is very safe. If you sense that your child is having early signs of asthma, it is a good idea to have him use his bronchodilator inhaler. At eight, he should be old enough to tell you if he feels better after using it. However, if you continue to have concerns, it's always a good idea to contact your doctor.

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could a fever lead up to my sons asthma attack coming on?

Your question: Could a fever lead up to my sons asthma attack coming on?

My humble answer: Asthma itself does not cause a fever. A virus may cause a low grade fever. A virus may trigger asthma symptoms. As long as you use your bronchodilator inhaler as instructed by your doctor, it is very safe. If you sense that your child is having early signs of asthma, it is a good idea to have him use his bronchodilator inhaler. At eight, he should be old enough to tell you if he feels better after using it. However, if you continue to have concerns, it's always a good idea to contact your doctor.

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is it alright to discontinue theo-dur anytime

Your question: is it alright to discontinue theo-dur anytime

My humble answer: This is a good question for me to answer, because I was on Theo-dur for 25 years, and every time I'd skip a dose I'd have an asthma attack. So I thought I'd be on it for life. The idea here was that once you have a certain theophylin level in your system, your body expects it to be there always. So, if you suddenly stop taking it, your body may punish you the way it punished me.

That is why a slow wean is important with theodur. Ideally, you should work with your doctor on a good plan for weaning yourself off this once popular and now essentially out-dated medicine because of all the aweful side effects.

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is it alright to discontinue theo-dur anytime

Your question: is it alright to discontinue theo-dur anytime

My humble answer: This is a good question for me to answer, because I was on Theo-dur for 25 years, and every time I'd skip a dose I'd have an asthma attack. So I thought I'd be on it for life. The idea here was that once you have a certain theophylin level in your system, your body expects it to be there always. So, if you suddenly stop taking it, your body may punish you the way it punished me.

That is why a slow wean is important with theodur. Ideally, you should work with your doctor on a good plan for weaning yourself off this once popular and now essentially out-dated medicine because of all the aweful side effects.

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can a pulmicort neb tx and an albuterol neb tx be given back to back?

Your question: can a pulmicort neb tx and an albuterol neb tx be given back to back?

My humble answer: We give Pulmicort and Albuterol together in the hospital. However, you can also give them back to back. It's up to you. You can also give Pulmicort with Atrovent, however the medicine in the cup will bubble and the treatment will take longer.

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