granolagrrrl

My first post... In the last year I seem to have developed a chronic cold (almost always fighting either sniffles, sneezes or coughs) and more recently, occasional asthma-like symptoms. The real breathing trouble is at night, as on three occasions in the past 2 months I have been unable to sleep or was woken with shortness of breath when both inhaling and exhaling. Also, have had some daytime wheezing after stairs, or brisk walking in cold weather -- possible exercise-induced asthma? It may be aggravated by cat dander at home (which never seemed to bother me before) or a job (one year old, actually) in an office with a smoker and poor ventilation. I know I need to check with a doctor, but we are in the process of switching health care providers at work, and I don't want to risk the "pre-existing condition" label right now. I hope to visit a physician about this in the next couple months. I have never had allergies, but it seems that treatment of asthma -too- involves antihistamines such as in Claritin, now available otc. Has anyone successfully treated asthma symptoms with Claritin? On a positive note, I will soon be moving to a larger living space (less dander per square inch) and the job just moved to a new, larger, and better ventilated office this week. If you have any advice, i'd appreciate it. (Also, i've read some notes here on nighttime acid reflux -- is that a possibility even if I experience no stomach/heartburn-like discomfort at all?) Thanks.