asthma?it's been so long

[momonline42]

Originally Posted by hotchic85

Momof2: I can understand where you are coming from, but if your asthma can be controlled by breathing exercises and getting in better shape, wouldn't you rather do that then take medication? I advocate going to the doctor to figure out what needs to be done for anyone's specific case because self-treating is NEVER a good idea. But, if asthma can be controlled by staying in-shape and no meds...sounds like a dream world to me.

Hey I am all for exercise and being in shape in fact I can't think of any ailment disease or condition that its not helpful to be fit.

The problem with breathing patterns and reducing the intensity of exercise ( which makes the exercise less effective according to many) or any other form of self- treatment including avoiding triggers ,is this


The MAIN problem with changing your behavior to treat asthma is that it does NOTHING to treat the underlining inflammation ( if you have asthma you have this ) which make the tissues susceptible (sp) to triggers and result in the attack. This inflammation is devious you can't see it or hear it or smell it but its there slowly surely eating away your freedom and stealing your very breath denying bodies oxygen - It progresses so slowly its hard to notice.

By adapting to suit your asthma you are letting asthma control you (imo) I have done the jogged many miles while practicing breathing techniques and wearing a baklava in cold weather until the pain become so bad tears rolled down my face and I had to gradually decreased what I could to on account of the asthma and eventually gave up jogging altogether. I still ask myself why did I do this instead of taking control of my life and getting treatment for my disease???(the answer would fill several pages) In a nutshell though, I think at first it is a small adjustment - no big deal and then another and then another until your life is impacted by asthma much more then I at least realized.

It is not a good thing to let any disease go unchecked and progress bc as it advances damage is done , sometimes reversible, sometimes not! For me I am ok now but not as good if I had taken control of this disease earlier and not allowed my lungs to endure years of chronic inflammation.

This why I believe behavior modification is not an effective or desirable treatment for asthma.

Momof2

[hotchic85]

I agree with you, for the most part...but for mild cases (which is like half of all cases) the lungs aren't as inflamed, and they sure aren't as twitchy. There are people out there who have been diagnosed with mild asthma because they had trouble breathing at some point in their lives. My brother is one of those persons. Now, he is not on any maintainance but he lives a normal life. Why? Because his inflammation isn't significant enough to cause his lungs to be so twitchy. I agree that if anyone has asthma that uses their rescue meds twice a week or feels as though they should, needs to be on some type of controller medication, but there are some out there who just have the exercise-induced problems. If your body is doing a good job at keeping that inflammation at bay and you aren't using any controller medications and you have not had a life-threatening attack, then I don't see why some people can enjoy going without medication (aside from the occasional, VERY OCCASIONAL use of a rescue inhaler). In your logic, that person's lungs are worsening. Well, in that case, if your lungs are always worsening without the use of the inhaled steroids (which they are not, some lungs control their own inflammation) then they are going to be on a maintainence drug anyway and they might as well enjoy being medless for a bit. With people who are mild and haven't had a life-threatening attack, the use of a little albuterol or maxair or whatever, should relieve whatever tightness they experience. These people will notice they are going downhill MUCH sooner than most expect, because they live at the top of that hill. This is why, though, it is dangerous for those with asthma or any type of chronic illness to self-medicate, and this is why you should ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS visit a doctor if there is any change in breathing, medication usage, etc.

[momonline42]

In all this i am only referring to people that have been diagnosised with persistant asthma. Not those folks who have an asthmatic type reaction to allergens or other things , they also require treatment but since they do not have this disease then the treatment is different. This is my DD's case as she only has a asthmatic reaction around dogs and cats if she has not taken claratin/alavert/zertek, if a puppy licks her she also breaks out in hives where she was licked!!! Would i have her put on asthmatic control meds? no since there is no evidence that she has an underlying inflammation or any other of the symptoms of asthma.

I am one of those people who have "mild" asthma( my official diagnosis by my pulmonologist after several tests and reviewing weeks of my Peak Flow data )and have never had a life-threatening attack. And I am not especially dense ( or at least I think not) but very slowly asthma effected my life with out me noticing how bad it had gotten - I have heard this kind of statement from many many people regards different types of issues so I think its more the norm then not. We are busy people with many many things competing for our attention and it is really easy for an issue to creep up on us and get pretty bad before we get a wake up call and do something about it.

The hallmark of this disease is the underlying chronic inflammation. The inflammation does worsen as it progresses that is NOT my logic but the facts of life re asthma the ALA has excellent information if you are interested in the etiology of this disease. I'm not sure about different lungs abilities to lessen the effects of asthma. You seem to imply some lungs are "better" at it then others I have never heard of this and would love to read any research regarding it. perhaps what is happening is that the inflammation is mild enough at this point that's it not all that hard to live with but it is still present and damaging tissues while stressing every system in the body bc of a lowered oxygen level. (I know I don't need any more stress!!!)

Let's say If one is has EIA and needs rescue meds only when exercising - as per your example. Regular exercise (3 times a week or more) and enjoying an active lifestyle(a quick game of Frisbee, running with a child learning to ride a bike, a pick-up game of whatever, a swim on a hot day etc etc ) then they would need the rescue meds much more then twice as week as you point out and would then need some type of control med. by your own criteria, unless I have read it wrong. Control meds are better bc these drugs are MUCH MUCH easier on the body then rescue meds, and alleviate the physical stress from the chronic congestion.

My point is that asthma over time, can effect us more then we realize. Asthma is a serious disease even in its "mild" form and should be taken seriously and controlled with medication. The alternative is to let asthma gradually worsen, adjust our activites accordingly and let it continue to damage and stress our bodies.




I Wish you and your brother all the best

Momof2

[hotchic85]

The studies show that severe asthma and mild and moderate asthma are beginning to look like two different types of diseases. They show that severe asthmatic lungs respond to medications and have a different make-up than moderate or even mild asthmatics lungs. This I know because my pulmonologists have told me so, and I have read it in the studies. So, while underlying inflammation is a problem, and it can get progressively worse, those with asthmatic-type responses may just have easier irritated lungs rather than asthmatic lungs if that makes any sense whatsoever. I can understand where you're coming from, though, believe you me. This is also why I advocate routine spirometries for asthmatics to tell your doctor when you are dropping in lung functions and when you should go on controller meds and figure out WHY the drop in functions. I know at National Jewish, I receive a spirometry every time I see a doctor (about once a week). They believe that it is part of the routine height, weight, blood pressure, temp stuff and really, it is. It is also important to monitor peak flows.

I do understand where you're coming from with asthma slowly affecting you and not realizing until it is too late. When I was about eight years old I could blow a peak flow of 100-150. As I grew, that number should have, but it did not. It wasn't until I was 17 that a good friend of the family, who was a doctor as well said, "what's your peak flow?" and I told him it was about 100 and he about freaked. We tried everything and I'm on your slew of meds, and at first, I didn't think that his reaction was really all that merited of a reaction. Now, after being able to breathe better, I can tell you it was. At that point I wouldn't tell you if I was tight, because I was LIVING tight. There was no better living for me at that point. It is important to keep measuring these functions so that when you don't advance you can keep track of that.

The studies that I mention where the idea is that asthma and severe asthma may be two seperate diseases are found all over the place...

[url]http://www.asthma.org.uk/news/news87.php[/url]

[url]http://asthma.nationaljewish.org/programs/results/severe_childhood.php[/url]

[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3171631.stm[/url]

These are just some links that I found interesting, but you can find more by just doing a simple search...I hope all is well with you!