humidity

[Ravyn8]

I was diagnosed with smoke indused asthma about 4 years ago, after getting very sick. I have not gone to an allergist, but have noticed that when there is high humidity that I can not breath at all. I actually start gasping and can't even think about a conversation for hours. I feel like my chest just closes up!!!(P.S. I live in Florida to make matters worse).Sometimes I will use my perscription nasal spray and it seems to help a little, but not enough. I also notice that whan this happens I get very stressed and the anxiety seems to worsen it. Does anyone else have this type of problem? Any solutions?

[john319]

I too suffer when there is high humidity though suprisingly today here in NYC the heat and humidity are way of up there and I haven't needed to use my albuterol. My chest tightness up also and I can anxious like you when such an epsiode occurs.

First mention this to your dr. Humidity can be a trigger for asthma. Always carry around an albuterol pump. A spacer with the pump is even better. A spacer is a tube that gets connected to the mouthpiece of the pump. You would press the pump like you normally would but the mist goes into the spacer tube and you in hale it from the tube's nozzle. A spacer helps get more of the medicine into the lungs as opposed to the pump alone. I also carry a small portable batter-operated neubilzer. It's made by Omron Healthcare and you can get a new one cheaper on ****** then on the Omron website. Try to avoid going out when the heat and humidity are high. Bring cold water like Poland Spring and perhaps an Italian ice.

Hope that helps.

[Ravyn8]

Funny you say that about cold water or an italian ice, because I have found that a very cold drink will sometimes help me feel better. I am not much of a soda drinker, but for some reason an ice cold coke w/ ice in it really helps me. Thanks for your advise with the inhaler, and I do have one, but not w/ the attachment like you mentioned.

[DITAB]

Hi Ravyn,
I, too live in Florida and on high humidity days (which is practically always) I find it very difficult to walk from my car to the store. Since May I have had bad asthma symptoms and keep changing meds.
Now I'm about to start on Asmanex with Albuterol as the rescue med.
I'm hoping that I get some good results because shortness of breath has been a real problem for me.
What meds are you currently using?
Ditab

[Ravyn8]

I have used several in the past..Albuteral..Advair & have tried over the counter allergy stuff, but I find that the effects of those are almost worse for me because of the steroid in them. I get very aggitated and shaky and my heart will race for hours. I feel like there is nothing that can just help without these darn side effects!!! I too have trouble walking from my car to the air conditioning, and I always feel like others don't understand what I am going through. It is very scary to not be able to breathe!!! And the more scared you get the more anxiety you get and the everything just snowballs and worsens. I wish I could tell you that I have found a miracle drug, but I hav'nt..Try a very ice cold drink..In the summer I always keep an ice cold water with me or stop and get an extra cold soda with extra ice!!!