Asthma

My 4 year old daughter who was diagnosed 2 years ago has issues with allergies effecting her asthma. I put the Ionic Pro tower air purifier in her room, as well as give her Omega 3-6-9 supplements and since Ive implemented those 2 changes her asthma has NOT acted up at all! She is also on her regular asthma medication (Flovent and Singulair) and is also on allergy drops. Ive not tried to wean her off of any medicine yet, and those medications alone (not to mention an adenoid gland surgery last summer) didn't give her full relief...but I swear by the tower air purifier in her room at nighttime (I also have one in my living room) and the Omega 3-6-9 supplement...I think I finally found the combination to curb her asthma symptoms!

I have had asthma for many years but not too severe. Yet I have gotten what I was told was laryngitis every year for the past 6 years. Each eposide started between Thanksgiving and Christmas and would last at least 2-3 months. I finally got in for allergy testing this past February for a different reason. When I went to see him I was still in one of my "spells" of frequent coughing and shortness of breath. If I breathed, I coughed. If I moved, I coughed. I passed my beathing tests during the allergy testing and the doctor said my asthma was actually quite well controlled (even though my inhalers were not helping my cough, shortness of breath, or anything else). He told me my problem was not asthma. I have what is called "VOCAL CORD DYSFUNCTION". This is commonly confused with asthma as his can produced many of the same symptoms. I needed to learn how to breath again - only in a different way. I needed to retrin my mind and my body not to fill my lungs with air first (when taking a deep breath we usually have our shoulder rise and chest puff out). Well, breath through your abdomen. When you breath try to fill your diaphram first and expand your abdomen rather than your chest. This actually gives you a more controlled breathing. In and out slowly through your nose. I did that a few times still expecting to cough my head off and I didn't. Within 1 week I was cough free unless I exert myself. i still have to be concious of my breathing but I feel great and haven't used my inhaler since that doctor visit!

I had a similar problem, so now I have a routine which I follow nightly: I take a peak airflow measurement about 15 minutes before retiring (which is usually around 200-225 at that time. Then I use my rescue inhaler, which in this instance is a Maxair inhaler (two puffs), and then turn on my air purifier. About 15 min later I check my peak airflow again which is now about 275-300. I then take a Benedryl capsule and use a saline nasal spray - making sure all airways are as clear as possible. I then sleep very well throughout the night without worrying that I won't be able to breathe during sleep. This works extremely well for me and my dog also sleeps in the bed with me and I have no problem during the night.

I've been diagnosed with asthma for 30 years. Just this winter, i've had a similiar problem as yours. In the past I have been prescribed albuterol and it had helped. I don't like the side effects of the steroids. However, the only thing that really helped me out of my recent asthmic symptoms was Theophylline ER prescribed by my dr.

You need to see a pulmonary doctor. I am a 45 yo male who has had asthma my whole life. He is the only doctor who has helped me. I had the same problems you described at night for many years. After trying all kinds of pills and allergy medicines with no help, I finally tried advair diskus. I am happy to say I have not had any problems at night for about 5 years. It has also drastically decreased my use of my regular inhaler (proventil). I use the lowest dose of advair (100/50). Once in the morning and once at night before bed. Of course, what works for me may or may not work for someone else. Please do yourself a favor and see a pulmonary doctor so you can get the proper treatment that is right for you. I hope this helps!!!! Good luck!!

I have had asthma for years. When you get to the point that you are at, the doctor may have you do a round of antibiotics along with albuteral inhaler. If it still is an on going problem he might include a steroid inhaler also. Once you leveled out you will know what to do next time you have a flair up. If you can try to sleep with your head elevated so that it will open your airway up. If you over use your inhaler you will find sometimes that it will raise your heart rate and that could be contributing to not falling asleep. Keep on the regiment you doctor has prescribted it will get a little easier as time goes on.

Hi.......

How are you now?........

May be what I wrote in broken english because i'm not very fluent in english!!!!!!!

I'm also was diagnosed with asthma about 5 or 6 years ago.Luckily,my asthma is getting better right now.I have a few tips to share with you( I have done it before and its working,but it's depends on your conditions).At night before I sleep,I wearing a long sleeve and thick shirt.I will make sure that my bed is clear from everything that will make me getting an asthma attack such as cat feather and etc.My bedsheet and my pillow case is made of anti-dust mite substances.It's a little bit expensive in my country but it help me to sleep without wake up often throughout night.

I'm also drink honey always,it will reduce your asthma symptoms.I drink it for almost 2 years and it start working 1 week after I drink it.

Much important is you must avoid the source that will trigger your asthma such as dust and etc.,or environtment.

Much much more important is,you must go to your doctor and to do a regular check up to know your progress.

Now on,my asthma is getting better.I do not have any asthma attacks for 3 months.

Hope that your asthma will getting better.
E-mail me if you any changes( www_nnisha@yahoo.com )

I hope that my tips will help you.


Thank you.

I would say get another doctor. I had the same trouble when I was first diagnosed and finally found a respitory specialist who was perfect for me

I can understand what you are going through. It is very difficult to sleep during the night when you are suffering from this disease. After suffering 2 years from asthma, I took Advair which was really effective for me. I think you should go for an appointment with your regular physician and discuss whether you are affected by bronchitis or any lung infection. Hope you will get well soon.

Ask the Doctor

I'm 39 years old yesterday, and have had asthma my whole life.

I may have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways).

As a child every winter and cool night my asthma would kick in. I am alergic to Dust, dust mites, mold, cat dander and ragweed. Many days I couldn't play on the play ground until I started using an inhaler. Ventolin was OK but Proventil has worked very well. The newest Albuterol inhaler (small one vs the larger one) doesn't seem to work very well for me either. Other asthmatics have agreed with me.

So funny thing, as I got older and moved away from home my asthma was better, we had a cat. My sister had a lot of cats and that always triggered my asthma. I moved to Georgia and my asthma is even better! Typically durring the month of September when Ragweed is high, I have a reoccuring lung issue, hard of breath and constant coughing. The inhalor only works so well.

3 years ago I felt so bad I saw a doctor, he thought I had Pnemonia and after seeing my xrays told me I just needed chicken soup.

This may sound crazy but in the past few years my asthma has been the best ever and the only thing I can say is I started smoking menthol cigerettes. Course this doesnt help if I'm around a lot of stuff I'm alergic to, but I think the menthol opens me up.

Maybe Vick's Vapo Rub would do the same? I know Coffee / Caffeine helps too. I used to inhale the air in a cup of Orange juice or Mt Dew as a kid, and it seemed to help my breathing. (Weird but Mt Dew has OJ and caffine in it) A hot cup of coffee or anything steaming helps.

Also I have started using Mucinex this September and it really seems to help my cough. I actually feel crap come up as I cough and can breath better all day long!!!

I really advise you to see a specialist. I am a 46 yr old asthmatic diagnosed in 2005 after years of bronchitis and severe allergies. I am presently under the care of an allergy and immunology specialist and receive allergy and Xolair injections every 2 weeks because I have moderate to severe persistent asthma. I also take an antihistamine, nasal spray, and Advair 500/50 daily to control my asthma. I do use an air purifier and try to keep my home dust free, which is not always easy. In other words, see a specialist and learn everything you can on how to avoid the allergens and pollutants that may be triggering your symptoms. I wish you restful nights. Good luck!

Hi, this sounds like me. I used to cough so hard I would throw up. I was on an inhaler and carry and emergency inhaler. Since I started taking Zyrtec or prescription Alegra one every 12 hrs during high allergy seasons, I stopped using the cortisone inhaler and just use the emergency inhaler when I need it. I also have a post nasal drainage so I take Sudafed PE and Tylenol for head ache. I now am able to sleep through the night. We have a lot of snow here and as soon as it freezes and there is snow cover I cut my antihistimine down to 1/2 tab twice a day.
Sometimes I take Delsym for the cough if it is out of control. Well, this is what I found works for me. God bless on your search for what works for you.