NetWellness Asthma

Asthma in Children

Elizabeth Allen MD — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:11:00 EST

Question: My son was started on Singulair when he was 6yrs old when he had his first asthma attack and since then has been on it all year round for the past 5 yrs. Prior to that he was on zyrtec for his allergies.His symptoms seem to be fairly well controlled and has not needed to go on steroid inhaler.Since . . .

Answer: Singulair has been in use for many years, and currently there are no concerns about long term health effects, or changes in cancer risk. We have many patients who take this drug for years with no problems. We do sometimes stop the drug if a child's asthma has been very well controlled for a long tim . . .

Ask an Expert: Elizabeth Allen MD, Asthma

Air Quality & Asthma

Jennifer McCallister MD — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:09:00 EST

Question: We had some air quality alerts here earlier last week and I was fine, my asthma wasn`t bothering me at all. I thought GREAT! Dodged that problem. Then the air quality got better and THEN my asthma started acting up.

Now the air quality has been back to normal for several days & I`m still wh . . .

Answer: It is possible that the recent change in your asthma control is not related directly to the poor air quality, but rather to the many recent changes which have been occurring in the environment. Changes in weather patterns are often triggers for patients with asthma, as are changes in level . . .

Ask an Expert: Jennifer McCallister MD, Asthma

Bronchial Pneumonia

John Mastronarde MD — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 16:06:00 EST

Question: I am a non-smoker, active, thin 53 year old woman. I have been diagnosed with pleurisy and bronchial pneumonia. After 3 months of various test and medicines, I am still experiencing the same symptoms I started with: tightness in chest, pains, shortness of breath, heavy breathing, light headed, shak . . .

Answer: Asthma has many symptoms, and several of those you are experiencing certainly could be due to asthma but they could also be caused by several other diseases. Testing for possible asthma would include a CXR and pulmonary function testing which can be done by your primary care provider, or you could . . .

Ask an Expert: John Mastronarde MD, Asthma

Asthma-Like Symptoms but Not Asthma

Jonathan Bernstein MD — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:04:00 EST

Question: I was diagnosed with Asthma three years ago. Have had seveal trips to the emergancy room and hospital stays annually. None of my asthma medicines worked from Asmanex to Advair to liquid inhalants (Pulimcort/Proformist). All my lung function tests are excellent, yet I still have shortness of bre . . .

Answer: There are other conditions in the differential diagnosis of asthma that might need to be investigated including vocal cord dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux, cardiac problems, upper respiratory problems (i.e., sinusitis, non-allergic rhinitis) and anxiety. All of these issues should be addr . . .

Ask an Expert: Jonathan Bernstein MD, Asthma

How Can I Relieve the Asthma Cough in My 5 Yr

Elizabeth Allen MD — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:04:00 EST

Question: help with asthma cough when inhaler is not working

Answer: If a cough is not relieved by using a rescue inhaler (albuterol or xopenex), there are 3 possible reasons:

1) The medicine isn't actually being inhaled correctly. (The inhaler is empty of medication and is just spraying propellant, or the way the child is inhaling the med . . .

Ask an Expert: Elizabeth Allen MD, Asthma

6 Months Baby Coughing and Wheezing

Elizabeth Allen MD — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 03:02:00 EST

Question: Dear Dr

I have asked before a question about my baby cough and wheeze and you answered me, thanks a lot.

Just a minor clarification, my baby improves with Ventoline+Flexotied.

However, after he improves, he gets the cough and wheezing again while he is put on flexotide, and I . . .

Answer: If your son continues to have cough and wheeze on flixotide, then a number of issues may be going on. He may not be inhaling the medicine in a way that it gets down into the lungs (are you using a mask spacer device?), the dose may not be high enough, or he may have something going on that keeps irr . . .

Ask an Expert: Elizabeth Allen MD, Asthma

Asthma and Perfume

Jennifer McCallister MD — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:02:00 EST

Question: Can excessive use of body perfumes over many years cause diminished lung capacity and asthma like poor quality breathing (no asthma attacks as such) ?

Answer: The vast majority of chemicals in artificial fragrances and perfumes have never been tested for adverse effects in humans. However, many studies have shown that exposures to even low levels of perfumes can worsen asthma symptoms and pulmonary function in patients with asthma.

If y . . .

Ask an Expert: Jennifer McCallister MD, Asthma

Child with Pneumonia and Asthma

Elizabeth Allen MD — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:02:00 EST

Question: My six year old son developed wheezing and "feeling bad" in one day and was taken to the hospital because he was steadily getting worse after leaving the doctor`s office that same day. The doctor had verified that he had LLL pneumonia and already knew he had asthma but didn`t check his O2 . . .

Answer: Asthma exacerbations can come on fast and furious, particularly if they have been triggered by respiratory infection. It is a frightening experience to go through. I am glad your son has recovered.

It may be very helpful for you to see an asthma specialist. In these si . . .

Ask an Expert: Elizabeth Allen MD, Asthma

My 5 Month Baby is Coughing and Wheezing

Elizabeth Allen MD — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:01:00 EST

Question: Dear Dr

I have a 5 months old baby. he got cold when he was 3 months a cough that lasts for 3 weeks. the dr heard wheezing in his chest so he gave him ventolin inhaler and we did neubilization for him for the phlem for three days, then he was fine. after one month he had again a runny nose and . . .

Answer: There are a number of reasons an infant might have repeated episodes of wheezing. When he is overall well, with no trouble between "episodes," but repeatedly has trouble with wheeze during colds, the first suspicion is that he may have what I call "infantile asthma." We believe these children have a . . .

Ask an Expert: Elizabeth Allen MD, Asthma

Aavailable Medications

Jonathan Bernstein MD — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:01:00 EST

Question:

What other medications could help me with my asthma?

I`ve been taking Albuterol for what seems to be forever. I am to take it only when needed [emergency] but find myself taking it way too much - which means it doesn`t even last one month.

I also take singular on a . . .

Answer:

You need to be on a controller anti-inflammatory medication such as an inhaled corticosteroid. I would see your primary care doctor immediately who may also want to refer you to an allergy or pulmonary specialist for further evaluaton and treatment of your asthma which sounds poor . . .

Ask an Expert: Jonathan Bernstein MD, Asthma