NetWellness Asthma

Mucus problem

Jonathan Bernstein MD — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:11:00 EST

Question: I have asthma and use a flovent inhaler which controls the breathing part. The question I can`t seem to get answered is what to do about the huge amounts of mucus all day and night. I don`t want to go out anymore. I have tried mucinex. It seems others with asthma don`t have this problem. Could I hav . . .

Answer: The mucous could be coming from the upper respiratory tract and dripping down into your lungs. Depending on whether you are allergic or non-allergic (based on skin testing and history) would determine the best treatment. You could try nasal irrigation with saline (over the counter) to se . . .

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Can home environmental factors cause asthma?

Jonathan Bernstein MD — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:10:00 EST

Question: My son, a previously very healthy, athletic teenager was finally diagnosed with asthma after a year of seeing neurologists, cardiologists, ENTs, allergists etc. to find out what was wrong. Pulmonologist finally found his lungs to be at 47%, now at 67% on inhalers after a year. Still far from great ( . . .

Answer: There are many explanations for your son's decreased lung function. First and foremost asthma is an insidious, occult disease as often there is a disconnect between clinical symptoms and objective changes in lung function. There are many environmental determinants that can aggravate or c . . .

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Fluid intake for asthmatics

Cathy Benninger APRN, C-AE — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:09:00 EST

Question: i read that asthmatics should consume 2-3ltrs of water a day. why?

Answer: I'm unaware of this recommendation specifically for asthmatics. This amount of fluid is recommended for all people (with normal functioning kidneys and heart) for proper hydration of the body and function of the kidneys. Adequate fluids have the added benefit of keeping phlegm thinner wh . . .

Ask an Expert: Cathy Benninger APRN, C-AE, Asthma

About asthma

Cathy Benninger APRN, C-AE — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:09:00 EST

Question: can patient recover completelly from asthma or this disease is chronic for along time

Answer:

Asthma is generally considered life-long. Asthma symptoms fluctuate, so there may be periods of time you feel good and have few or no breathing symptoms but this does not mean you are "cured". Instead, it indicates asthma is controlled. Asthma can be intermittent or pe . . .

Ask an Expert: Cathy Benninger APRN, C-AE, Asthma

Breathing problem (not sure).

Jonathan Parsons MD, MSc — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:09:00 EST

Question: Hello Dear Doctor, I am a physically fit person and actively involved in sports. From since I remember (when i was a kid), at any given time not both of my nostrils are completely open, i.e I use one nostril for breathing. This is NOT a problem for me in anyway, or nor does it affect my lifestyle in . . .

Answer: Hello- It is extremely unlikely that your nostril breathing challenges are affecting you in any way. Particularly if you having no adverse symptoms or exercise intolerance. Your blood pressure needs attention and I would focus on that. Thanks for your question.

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Pneumonia and asthma

Cathy Benninger APRN, C-AE — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:09:00 EST

Question: Can pneumonia cause asthma in someone who never had either one of the ailments?

Answer:

Based on the information I have reviewed it is not known if respiratory infections such as pneumonia can cause asthma. However, for a period of time following pneumonia (and other types of lung infections) the airways (breathing tubes) contain mucous and are inflammed which produce sym . . .

Ask an Expert: Cathy Benninger APRN, C-AE, Asthma

Can CPAP cause asthma

Jeff Weiland MD — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:09:00 EST

Question: I`m 47 years of age , female and have been on CPAP since 2002. In 2004 I developed asthma. I never had any problems with my lungs before other than at night with sleep apnea. My question, can being on CPAP cause asthma or reactive airways? I did see an allergist, I have many allergies environmental, . . .

Answer: Good question and the short answer is no. In fact, treatment of sleep apnea with CPAP has been cited as a factor that may make asthma better. I consider asthma and allergies to be the same disease. What is occurring in the nose is also happening at some level in the lungs throughout your life. It ju . . .

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Moving air and cold air asthma triggers

John Mastronarde MD — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:08:00 EST

Question: When near moving air from an oscillating fan or car/home a/c cold air, I get a sensation back of my throat as though it is closing up and I can`t breathe. It is happens all the time and now when I am sleeping I wake confused and not able to breathe. I live in CA where summer temps run 103 to 114 and . . .

Answer: Some asthmatics are sensitive to cold air and are often advised to wear a scarf over their mouth when outside in the cold. I am not aware of a similar problem from a breeze or fan-induced air, unless of course there is something in the air that is triggering the reaction such as dust, mold, animal d . . .

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Severe cough

Elizabeth Allen MD — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:08:00 EST

Question: Since my daughter was 3, everytime she gets a cold, she always end up with what I call "coughing episodes", the cough she gets could last 1-2 weeks after the cold is gone. Recently the coughing has gotten worse especially at night, she ends up coughing continuously for a period of an hour . . .

Answer:

There are a number of possible reasons a child might have recurring and prolonged bouts of coughing. The most common, and most fitting with the pattern you describe, is asthma. Making a diagnosis of asthma in a 3 year old child is often challenging - it involves detecting a combinat . . .

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New asthma symptom

John Mastronarde MD — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:08:00 EST

Question: I`ve had asthma pretty much all my life (I was diagnosed at 6 months of age, and I`m 22 now). When I was a child, my asthma was very poorly controlled, and I missed, on average, one day in three of school, in addition to making numerous ER visits. When I was about fourteen, my asthma went into remis . . .

Answer: You describe a fairly common natural course of asthma with significant symptoms in childhood, lessened symptoms in teen years and then recurrence of symptoms in young adulthood. The sensation you describe is not one I can readily define but it may be that you are experiencing some air trapping due t . . .

Ask an Expert: John Mastronarde MD, Asthma