NetWellness Asthma

Could it be asthma?

John Mastronarde MD — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:01:00 EST

Question: My husband has been off of work for some time due to shortness of breath. He is a truck driver delivering food produce which is very physical and requires heavy lifting, pulling, pushing, etc. My husband gets shortness of breath upon exertion. When he is on the treadmill after a few minutes, he gets . . .

Answer: As you know, there is no one test for asthma. The diagnosis of asthma can be a challenge and usually involves a history of symptoms, pulmonary function testing, CXR, and sometimes also requires a bronchial challenge test to demonstrate airway hyperresponsiveness. Smoking makes this even more challen . . .

Ask an Expert: John Mastronarde MD, Asthma

Peak flow meter what exactly does it measure?

Cathy Benninger APRN, C-AE — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:12:00 EST

Question: My daughter uses her peak flow meter as an objective tool to be able to know if she is not breathing well or not. Sometimes it gives her a good reading when she does not think she is breathing well at all. We have asked many people about this including her pulmonary Dr. He says he does not know why . . .

Answer:

In general, a peak flow meter is used to monitor air flow. The meter is not calibrated like the sprio machines at the doctors office or pulmonary lab so it is not an exact measuring tool. It is used to monitor trends in airflow only. The reading is "effort dependent" which means . . .

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

Asthma and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jonathan Bernstein MD — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:11:00 EST

Question: Is there a link between RA and asthma. Can RA cause asthma?

Answer: There is no direct link between rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Furthermore rheumatoid arthritis does not cause asthma. In fact we tend to see fewer RA patients with asthma.

Ask an Expert: Jonathan Bernstein MD, Asthma

Asthma beginning in adulthood

Jonathan Bernstein MD — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:11:00 EST

Question: I have had 4 colds and got a realy bad cough all four times. My family doctor gave me anitbiotic all four times as well because I am on immunesupressants for my RA. Every time I seen him becuase of the cough he listens to my lungs and tells me that he can hear wheezing. He has asked if I was on any . . .

Answer: The answer to your question is yes. It may be necessary for you to get a special test called a methacholine challenge which measures airway hyperresponsiveness of the airways which is a central feature of asthma. It is also possible you have cold induced or exercise induced bronchospasm . . .

Ask an Expert: Jonathan Bernstein MD, Asthma

Colds and asthma

Cathy Benninger APRN, C-AE — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:11:00 EST

Question: Every time I get a cold I develope a wheezing on my lungs. My doctor said that it was bronchitis. I have had it four times in nine months. Now my doctor thinks that I might have asthma. But when I was at ER with a bad cough they told me that my lungs sounded clear and that I didn`t have asthma. My f . . .

Answer:

Some people have intermittent asthma which is most commonly triggered by viral infections involving the respiratory tract. People with intermittent asthma show no signs of asthma when they are well but develop asthma symptoms when they are sick. People with intermittent asthma do not . . .

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

Ask an Expert: Jonathan Bernstein MD, Asthma

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 . . .

Ask an Expert: Jonathan Bernstein MD, Asthma

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.

Ask an Expert: Jonathan Parsons MD, MSc, Asthma