Changing my diet to include more potassium has really decreased by PVCs and PSVTs. I eat high levels of food w/potassium about 4 times a day (it isn't hard ... bananas & figs are a great snack...
Dear Sarita: I'm no longer considered "young" (in my mind I'll always be young, but in human yrs I'm 52). I was diagnosed about 10 yrs ago w/cardiac ischemic activity. Except for arrythmia nuisances,...
I was on Rythmol for 5 years and it worked wonders for me! Unfortunately, after you reach a period of 2 - 3 yrs, you are suppose to come off med & change to something different due to the side...
Dear Orange3: Are you using a spacer w/Albuterol inhaler? If not, you are losing approx 40% of your meds. The propellant in the MDI cannister shoots the Albuterol into the back of your throat where...
If there is an asthma topic or specific problem, please post. I will be off-line this next week as I'm having another heart cath & have had some problems. Pollen season is here & the hot...
Exercise is good for everyone, including people w/asthma. It also helps your body make better use of oxygen which can reduce asthma symptoms. Be certain your program is designed to keep your asthma...
WEATHER: Limit outdoor activity when the weather is very hot/cold. To protect your lungs, wear a scarf over your mouth & nose in cold weather. When exercising, learn to breathe only through your...
Being around allergens can lead to swollen, inflamed airways. You need to control these triggers to prevent asthma flare-ups. House-Dust Mites: These are a common trigger for asthma. They live in...
Things that pollute the air at home, work, or outdoors may bother your lungs if you have asthma. These things are hard to avoid. They include smoke, perfume, sprays, & car exhaust. These tips may...
I am a respiratory therapist and Prednisone is NOT A RESCUE MEDICATION!!! /community/emoticons/nono.gif /community/emoticons/nono.gif It is prescribed to decrease inflammation in the airways. The...
Dear Kitt: Thanks for your reply. I work in the med field (respiratory therapist/asthma instructor) and am very familiar w/strokes & TIAs (unfortunately from both prefessional & pt sides). I...
Does anyone have this disease? It affects the small arteries of the heart? I've had 2 heart caths which showed clear coronary artery (normal cholesterol). In April 2006, normal cholesterol; in...
Sherry: Hope each person can pull something from the topics...just wish I had time each day to respond....
I hope everyone finds some part of the asthma education material I listed helpful. If you have any specific areas you would like addressed, list it under this topic & I will do my best to answer....
When you have lung problems, it may be hard for you to breathe. Stress can cause shortness of breath. Learn to relax & control stress to prevent shortness of breath & avoid panic. WHEN...
Watch for other things that seem to trigger your asthma symptoms. Then do what you can to control thse triggers. This may mean avoiding certain situations or things, or just learning to relax. The...
FURNITURE & WINDOW COVERINGS: Upholstered furniture & some window coverings hold dust mites. Try these ideas instead: Choose nonfabric upholsery, like leather or vinyl. Replace horizontal...
Most people w/asthma are allergic to dust mite droppings. Dust mites are tiny bugs that are too small to see, but they live in mattresses, pillows, and house dust. They live off dead skin flakes,...
Your MD may prescribe meds that you breathe in using an inhaler. If the MDI (metered dose inhaler) does not come w/an inhaler, ask the MD to write a Rx for one. A spacer helps the med get farther...
Peak flow monitoring lets you know how well you're controlling your asthma. It does this by telling you which asthma zone you're in. If needed, you'll be given an action plan that tells you what to...
A peak flow meter measures how fast you can push air out of your lungs. This tells you how well you are controlling your asthma. Measure your peak flow as many times a day as your health care...
Asthma is a disease that inflames & narrows the airways in your lungs. When you have asthma, the airwys are sensitive to allergens (triggers). The muscles that wrap around the airways start to...
Josey: I'm an asthma educator and work w/pulmonologists, etc re/asthma tx. Please don't advise everyone to not use a humidifier. It depends on the case. As I stated, dehumidifiers (excellent for...
Dear Libratraveler: Do you have sinus problems? People w/asthma sometimes have both sinus & asthma problems. Try sleeping w/bed at a 30 degree angle. This will allow allergies, sinus, etc to drain...
I'm a respiratory therapist & asthma educator. So many people are surprised to learn about adult onset asthma. A person can develop AOA by having polyps, sinus problems, GERD, etc. The first step is...
From your explanation of her symptoms, it appears that she is having asthma problems. Since she is 5 yrs old, does she have a peak flow meter? If not, ask your MD for one. This is a mother's best...
PLEASE, PLEASE be wary of any herbal meds! Hergal meds are not FDA approved and you can do yourself harm if you don't tx your asthma according to your MD's advice. The corticosteroids your MD...
Dear Iamloco: I'm a respiratory therapist & asthma instructor. Each person is an individual and there really isn't a "set" reading even though in your peak flow box you will find a packet w/settings....
If your peak flow is within normal limits & the rescue inhaler does not help, then most likely it isn't asthma. W/asthma you would see decreased peak flow rate & relief w/inhaler. There are...
I have Binswanger Disease. Since it's rare, I've been through a battery of tests. There is no cure and no tx except treating the symptoms. The prognosis is not good. I could not bring myself to tell...
Has your husband had TIAs or a stroke (maybe high risk for stroke)? I was on Vytorin and it worked really well. My neurologist changed to Lipitor because it has a better rate for effectiveness on...
Does anyone on this site have a rare disorder called Binswanger Disease? There is dimentia, except not exactly like Alzheimer's. A lot of other symptoms occur w/Binswanger including problems...
Hello Everyone: It's been a few days since I was able to review the asthma questions. Iamloco 724, the first thing anyone needs to learn when they have asthma is what meds they are taking &...
Dear Qadesh: Sorry to hear that you are having so many problems. I'm a respiratory therapist who specializes in asthma education. Breathing exercises is a must (in my opinion) for anyone w/any type...
Does anyone have or know someone with Cardiac Syndrome X? Cardiac Syndrome X is different from Metabolic Syndrome X. It affects the small arteries of the heart ... spasms of the small arteries....
Dear Real Estate Girl: An asthmatic has a constant slight inflammation in their airways which, when irritated by allergens, will produce a cough. Some asthmatics experience no wheezing, but has a...
I'm a respiratory therapist who specializes in asthma education. It's nice that you found a relief, but I'm stressing to the HIGHEST DEGREE to keep your relief inhaler w/you at all times. There have...
Dear Mom2jjk: Sorry that it's been so long since I've been on the site. I'm a resp therapist & have worked w/little ones w/asthma for over 5 yrs. One thing that I've found is that little ones do not...
Dear Ceebee: Sorry to hear that you're struggling w/allergies & asthma. The only allergies affects my eyes (itchy, dry, & causes my eyes to become VERY red). I was on a Rx eye drop that helped...
Sorry it's been so long since I've logged onto this site; my son has our computer for college and since we're still rebuilding from Katrina, can't afford to buy another one at this time for home....
I agree w/MD on the published peak flow numbers. A person's best varies w/each individual. If your 7 yr old is healthy at this time & not showing ANY asthma symptoms, have him perform a peak flow (3...
Advair is a corticosteroid and not the type which most people associate with steroids. Advair couldn't cause the weight gain, but have you had your thyroid checked lately? An imbalance in your...
Could be various things: 1) GERD 2) Allergic reaction to dust mites: Some people still have reactions to dust mites even though an allergy skin test shows a negative response. If you haven't already,...
Anyone can improve their lung function whether they have a respiratory problem or not. You can do the Pursed Lip Breathing exercise or simply every once in a while during the day, take a deep breath...
Sorry for the delay in answering your question. /community/emoticons/confused.gif I've been under the weather for several days w/sinus infection & inflammation. Unless your house has a HEPA...
Dear mom2jik: Just curious ... did your daughter have RSV anytime during her life? To adults it's a bad cold, but to children under age 2, it can be very dangerous. When children are under age 2,...
Dear Purple16: If you are an asthmatic, then your airways are constantly experiencing slight inflammation (you won't notice this unless you have an exacerbation or slight flareup.) Any type of...
Dear Mich52: Sorry it's taken so long in answering, but my son was sick & then I caught it. My face still feels like it's on fire, but I wanted to get back to you re/ABG reading. Did he say the 26...
I'm sorry, but there's no way to answer this question, but you are definitely on the right road. Try to do the deep breathing on a regular basis and I feel sure that you will see an improvement. Good...
GERD is a trigger of asthma symptoms and a major trigger of adult-onset asthma. If you're asthmatic, the flow of acidic digestive contents into your respiratory airways can make your underlying...