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Asthma Update

Do The Changing of Seasons Trigger Your Asthma and Allergies?

Asthma affects up to 20 million Americans, and sufferers are sensitive to environmental triggers. Some triggers are obvious such as allergens (pollens, pet dander, etc.), irritants (strong perfume, pollutants, chemicals), tobacco smoke, and infectious agents (viruses that cause colds). However, some triggers aren't obvious. Changes in atmosphere (colder temperatures, changes in humidity), physical exertion, and even emotionally charged situations that precipitate anxiety, crying, and laughter can cause an asthma attack.

When most of us think of asthma, we imagine a person who is fine one minute, then short of breath and wheezing the next. In fact, many people with asthma feel pretty good until certain elements exacerbate their condition. Also, because the illness is chronic, their condition must be monitored regularly, even when they feel well.

If you suspect that you have asthma, the first step is to have your doctor run a few tests to see how well you can move air in and out of your lungs. Once your doctor confirms a diagnosis, the treatment options vary widely depending on the severity of your symptoms. Having said that, treatment for asthma also needs to be individualized. Not everyone responds the same way, therefore various medications are available to treat the disease.

Asthma medications fall into two broad categories: those used for long term control and those used to treat acute symptoms. Short-term bronchodilators, used to treat an acute attack, open the airways by relaxing the muscles that have constricted around them. There are some long-acting bronchodilators, but the most effective asthma treatment programs should incorporate anti-inflammatory medicines.

Regularly using anti-inflammatory medications (the second broad category of drugs to treat asthma) decreases the frequency and severity of the attacks. Examples of anti-inflammatory medicines include corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, and mast cell stabilizers, which can be used to more effectively control underlying inflammatory problems.

Of course not all asthma medications are alike, nor are they meant to be. By working with your doctor, you can customize a treatment plan that will be the most effective for you, which in turn will help you breathe more easily.

Cool air/windy, rainy days can be less delightful for people with asthma and other breathing difficulties. Please wear your hats and scarves over your face or consider buying a warming mask. Also, you are under the usual stresses and emotions are running high. If you work or have outdoor activities that keep you outside for long periods of time, consult your physician for the best preventive course of treatment.

Symptoms of asthma are:

• Coughing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Another thought: many people who suffer from asthma also have allergies. Effectively treating the allergies (even with allergy shots) improves the asthma. Vitamin D has been clinically proven to improve the management of asthma patients.

Great news!

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new anti-IgE drug called XOLAIR. This is a GREAT NEWS for people with a serious form of allergic asthma and could revolutionize how all allergic diseases are treated! Another new drug on the market is ASMANEX. Consult Dr. Tolston now!

Did you know?

• Snack on almonds (if allowed in your diet), which are rich in magnesium and help the lung function better, as well as reduce the discomforts of asthma/allergies. It's known that low levels of magnesium raise your levels of histamine, which is the chemical your body produces when having an allergic reaction.
• According to recent studies, exposure to antibiotics in the first year of a child's life may double the risk of developing asthma later in childhood.
• According to a group of Harvard researchers focused on nearly 1200 women and their babies during and after pregnancy - "what they found?" - for every 100 units of vitamin D consumed during pregnancy, there was a dramatic decrease in the risk of wheezing incidents and the high risk of asthma in babies up to age 3 (fortified dairy products like skim milk, low-fat yogurt, low-fat ice cream, or from a supplement).
• Vitamin D has also been shown to have immunologic effects.

Please see our Services and Patient Education pages for more information.

What's New:

Enjoy the Spring/Summer Season - Stay Ahead of Your Allergies and Asthma During Pollen Season.
This time of year can be very wonderful and yet can be challenging for people with allergies and asthma. The Spring/Summer season can present many health challenges, unique to this time of year.
Read more...