Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

how to find out Asthma triggers and how to control/manage my asthma

Support Forums
>
Allergies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
Anusha Kazi
New Member
Joined : Dec 2013
Posts : 4
Posted 12/23/2013 4:50 AM (GMT -6)
Hello Everyone,
I'm new on this forum and new with asthma too. My asthma has been diagnosed last last year. I'm completely blank on how to manage it. I cough all the time and wheeze all the time. Salbutamol inhaler does not help me, it helps only for 20 minutes. So in order to relax my airways, i take fostair inhaler with active ingredients Beclometasone and formoterol. Fostair has Corticosteroids, so it helps. I take fostair when i feel extremly congested. I wake up every morning wheezing. My cough is dry, i barely cough phlegm. My phlegm looks thread or string like. I try very hard to cough phlegm, i feel i have it inside but i can't take it out. I have done antibiotic course thrice with prednisolone, which helps 3 to 4 weeks and symptoms are back again.

Please tell me how do i find out my asthma triggers, only thing i have found is that i get asthma attack when i exercise or swim. But thats not enough, i have other triggers which i can't find out. Please help me how to control it, foods to avoid, any precautions, anything that can help!


Additional information:
I'm 23 years old female, i live in a humid climate, i cough indoors as well as outdoors, my house is not carpeted, i don't consume cold drinks or cold water, my maid cleans the house daily i.e dusting , mopping is done on daily basis. I don't smoke nor does anyone in my house.
Moreover when i sleep i feel my breathing from nose is getting blocked. I don't experience any headache or pressure on face. Sometimes I feel my noes is just blocked , no runny noes nothing, just blocked

Post Edited (Anusha Kazi) : 12/23/2013 5:45:50 AM (GMT-7)

profile picture
kazbern
Veteran Member
Joined : May 2010
Posts : 8384
Posted 12/23/2013 7:03 AM (GMT -6)
Have you had allergy testing done?

If you have exercise induced asthma, the best advice is to use your rescue inhaler (salbutamol) a few minutes before beginning your exercise.
profile picture
Alcie
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 5156
Posted 12/23/2013 3:16 PM (GMT -6)
Greetings Anusha.

This might be another case for keeping a journal. I often post about keeping a food journal for people with food triggers. Keeping track of everything you do and your reactions might help you figure out what your triggers are.

I would write down foods and drinks and medicines in addition to activities. It's possible that foods can trigger attacks in addition to exercising. Write down the time, as you want to know how long after the trigger you get a reaction.

Where I am, students often find that they are free of most asthma attacks during swim team season. Does the pool you use have anything besides chlorine for disinfection? The warm water seems to clear our sinuses. Of course swim team members are swimming every day, and that might make a difference.

I use a saline rinse most days to clear my sinuses. Just be sure to use distilled or boiled water, as you can get a serious amoeba infection from tap water, even if it is treated.

Can you get some "Breathe Right Strips?" They might keep your nasal passages open enough to let you sleep.
profile picture
Alcie
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 5156
Posted 12/23/2013 3:18 PM (GMT -6)
PS:

Is the maid's mop disinfected daily? She might be spreading germs.
As I taught my helpers, "The secret to a clean floor is a clean mop."
profile picture
Anusha Kazi
New Member
Joined : Dec 2013
Posts : 4
Posted 12/23/2013 4:35 PM (GMT -6)
Thank you Alcie,
I'm grateful to your for guiding me. Thank you so much Alcie. I'll surely keep a journal and note down what is effecting me and how. I'm so frustrated with breathing issues that i have quit gym and swimming now. Well i still take steam bath seldom.

I did go to an ENT specialist for my sinus, he said that i should get a sinus surgery. asked a lot of people and I read a lot about it, most of them said it will grow back in a year or two and not much help. I decided not to get it operated and i don't have any pain or severe irritation.

I'll surely get Breath right strips and will surely look into the hygiene of the mop.

And oh btw I forgot to mention that i did keep a persian cat last year, and i used to kiss it a lot! My cat used to sleep on my bed, but due to my breathing issues getting worse day by day, my mother gave it away 3 months back. And i don't feel i got any better after kicking the poor cat out of my house.
profile picture
Anusha Kazi
New Member
Joined : Dec 2013
Posts : 4
Posted 12/23/2013 4:41 PM (GMT -6)
Hey kezbrn, I don't know what allergy tests i should get done. I did have IgE test, which came positive. It only tells that i'm allergic to something. but does not tell "what" i'm allergic to.

As far as exercise is concerned , i have stopped it. Walking fast or climbing few stairs can also triggers bad cough. but exercise is not the issue, the issue is the unidentified other reasons.
profile picture
kazbern
Veteran Member
Joined : May 2010
Posts : 8384
Posted 12/23/2013 5:16 PM (GMT -6)
An allergist should do an entire skin panel on you. They inject very small amounts of common allergens under your skin and see how you react. The only requirement is that you don't take any allergy medicine for the day or few days before the test. It doesn't hurt but it can get pretty itchy as your skin will get bumps of bigger or smaller sizes depending on your allergies.

This kind of testing can help you pinpoint things like seasonal allergies or common home irritants. Then you can focus on specific changes you can make in your lifestyle or allergy meds you can take.

Have you done the saline sinus wash that Alcie recommends? It will really help. And you should consider putting a humidifier in your room to keep your sinuses from drying out. And drink a LOT of water every day to keep your mucous wet.
profile picture
Anusha Kazi
New Member
Joined : Dec 2013
Posts : 4
Posted 12/24/2013 5:16 AM (GMT -6)
Thank you so much Kazbern. You know i did go to a Dr for patch test. He was constantly asking me about eczema, skin dryness, family history regarding skin issues. And i was like Dr I'm here for asthma, i have NO skin issues! In the prescription he wrote use dove or pears soap and come for patch test 3 days later. I felt probably this test is not relevant for me, so i just didn't go.

Well I think I'll go for the patch test.
!
I'll go in a day to two and buy saline sinus wash and breathing strips. I'm so happy to hear that there are things that can help my sinus. I never wanted a surgery.

3 days later i have an appointment with a Dr. I'll consult with him also.

I'll increase water and fresh juice consumption. But i guess humidifier is not a very good idea. My climate is extremely humid already. I live near sea.

Anyway thanks a lot kezbern!=)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply

More On Allergies

Dairy Allergies And Intolerance

Dairy Allergies And Intolerance

An Introduction To Allergies

An Introduction To Allergies


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
YouTube Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2021 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.