The Reality Of Living With Asthma

By: Paige Wiltse Osborne

Living with Asthma isn't as easy as using an inhaler when you have trouble breathing, or staying away from things that you are allergic to. There are millions of people in the U.S. alone who live with Asthma and its debilitating effects each and every day.
I am a full time mother. Now some people may think that is a great idea, and others may think that i've got it made in the shade because all I do all day is sit around watching soap operas on T.V. Well, I can tell you that nothing is farther from the truth. You see, my youngest daughter has Asthma, Asthma that is so severe that she cannot play outside, cannot attend school and must have a portable oxygen tank at the ready when we go places like the grocery store. Valkyrie was born "blue". In other words, she was not breathing when she was born. Since then, she has been hospitalized 45 times with asthmatic bronchitis or pneumonia. Why you ask? Well, let me try to explain the schematics of this disease.

First, there is something that I would like you to try. This excersize will help you to understand an Asthmatics life a little better, and I promise, it won't hurt a bit.
Ok, first... take two fingers and plug your nose as if you were jumping into a swimming pool. Next, with your nose still plugged, place your whole hand over your mouth so that it is covered completely. With this done, take in a breath... wait now, no cheating! Keep your nose fully plugged and that hand firmly over your mouth!
There, now take 5 breaths this way... its not easy now is it? Did you feel like you were getting enough air? Was it difficult to breathe? Well, if you said yes to both of those questions, you have just experienced what it is like for a person to live with asthma. Picture having that very feeling for 10-20 minutes at a time, and you have just pictured an Asthma attack. Scary thought isn't it?

Many people including teachers, physicians and employers do not think of Asthma as being a deadly or even a serious disease. The fact is that over 15 million people in the United States alone suffer from Asthma, and over 5,000 people DIE each year from Asthma attacks. Still don't think its serious? Well think about this, over 1.9 million people were seen in Emergency rooms in 1997 alone, and 600,000 people were admitted to the hospital, 10 million school days were missed because of asthma, Over $6 Billion are spent a year by insurance companies a year to treat asthma, and 4.8 million children under the age of 18 have been diagnosed with asthma. And thats not counting the loss of productivity of working parents who have children with asthma. The loss of producitivity totals roughly around 1 billion dollars a year.

Now that you know some of the numbers, try picturing being the parent of a child who for no apparent reason begins to turn blue in front of your eyes. Try picturing being the child who cannot cry, cannot talk and cannot ask for help because they cannot get enough air into their lungs to utter a sound. And then try picturing your child at school. How would they handle an attack?

In most schools across the U.S. there is a zero drug tolerance policy. This means that children can and will be either suspendedor expelled from school for carrying or possessing drugs of any kind on thier person or in their belongings while on school property. If you think this policy is strictly for illegal drugs you are dead wrong. This policy includes all prescription medications as well. If a child is caught carrying an inhaler, even if they have documented asthma, the child can and usually is suspended from school. Don't think this is a problem? Well consider this: In the time it takes a child to walk from their classroom to the main office to get their inhaler, the child can become unconscious, suffer brain damage and even die. Yes you heard me right. They can die.
While getting a note from a doctor stating that the child must carry an inhaler at all times can help, many schools do not allow this practice even WITH a doctors note. Thousands of asthmatic children are suspended from school because they were caught carrying an inhaler on their person during school hours.

What are the causes of Asthma?
Asthma can be caused by many things such as allergies to dust, pollen, mold, animals and smoke. Asthma can also be caused by a previous upper respiratory ailment such as bronchitis or pneumonia, a person can be born with it, and it can even be inherited.

Diagnosing a child with asthma can be an extremely difficult task. In most cases, a child must be at least 6 months old before the doctor can know for sure whether or not the child suffers from asthma. In other cases, a person can discover that they are asthmatic when they are in their middle to late 60's. It all depends on the person, and their environment.

While there are studies that have shown that children who have a parent who smokes are more likely to be diagnosed with asthma, there are also studies which deny those claims. In most cases however, asthmatics are generally allergic to something. In my daughters case, she is allergic to just about everything that blooms, blossoms or grows, as well as mold and horses. Only an Allergist can tell you for sure what your triggers are.

Climate can play a definitive role in an asthmatics life. Some asthmatics are bothered by heat and humidity, and still others are bothered by cold dry air. Stifling heat which can be found in places like Florida and Texas as well as many other southern states can wreak havoc on an asthmatic person causing them to be near shut-ins during the summer months while others in the northern states can have the exact same problem during the winter months.

What are the symptoms of Asthma?

Asthma has symptoms which can easily mimic a chest cold. The most common symptoms are: wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and coughing. Since any of these symptoms can be associated with other ailments, it is important to seek a physicians advice if you are concerned.

What are the treatments for Asthma?
Some of the most common treatments for Asthma are inhaled or liquid medications such as Proventil and Ventolin (Albuterol); Intal (Cromolyn Sodium); as well as corticosteroids such as Prednisone.
Albuterol (more commonly known as Proventil and Ventolin) can cause side effects, such as loss of sleep, cough, heart palpitations (slight), nervousness, dry throat and uncontrollable tremors of the hands (also known as "the shakes"). Intal or Cromolyn Sodium can cause throat irritation, wheezing, or cough as well as nausea, and headache. Prednisone can cause increased appetite, weight gain, bloating, nausea, upset stomach and vomiting as well as peptic ulcers, increased blood sugar levels, impaired wound healing and an increased risk of infection.
These are not the only drugs used to treat asthma, but they are some of the most common. If you would like more information regarding the treatment of asthma, here are some rather helpful links:

• http://www.pslgroup.com/ASTHMA.HTMThe latest medical news and information for patients or friends/parents of patients diagnosed with Asthma and Asthma-related disorders.

• http://www.femscript.com/information_center/avida/asthma_therapy/index.htmlAthsma Therapy.

• http://www.ama-assn.org/special/asthma/treatmnt/treatmnt.htm JAMA Asthma Information Center - Treatment Center

• http://www.gerovital.co.uk/asthma.htm Asthma Control / Treatment

• http://www.diseases.nu/asthma.htm Asthma Information - causes symptoms treatment of asthma