Asthma - What makes yours worse?

[Lisa33]

Was just interested if anyone with Asthma is worse in Winter, and what affects it?

 

I have had asthma since I was 19 (I'm now 36). I have noticed that the central heating seems to make it worse in winter? I have had asthma for a number of years but have only begun to notice more now what makes it worse.

 

I'm on a steroid inhaler called Clenill at the mo, (beclometasone dipropionate, previously spelt beclomethasone in the UK. This is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid). In the bedroom we have the central heating off and the window open a bit, and I have noticed that my asthma if really good in there, but if the heating is on in the rest of the flat at night or in the day, it makes me asthma quite bad.

 

Also strong scented burning oils and air fresheners make me feel like they take my breath away as well, but yet some don't? Im just interested to see what other Asthma sufferers are like and what they do to remedy the situation? I would also like to ask if anyone is on a inhaler called Seretide, as my asthma nurse has put me on it and I have read that it puts weight on, and the last thing I need and want is extra weight on me. Because of the weight issue I have stopped taking the Seretide and gone back onto the Clenill.

 

Any reply's would be very helpful. I hope you all have a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012.

 

Lisa33

[tinfoilhat]

As an asthmatic for 30 odd years I can't say I have problems with central heating. That said a friend of mine went through a bad run with theirs and they were advised to use something to moisten the air. Can't think of the name of it (not much help am I really) but think a dehumidifier but in reverse. I'll ask tomorrow. one of my main triggers is cold air so it's been hard work the last week or two.

 

I'm on serevent and have been for 3 years and my weight had gone up but it was on an upward slope before that. I put it down to lifestyle as with a bit of willpower some long shifts and some exercise I've lost a bit recently.

 

That said, since I've been on the serevent (and I'm assuming it's a branded version of seretide ) my asthma hasn't been better, so I'd give it a go if I were you. Remember though, an inhaler won't make you put weight on regardless of what the nurse says. It's a spray, no sugar fat or calories. It might increase appetite but if can breath better you might be more inclined to excerise more.

[gnvqsos]

I find that smoking a pipe rather than cigs makes a difference(my nanan not me).I have tried to persuade her to stop but she gets out of breath and exasperated,which aggravates her condition.She says that having worked as Sheffields only female stripper(asbestos) that this is the probable cause of her discomfort.

[cressida]

sex according to rossyrooney

[taxman]

For years I was able to control my asthma using breathing techniques but last year I was really bad, wheezing and gurgling through the night and the nurse recommended I go back on the beclamethasone after about 15 years of being OK without it. The effect was almost immediate and it has really settled back down now.

 

I am worse in Winter but that's because I'm more prone to colds and a blocked nose and when I can't breathe properly through my nose my asthma is much worse.

 

I'm really quite disappointed that I'm back on the daily drugs after so long but the night-time asthma was just becoming too bad and uncontrollable without them.

[wornout53]

I have been on Seretide for some years now and found that it keeps my asthma pretty well controlled. Prior to that I was on oral steroids for a long time and they really do make you put weight on. Cold air, smoky air , dust, extreme humidity all do it for me. My doctor told me I would be crazy to visit my daughter when she lived in Hong Kong as the humidity and poor air quality would have landed me in hospital.

[EdnaKrabappe]

Mine is very sporadic. I've stayed in a lot this year and I've noticed that my general breathing has been much better. I have seratide which I should use daily but I just use it when i feel poorly. I have 125 for the summer and 250 for the winter. I've also got the ventolin and the brown one but don't use them often. Mine is triggered by going from a cold place to a warm place and vice versa horribly and by dust. Pets, pills, pollen don't bother me.

[selphie]

Hiya,

My hubby has asthma and he hae a preventer and an inhaler. One is brown, one is blue. That's about as much as I know i'm afraid.

Now all aerosols cause him to flare up, deodorant, airfreshener etc and I have to spry out of the room. The central heating doesn't seem to affect him. We used to go to the gym 3-4 times a week and a combination of exercise, sauna and steam room used to render his inhaler's redundant. It really did help his asthma. He only used to do light exercise, 40 minutes on the treadmill and another 20 or so on the weights and it made the world of difference for him.

[alternageek]

Everything :/

My environmental allergies trigger my asthma and the cold as well.

[MonkeyLover]

I have only ever had about 6 bad asthma attacks, and the rest of the time I am ok, unless I get a chest infection.

The things that bring mine on are mainly stress - and laughing, strangely enough!

Also I find that if I have too much dairy produce or bread I don't seem to be able to breathe very well, though whether this is actual asthma I don't know.

I have the purple preventer inhaler though hardly ever use it, and I also have the blue one.