symptoms of allergic asthma

Read and learn more about symptoms of allergic asthma. For more, visit the Asthma website MrAsthma.com

Q: Can a pregnant woman take Benadryl/antihistamine to treat an allergic reaction or help allergy induced asthma?
If she is already taking inhaled steroid inhalers, regular inhalers, etc., is there anything else a pregnant woman can take to help allergic asthma and allergic reactions in serious cases? Can she take a small dose of an antihistamine such as Benadryl to help her get relief from symptoms?

A: Yes, both my midwife and OB said it was okay.
Well along with the paramedics when I had an allergic reaction.
>.<
I have horrible asthma and used my inhaler only when necessary, probably 10-15 times total my entire pregnancy, same with benedryl.
I found vicks and a humidifier REALLY helped, especcially in the third trimester, and that way she doesn’t have to take medicine.

You can talk to your midwife/OB, but they will probably tell you to weigh the risks/benefits.
I know for me, the baby needs oxygen, and when I start to go into anaphlaxes I need to take benedryl.

Q: How can I retrieve my medical records from my former doctor?
My (former now) physician stopped responding to me and refilling my inhaler prescriptions that manage my bronchitis/allergic asthma symptoms last month. I even sent him a certified letter asking him why, whose signature on the return receipt was not his, and have received no reply or phone call from him. He is in south New Jersey and I in Tennessee, and he helped me the past several years This is my only health issue. He always said “whatever you need, just call me”…I wonder if he is receiving my calls or those from my pharmacy. Now I think I should get my med records from him, so how can I go about retrieving them? Now that I am out of work, it is a MAJOR hassel to get a “new doctor” – even clinics are obtuse. It is not like I need a “controlled substance” – just an albuterol inhaler “script”. HELP!! ;(

A: You are the owner of your medical records. That is a fact. Go to the government or NIH web sites and download a release of medical records form; get the fax and physical address of the Doctor in New Jersey: Fax a signed copy of the release and request for your medical records and make yourself a copy. Send the copy certified mail and give them at least 2 weeks to respond. Follow up with emails if possible or document any and all conversations. The Doctor is obligated to release your file regardless of the insurance. Go Fo It!!

Q: Xolair: Anybody out there with Immunology/Allergy/Medical background???
I was just reading the following on xolair.com:

“…XOLAIR is a different type of medication, the first to treat the attacks and symptoms of allergic asthma by blocking immunoglobulin E (IgE), an underlying cause of allergic asthma.

IgE is a substance that naturally occurs in your body in small amounts. When a person who has allergic asthma is exposed to an allergen, his or her body produces too much IgE. When these IgE antibodies combine with allergens, chemicals called mediators are released. In turn, the release of mediators causes the swelling and inflammation of the airways-the symptoms of allergic asthma.

According to the National Institutes of Health, 60% of people in the United States with asthma have allergic asthma…”
++++++++++++
I’m not sure how this med works-but…IN THEORY…could this med be used not only to control allergic asthma but to control allergies in general??? Like food and enviromental allergies???

Any insight shared is much appreciated!

A: I don’t believe so. I did google Xolair, and it seems to only bind with IgE. The RAST test for allergies tests IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE, so other immunoglobulins seem to be involved in different kinds of allergies. Some medications that help control allergies/food sensitivities are bad for asthmatics though, so although it can have dangerous side effects, it may be a live-saver for some people.

Q: I seem to have developed asthma over this winter. I am allergic to pollen. Will I get much worse this spring?
I had an allergy test for the first time this year and found out I am allergic to pollen from trees and weeds. Over this winter I’ve developed some sort of asthma-like condition…and in winter there is no pollen (I live in Maine). Since I’m already having asthma-like symptoms right now when there is no pollen…what’s going to happen when the trees start pollenating? Am I going to have to live in a bubble or something? Also, pollen is the ONLY thing I’m allergic to…so I don’t understand why I have asthma in the first place?

A: Talk to an asthma specialist first. After some evaluating, he will tell you what to do. But I guarantee you that you won’t have to live in a bubble for the rest of your life. If your doctor puts you on any medications, just make sure to take them as often as you are supposed to and your symptoms should stay under control. Don’t worry, be happy.

Q: Xolair – what do u know?
Xolair is used for symptoms of allergic asthma in people who are already using preventer puffers containing steroids. My dad has been on this for a 2.5 years after completing trials. We pay full price without any health or gov benefits.

What i want to know is if anyone is out there that is on Xolair or has a loved one using this medication what has been your overall experience – positive or what not & – how long have they been using it for. Also, are you paying for the medication without government support or any health care support?

I am based in Australia so it would be of greater interest to know those who have experience with Xolair in Australia – maybe even in NSW as benefit may differ between states.
we have tried everything!! xolair is the only thing that is keeping him alive really.

A: ok I admit I don’t know anything about it but it sounds rather exotic. Has your dad already tried Claritin or chlortrimeton?

Q: Why do i suffer symptoms of being allergic to cats, when i haven’t before?
Our family owned this one cat my whole life til it died earlier this year. Symptoms never arose, but i do have asthma but i never felt like there was ever a difficulty breathing or sneezing when i was around her. Recently we took in a stray for a day and that was the first i noticed runny/stuffy nose and puffy eyes around a cat. The excuse was that it was a long hair as apposed to the old cat whom was a short hair plus it could have been carrying pollen or dirt in its fur. just yesterday we adopted a cat from a shelter, short fur and i was again suffering these allergenic symptoms.

Will i have to resort to returning this kitten or take a medication? or is it possible my body can adjust and be rid of the allergy?

A: the fur isn’t always what people are allergic to it is the dander or even their saliva im sorry to say that having a cat all your life could have caused your asthma you may have been allergic all along and just didn’t show visible symptoms and at some point you became immuned to that cat.My son is highly allergic to cats and his doctor told me to keep him away from peoples houses that have cats because taking him around things that he is allergic to on a regular basis could cause him todevelope asthma.You can try meds and see if they work and keep the house vacuumed wash your hands a lot and keep the cat out of your bed.

Q: If I am allergic to penicillin then am I allergic to mold?
The reason I ask is because everytime I go to my brothers lake house I get asthma symptoms which I’ve never had before. And, assumeably, there is quite a bit of mold near the lake.

A: There could be a number of things that are affecting you.

It could be that the house is old, with materials that your body objects to. There could be mold, it could be something as simple as the cleaning solutions they use. If it has carpet or rugs, they could be dusty.

Pollen surely could do it, as mentioned, or the insulation in the walls of the house. Mold is a possibility, surely, but there are any number of other issues that could be causing it as well.

Q: can asthma symptoms change all of the sudden, and be sporadic?
I have had allergy, exercise, and cold air induced asthma since I was a kid but from 14 on, it has been a rare occurrence, and is easily reversible with ventolin inhalers, an allergy pill, or sometimes steroidal puffers in the winter time. lately I’ve been getting a prolonged period (about a week) of chest tightness, sometimes throat tightness, with no wheezing, or coughing. I also have shortness of breath, and if i breath in deeply it feels pinchy. My doctor told me it’s just asthma, and it does seem to happen after i’ve been near a cat, or after I was tree planting (i’m allergic to both), but it’s irregular and inhalers don’t help at all!! help! (I’m 25)

A: You should read up on COPD. Once you have asthma, it leaves damage such as thickening of the bronchial tubes etc. A lot of people have asthma as a child and “grow out of it”. I did, but still when I’m sick, things are exasperated and it takes forever to get rid of a cough. I haven’t had an attack in years but if I’m around dusty or smokey areas or anything else that triggers it, the tightness comes back. So I always keep my inhaler around and just keep away from things that I know are triggers.

Q: Symptoms of asthma or something else?
I was just curious as to whether anyone here could tell me if the symptoms I experience might be related to asthma. My mother thinks I’ve started to develop it, but I’m not positive.

I’m 21 and have always been healthy. I do have scoliosis, which was corrected by spinal fusion surgery at age 14 before it was severe enough to interfere with my breathing. I had to do various breathing/lung capacity tests during my treatment to ensure that everything was okay, and it was. However, in college I started to occasionally experience a shortness of breath. I’d be doing whatever I normally did and all of a sudden my next breath wouldn’t be there. I’d cough and it’d come back. Occasionally it’d take a few coughs before I could breathe freely again. It seems as though these incidents have increased over the last couple of years, but they’ve never really interfered with anything–they just take me by surprise, but once I cough everything’s fine. Occasionally I feel a little bit of tightness and even pain in my chest, often on one side or the other, or I feel like I can’t really take a deep breath, but it’s never too bad.

I’m fairly active, at a healthy weight (probably low end average or a little below), and don’t have other health issues.

I seem to be allergic or easily irritated by a few particular things. There are two brands of hairspray that I can’t be around–as soon as I smell them, I start coughing, my chest hurts and tightens, and I have to leave the room. It’s possible that this has always been there and I didn’t notice it until I went to college and my roommate used one of those brands (that I’d never used) and my suitemate used the other. Smoke now does the same thing–recently, we were burning leaves, and although my two sisters and my mother were fine, I was coughing, had trouble taking a deep breath, and began wheezing as I breathed. My chest was also hurting. Obviously I left, and after I’d been away from it for awhile, I was okay. I don’t remember ever having such a severe reaction to smoke when I was younger–I’ve never been able to stand cigarette smoke, but was fine around campfire smoke, etc.

Does this sound like an asthmatic condition? Is it possible that it has developed as I got older, since I definitely didn’t have it as a child? Or is it something else? Anything to worry about?

Thanks for any help.

A: First of all only a doctor can diagnose you. I would highly suggest you making an appointment with your doctor soon. I am a Respiratory Therapist and I also have asthma. I am 21, and I have had asthma for 2 years. It is possible you are developing it. I also have trouble with some hairspray! Chest pain, Shortness of Breath, and wheezing are all signs of asthma! Inhaled Corticosteroids and a rescue inhaler are what you will be given if you have it. Neither hurt. It sounds like you’ve had PFT’s in the past. (Pulmonary Function Tests) That is how they will diagnose you. Good luck with everything!! Please make an appointment!! Like I said, only a doctor can diagnose you! You may have something as simple as an upper respiratory infection or allergies! But either way, you need to see your doctor!

Q: Cystic Fibrosis symptoms?
My daughter has had a chronic cough since January, she’s now almost 15 months old. We’ve had countless trips to emerg, walk-in clinics, and we are currently on our second pediatrician, who now thinks she may have asthma. Having severe asthma myself, I realize that she has a good chance of developing asthma, but her symptoms really don’t appear to be asthma symptoms, and she has no allergic reaction – other than coughing – to our cats and dog (no sneezing, runny nose or itchy, watery eyes). She coughs more at night. Anyway, our first pediatrician conducted a sweat conductivity test to rule out Cystic Fibrosis. Although we were told that the test was negative, we just found out from our new ped that it was actually borderline with a level of 46 (one of the many reasons for the second opinion!). What are other symptoms of CF? She has a very rattly chest, especially after eating, and has the chronic cough.
She has none of the digestive symptoms (i.e. no diarrhea, etc.), has had no other infections other than one ear infection, and is gaining weight normally although she is small for her age (15months, 21lbs)
I’m just wondering if it is possible that she could have CF with pulmonary problems as the only symptom. Neither my husband nor myself have any history of CF in our families, so I know that her chances of having the disease are very slim, though not impossible.
I am extremely upset over this!!

A: Hi Karla! I noticed you posted a question in two different areas so I will only answer one… Coming from a mommy of a CF baby, I can completely understand your frustration and your anxiety. Not to mention wanting to know the answer for sure! One way or another, it’s easier to know.

My son is about the same age as your daughter- he is 16 months old. He was diagnosed through Newborn Screening for Metabolic Disorders (which is routine and state-mandated in Colorado). It was his IRT levels that tipped off the Pediatrician. We did a second blood test, which had even higher IRT levels, and then were sent for a diagnostic sweat test (when he was about 3 weeks old). His sweat test result was 100. A definite positive result. The borderline The ranges for the results of the sweat test are 0-39 negative, 40-60 borderline, 60+ positive. 46 is right in the middle of the borderline range so I’d absolutely recommend a follow-up test. Something could have happened during the test (inadequate amount of sweat to test, contamination) that affected the results. If the result comes back borderline again, it should signal your Pediatrician to run a Genetic Panel searching for CF mutations. This is usually conducted by Ambry Genetics.

Now, to address the symptoms… you have to remember first and foremost, that CF is a PROGRESSIVE disease which means that any child born with the disease will not exhibit ALL symptoms from day one. As the organs become damaged (pancreas, liver, kidneys, LUNGS), the child will show more symptoms at a greater severity. Secondly, there are THOUSANDS of mutations that cause CF. There is absolutely NO way to tell what symptoms or level of severity each person will have with the disease. In fact, it is entirely possible that you could have a room full of 50 people with the same mutations and they might even have differing symptoms and severity. There are a few “knowns” in CF. Certain mutations are associated with pancreatic insufficiency, some are not. Some mutations are associated with minimal respiratory symptoms, some are not. It is completely feasible to think that IF your daughter does have CF, she might have a mutation associated with pancreatic SUFFICIENCY- meaning that she would NOT need enzymes to break down her food because her pancreas is functioning correctly. My son has the most common mutation, Delta F508, actually thought to have some of the most severe symptoms of CF. His pancreas does not work and he does take enzymes but he does NOT exhibit many respiratory symptoms and has never cultured a bacteria, with the exception of RSV (which he actually recovered from without any symptoms). Also, he has not suffered from malnutrition or even struggling with weight gain. He is currently 25.2 lbs at 16 months old… which puts him somewhere around the 50th percentile, or about average.

Bottom line… I think that it would be very, very important to follow up that sweat test, if for no other reason than to rule out CF. If she does have it and they treat her symptoms as Asthma, that could be MUCH more detrimental to her future health. It is imperative that ANY child who has CF be treated and routinely followed by a Pediatric Pulmonologist (among other Specialists) and follow a specific diet/medication regimen.

Oh, and to answer your other question about how it’s possible that she could have CF when there’s no evidence in either your husband or your family lines? Neither my husband or I had ever even HEARD of CF before our son was diagnosed. We also had no traces of the disease (other than us both being carriers, obviously). That in itself could be another way to rule out the disease- if her sweat test is borderline again, have yourself and your husband tested for carrier status. If BOTH of you are not carriers, she couldn’t possibly have CF since it is a recessive genetic disease- meaning she would need a mutated copy from EACH of you, not just one of you.

Good luck to you! Crossing my fingers for a negative result!

Q: Relation of indoor heating with asthma, allergic sensitization’s, and bronchial responsiveness:?
Know good friend that complains of severe headache, nose bleeds, coughing up discolored mucus from esophagus and nasal, constant sking irritation. and resides in a building with indoor heating pipes installed above. Can anyone provide some info base on the info above and how can her symptoms be treated. currently she uses a small humidifiyer to sleep at nights, with little help.

A: Difference of Temp. cause problem.Body cant tolerate and stand this.It affects Metabolism.

Q: Something in my house is triggering chronic asthma, but I don’t know what. Any advice?
My allergy tests came back negative even to pets and we have two dogs. My parents have a cat. I could almost swear that it was them, because whenever I’m outside of the house, I for a prolonged time I feel a bit better, and whenever I come back home I almost sense like my lungs start to get a little burning/sore feelings, followed by an itchy throat, my eyes water up a tiny bit….yet the allergy tests came back negative. I just have absolutely no idea what it can be.

Is it the pets? I just don’t know. dust? I don’t know. We don’t have dust FLYING around freely, so it can’t be that. Mold/mildew not that I know of and even if we did it would be cleaned up by now.

There’s just something here that irritates me, even in my parents house, and heck I have to keep living here. Either here at my home, or my parents home, but there’s something in both homes that just “gets to me,” and I can’t keep going on feeling sick all the time. i’ve been hospitalized many times because of it, and this spans SEVERAL YEARS. I’ve been suffering forever with this and on all sorts of meds, and I still can’t figure out what it can be.

I came back as negative for the cat/dog allergy, but just because I’m not technically allergic, maybe it still somehow triggers my asthma symptoms. I mean their dander, hair, etc is probably still all around the air, who knows.

The problem is, I already have an air filter, and I open up the windows…and I even take an anti-histamine, tried claritin, zyrtec, xyzol (a new one) and singulair even, and I still can’t seem to “get better.”

what the heck can it be?

My parents and the other person I live with are TOTALLY UNAFFECTED.

IT’s only me that’s affected, and I get affected BAD!

I don’t know where to go from here.

A: have you had any allergie testing for pets.ill bet you its the cat.i have that problem.check for dust and mildew too.i would’nt open windows if it were me.because if its something outside your going to get it inside because your window is open.i would get checked again just in case they missed something.good luck allergies are bad,i take anti-histamines too and sometimes they dont work for me either.good luck

Q: US AF/AFROTC and Asthma?
I have asthma (allergy induced, im allergic to pollen, mold, meldew, dust. so basically have allergies year round) ive had it my entire life. I was wondering if i could still get into the AF/AFROTC as an Officer with an engineering major. i dont think too much strenuous physical fitness is required from an officer specifically with an engineering job in the AF, although fitness isnt really a problem for me.

dont link the military site or other reference to the disqualifications for military service, i already know asthma is one of them, just wondering if i could still get in.

its not like asthma is a real problem for me, i was on the crew team in highschool and never had to use my inhaler the 2 years i was in it. i live in florida where theres a lot of pollen so i have done running outside with no problem either
the only time i would need to use my inhaler is when i have significant congestion/runny nose/mucus going into my lungs even then its rare i will have asthma symptoms.
Ive had to use my inhaler maybe 4 times so far this year, once was because i had an allergic reaction to something in the shirt i was wearing. the other 3 times it wasnt necessary it was more to make breathing a bit easier-(wasnt an actual asthma attack just slightly tight lungs because of mucus congestion)

4 times so far is alot but i find that when im out of shape like i am now i tend to be more prone to asthma problems, none of the 4 times i used my inhaler happened as a result of or during/after working out.
i also believe this new nasal spray my doctor put me on for allergies was responsible for 3 of the times i ended up using my inhaler. (as i had no problems before)

A: Asthma after your 13th birthday is disqualifying for entry into the armed forces, including ROTC. That includes reactive airway disease, exercise-induced bronchospasms and asthmatic bronchitis. In the year 2005 the Air Force submitted 116 waiver requests for asthma. A total of 30 were granted.
So, I didn’t post the link to the medical standards. But, I did give you the odds for a waiver as shown in the latest data available.

Q: Has anyone developed asthma as an adult? What can you tell me about this?
I was recently diagnosed with asthma, though, I had no symptoms until recently. (I am 25). Lately, I have begun waking up in the middle of the night with horrible wheezing. I suppose I could be allergic to my cat (but I will not get rid of her….)

But I want to know, is it common for adults to develop asthma and if so, what are the chances of it going away with age?

A: Wow, talk about a flashback. I developed “Adult Onset Asthma” in my early 20’s…. about 22 I think. I had the worst attack, while in Orlando Florida. Scared the crap out of me. Went to the ER it was so bad. Turns out, mold and large amounts of dust set me off. I used to take an inhaler, each day, but now I just take it once in a while, if I know I’m going to be in a place where I may have an attack. I rarely get attacks these days, mostly when I go skiing, the change of altitude and weather. I have learned to deal with it.

Check out this site:

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22596

Good luck to you!

Q: will my asthma go away?
i’m 18 and i was diagnosed with asthma when i was 13 or 14. At first i only used my inhaler only maybe once or twice a week, but not i’m using it usually a few times a day (i tend to overdose sometimes. i know, that’s bad, but i need it).
Apparently I’m allergic to my cat, but I dont want to get rid of her. I’ve had her for so long, but my asthma symptoms started when I moved to another apartment, which gets dusty really easily and i’ve had several leaks in my bathroom, so i’m assuming there’s mold and stuff. Since i had my cat long before I moved and I didnt have asthma symptoms, I dont want to have to get rid of her. I know I’m allergic, but i dont think i react to her.

is there anything i can do to get rid of my asthma or at least make it better? i know you cant really get rid of it, but i dont want to depend on medications (especially cuz i always forget to take them)

A: You shouldn’t have to use your rescue inhaler too often. If the problem is your apartment, keep it clean and get the leaks fixed. Go to your doctor and tell him/her that your need for the rescue inhaler has increased. You may be put on a maintenance drug, like Symbicort, Advair, etc.

Please remember though, that the best meds in the world are useless if you don’t take them! They work over time, so you must take them as prescribed. Some meds are twice daily, so it should be easy: when you get up in the morning and just before you go to bed. Write yourself notes if you have to, but you must get it together…or your quality of life will suffer.

Good luck! You can do it!

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