Asthma: It Could Be More Serious Then You Thought

Are you one of the millions of people suffering from Asthma? If so, is your asthma under control? Chances are, its not.

Recently, my asthma started to get worse. I would often find myself short of breath from walking, or standing up after sitting in a chair. Being an EMT, I am able to check my blood oxygen level, and found it consistently at 95-96%. While this is still in the "normal" range, I would have preferred a higher level. This prompted a trip to the doctor.

I was diagnosed with asthma when I was about 10 years old, that is about 15 years ago. I was given an Albuterol inhaler and sent on my way. This is how I have loved. I haven't been to the doctor in quite a while. In fact, outside if my yearly return to refill my albuterol prescription, I have no use for doctors. Occasionally the doctor would mutter some concern about the amount of albuterol I was using, but it was easily dismissed. So when I started noticing my weakening pulmonary health, I decided to get checked out.

I went to a new doctor. A well known pulmonoligist in my area. I told him my past medical history, my symptoms, and my thoughts. He was shocked when he heard how much albuterol I was using, 3-4 doses a day. He told me that should be 1-2 doses a WEEK. Stunned that I was so far outside of the normal range, I decided to do what I needed to do to get my asthma under control again. He ordered a pulmonary function test, and when compared to my past tests, found that my asthma had worsened by 50%. Thats right, 50%! For years I had been getting worse and worse and never noticed it. My 95% blood oxygen level should have been 98 or 99%. I was killing myself, and masking it with comforting albuterol doses.

Apparently, there are different types of asthma, which I did not know. The doctor, not knowing me that well, had to find out what kind of asthma I had. I had previously been diagnosed with activity induced, meaning strenuous activity such as running triggered my asthma. It seems that it has turned from that, proving that I had gotten worse. He tried me on Singulair, which is an allergy medication. Apparently, allergies contribute to asthma, even if you arn't symptomatic of the allergies. The Singulair did nothing, proving I was not allergy asthmatic. So next came steroid treatment. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of taking steroids, but I didn't want to suffocate to death either. After a month of taking the Asthmanex, my albuterol use has been cut in half. Still not optimal, but progress.

The next order was for a sleep study. This was the last thing I wanted, as I am such a picky sleeper. Doc said that he thought I had sleep apnea, and it contributed to my asthma. Sleep apnea is when you stop breathing in your sleep for short periods of time. Your body has to keep waking itself up to restart your respiration, this causes a horrible nights sleep. Well, I don't sleep well, and I snore horribly, so he may be right. Turns out, that he was, after an uncomfortable nights sleep in a hotel room with wires suck all over me, it was proven that I have sleep apnea. There are several treatments, ranging from changing the way you sleep, to a mechanical device that helps blow air into you, to surgery. I absolutely refused to wear a CPAP, a mask that blows forced air into you while sleeping. We are starting out with some simple changes, like lowering my head to keep my airway open, and sleeping on my side. Surgery may be an option down the road, but I'm reluctant to go that far also.

The point is, if you have asthma, and haven't been evaluated by a pulmonoligist, go do it. Your regular doctor may not know enough about it to accurately diagnose or treat you. There are so many factors in play, that only a trained lung doctor can properly evaluate. Even if you think you are in control, you may not be. Don't play around with this deadly disease, get a treatment plan and get yourself healthy. I'm glad I did.