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Category: Active Asthmatics
Articles pertaining to asthma treatments and nutrition, hiking tips for adults and children
How Your Asthma and Allergies Change Over Time
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes
If you live in the South, you know all about the annual yellow haze that hangs in the air and the yellow dust that covers every surface in the Spring.
This year we’ve had an especially prolonged pine pollen season. It started in February, and was still going strong in early April.
If you’re lucky, it’s just annoying.
Other people spend weeks this time every year wheezing and sneezing and taking LOTS of allergy meds.
Still another group of people (who never used to wheeze or sneeze in the Spring) find that they suddenly HAVE become allergic to the pervasive yellow dust….or something else, like, say bee stings.
How can that be? What happened?
The truth is that allergies and asthma, including what your triggers are, can change over time and strike without warning.
I experienced an unexpected new allergy earlier this year, with frightening and nearly deadly results!
Read on to learn more about my death-defying experience, plus how allergies change, and what you can do about it.
Continue reading How Your Asthma and Allergies Change Over Time
Asthma’s Effects on Mental Health
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 17 minutes
It’s been a while since I’ve written about anything asthma-related.
Of course, those of you living with this chronic illness already know that for us, everything is asthma related 😉
That’s kind-of what I’d like to talk about today…
One reason I started this blog was to share my ongoing quest to enjoy a “wheeze free” life – in hopes that my experience could help someone else.
I’ve written posts about what kind of diet and supplements helped, what kind of exercises worked, the latest medications, how to clean the air inside your home – and much more.
But one thing I’ve never written about is how chronic asthma makes you feel.
I’ll share my experience – and of course, the latest research – here, in hopes it might help you or someone you care for!
What’s the Best Medicine for Your Asthma?
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 17 minutes
If you or your children are asthmatic, you’ve probably spent a lot of time looking for the best medicine for your asthma.
Or maybe looking for better asthma treatments, if you’ve already been prescribed something.
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I’ve had asthma and have been fighting it my whole life, with both medical and non-medical tools.
In the U.S., asthma affects more than 25 million people.
There is no cure, but some people do “grow out” of it (meaning you don’t have obvious symptoms), and medical drugs are available that treat the symptoms for those that have them.
I didn’t grow out of it, and from childhood through young adulthood, my parents tried all available medical options to make my illness better.
But in spite of allergy shots and prescribed inhalers and pills, my asthma got worse every year.
Finally, as a young adult, I had an epic attack that led to complete respiratory failure and several days unconscious on a ventilator.
When I woke up, the doctors just told me to take more medicine and stay in a controlled environment.
That’s when I became very pro-active in my search for better treatments and lifestyle choices to reduce my asthma symptoms and prevent future severe attacks.
I’ve had some success 🙂
In this post I tell you about the prescribed medical options available now, and the ones I’ve used – and mostly still use – that appear to help my chronic asthma.
For inspiration I’m also sharing photos of beautiful places I’ve been able to hike, without any trouble breathing!
Asthma and COVID-19: Are You at Higher Risk?
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 20 minutes
If you have asthma, like I do, you may be extra concerned about how COVID-19 could affect your health.
COVID-19, after all, is a respiratory disease and those of us with asthma have had bad experiences with those.
And by “concerned” I might also mean frightened, anxious, panicky… 😉
The COVID-19 virus is known to cause problems in the respiratory tract (nose, throat and lungs).
Because asthma is also a respiratory disease, it’s been assumed that people with asthma have a greater chance of catching the virus and getting very sick from it than other people.
It’s a reasonable assumption, and asthmatics have been classified as “high risk” since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But I’m here to tell you, I’ve done the research, and at this point – maybe for the first time ever – asthmatics are just like everyone else 🙂
It’s important to know that currently there’s no evidence of increased COVID-19 infection rates in those with asthma.
And now, after months of studying this new disease, medical and infectious disease experts have been able to create a more exact picture of the risk to asthmatics.
Since the release of the vaccines, there have also been questions about the possible risk to people with allergic reactions. I’ll tell you what I found about the current CDC advice.
(I’ve included photos of my garden and places I’ve traveled, as a reminder both that while there is beauty to be found at home, the world is still full of amazing places waiting for us to find them!)
Continue reading Asthma and COVID-19: Are You at Higher Risk?
Clean Your Indoor Air With Houseplants for National Indoor Plant Week!
Most recently updated April 19th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 20 minutes
Indoor plants are growing in popularity in American homes and workplaces, and also in places like hospitals, shopping malls, and hotels.
National Indoor Plant Week (September 16-22) was established to promote and increase public awareness of the importance of live plants in interior spaces.
Anyone can participate in this holiday. You can do your part with something as simple as giving a plant to a friend, or picking up a new houseplant for your kitchen or living room.
Houseplants and other indoor greenery improve your mental and physical well-being in a host of ways you’ve probably never thought about.
These days, with more people working from home, we’re spending more time inside our own homes than ever before.
By now maybe you’ve realized there’s a funky smell you’ve never noticed before, or the decor could use a little brightening – or maybe you’re just tired of watching screens and need to create something!
Plants can help clean indoor air, enhance your mood and create a soothing and cheerful living space.
I knew a guy who grew 200 potted marijuana plants in the attic of his apartment building… But that’s not the kind of “mood enhancement” we’re talking about here 🙂
Growing indoor plants can really help alleviate loneliness and depression.
Caring for another living thing is very rewarding, especially when you see that living thing bloom and grow, all because of you!
No matter what your indoor space is like, there are many plants that would thrive at home with you – and be useful, too.
Continue reading Clean Your Indoor Air With Houseplants for National Indoor Plant Week!
How to Decorate for An Allergy-Free Holiday Season
Most recently updated January 3rd, 2024
It’s that time! Time to get ready for your Fall & Winter holiday gatherings.
Yay!!! And also: Oh, no!!
Everyone loves to decorate and make their home feel festive for the winter holidays, but before you can decorate, you also need to clean. (This is the worst part, honestly.)
And not only do you have to clean your house, but you might also need to freshen up your stored holiday decorations!
Unfortunately, some of our traditional decorations can harbor allergens that may irritate allergy-and-asthma-prone family or guests.
Some people are even allergic to Christmas trees – which is a point in favor of having an artificial tree.
And just think about all of the other decorations you put up, where you put them, and how long they stay there.
The key to avoiding hosting allergens (along with your guests) is to prep your home well in advance of your first holiday event, and choose your decorations carefully.
Read on to learn how!
Continue reading How to Decorate for An Allergy-Free Holiday Season
Fight Asthma with Vitamins and Supplements
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I’ve had asthma and have been fighting asthma my whole life.
In spite of allergy shots and prescribed inhalers and pills, my asthma got worse every year.
After a childhood full of midnight ER visits and college years laced with time in Intensive Care, I had complete respiratory failure as a young working adult, and spent several days unconscious on a ventilator.
After that event, the doctors could only advise that I take more daily medications and stay indoors in a controlled environment.
I realized then that the available asthma treatments would probably keep me alive, but would severely limit my life.
So, I moved across the country to escape the worst of my local airborne triggers – and got some breathing room 😉
Since then I’ve experimented with diet, exercise and supplements to find what might help reduce my symptoms and my use of most medications.
Through research plus trial and error, I’ve created a strategy that helps me breathe easier and stay healthy enough to do just about anything I want to do!
In this post I tell you about the vitamins and supplements available and the ones I’ve used – and mostly still use – that appear to help asthma.
For inspiration I’m also sharing more photos of beautiful places I’ve been able to hike, and beautiful plants and animals that haven’t made me wheeze 🙂
If you’re looking for additional (non-medical) ways to minimize or even eliminate asthma symptoms, maybe this strategy could help you, too!
Travel Tips & Deals
Most recently updated August 4th, 2023
Over the years, I’ve found a few favorite tools for planning and booking travel in the US and around the world.
Most of my travel adventures have been in or close to National Parks or other incredible outdoor destinations.
I focus on time spent in Nature, but there are also plenty of cultural and historical sights to see!
For your convenience, I’ve included links to my favorite travel companies, and some blog posts about trips I’ve taken with them.
Some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I will receive a small payment at no additional cost to you. I do not get paid for recommendations, all opinions on this site are my own. See full Disclosure page here.
Travel Destinations USA
The average American spends 87% of their time indoors, 6% of it in a car, and just 7% of their life outdoors.
That’s too bad, because there are a lot of benefits to spending time outdoors!
National Parks
For National Park locations in the US, the National Park Service provides a park locator that may help you with some destination ideas.
I’ve written about some of the National Parks I’ve visited – with more to come!
Read more here about:
- Arches National Park
- Shenandoah National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- New River Gorge National Park
State Parks
Many States in the US have online pages to help people navigate the State parks in their area.
I’ve spent the most time in North Carolina State Parks and Virginia State Parks, but an online search would easily find parks in other parts of the country.
These sites provide important information like location, hours, fees and lodging options – as well as detailed Trail and park maps.
I’ve written about a few of the State Parks I’ve visited – with more to come! Read more here about:
- Umstead State Park, NC
- Flume Gorge at Franconia Notch State Park, NH
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park, TX
- Pilot Mountain State Park, NC
- First Landing State Park, VA
- Stone Mountain State Park, NC
Adventure Travel
There are a couple of companies that I rely on when I want to go on hiking/adventure trips outside of the US.
Though I’ve arranged all of the details for many trips on my own, it’s much more convenient – and usually less expensive – to have the help of an experienced team in my destination country.
They take care of getting transfers, hiking permits, lodging, renting any necessary equipment and engaging trail guides – which can be tricky, especially when traveling in a remote area.
Adventure Travel Companies
If you have multiple flights and other transfers to reach your destination, it can be really confusing – especially if you don’t know the language!
It’s good to have someone on the ground to help you navigate the potential pitfalls that come with the mechanics of getting where you want to go.
There are two companies I’ve traveled the most with for guided trips. They’re both great companies, which is why I keep going back to them!
G Adventures
I’ve got special regard for G Adventures because I’ve taken so many wonderful trips with them. They’re very eco-friendly and always have great discounts available.
My first trip with G Adventures was back in 2004, to hike and see ancient sites on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and my most recent was in 2020 (right before the pandemic) to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand.
G Adventures offers vacations for solo travelers, couples, and the whole family, too.
NOTE: After March 31, 2023, GAP no longer requires all travelers to show proof of COVID vaccines & boosters or provide a Medical exemption to travel with them on any tour, but you can find an “all vaccinated” tour if you want one.
To learn more, see my G Adventures Travel page and get links to trip discounts!
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel provides expert group leaders and take care of all of the necessary permits and transfers for all of their trips, including entrance to any National parks abroad.
I’ve hiked the Isle of Skye in Scotland and cycled in Tuscany with this company, and much more. They were great!
They also offer some really good discounts on Last Minute travel.
NOTE: After March 31, 2023, Intrepid no longer requires all travelers to show proof of COVID vaccines & boosters or provide a Medical exemption to travel with them on any tour.
Travel Resources
For me, the most stressful part of a trip is getting to my destination and getting back home.
With flight cancellations, close connections, and carry-on rules changing for each flight, just navigating the airlines is enough to make you stay at home!
Getting in the TSA Pre-Check line for flights in the US can help smooth the process.
Just go to their site, fill out the form, pay the fee and bring your ID to a quick in-person meeting and you’ll get your TSA Pre-check account number.
With TSA Pre-Check you won’t have to remove your shoes or unpack your laptop while going through airport Security – this is very important if time is tight and you’re wearing hiking boots!
A Guide To Enjoying National Parks
I write a lot about the individual hikes I’ve taken in the wonderful National Parks across America, but pretty much leave the descriptions of the parks themselves to the Park websites.
A friend from the National Parks shared this Guide with me recently, and I thought I would pass it on to you!
The US is home to 62 national parks, and I’ve visited a bunch of them. But if you want to read about them ALL go here:
https://www.loveholidays.com/
Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872, and the rest followed, up to New River Gorge National Park, which was dedicated less than a decade ago.
Other Helpful Travel Sites
The resources below help me keep everything organized with detailed itineraries, and usually provide some good discounts, too:
- Travelocity – I use them mainly for researching and booking flights. This is great because you can see flight options from many different airlines and from different airports. If you book rental car and lodging along with your flights, you can get some really good deals.
- Crystal Travel – Some great discount flights and other travel deals.
- Booking.com – Great for booking hotel rooms and comparison shopping. The more you book with them, the better deals you get. Also, most bookings are cancellable and don’t require a deposit.
- Cozycozy.com – Look for a room with Cozycozy for your next hiking trip – they’re sure to have a place near the trail that suits you!
- City Pass – Discount Activity Passes for specific destination cities, you get great discounts on multiple local attractions!
- Sightseeing Pass – Sightseeing Passes give you access to activities and services for a discount. Passes are available for: New York City, New Orleans, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Nashville, Orlando, Miami, Key West, and more!
For more vacation planning ideas, see my Trip Planning post. You may also find some tips in my post about planning your trip budget.
I hope these resources help you plan the trip of your dreams 🙂 However you do it, get out there and have your hiking adventure!
Thanks for stopping by – see you next time! LJ
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Run and Hike the Lake Pine Trail – Even if You Have Asthma!
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
The Lake Pine Trail is a paved loop that circles the lake in Apex Community Park, located near the dividing line between the towns of Cary and Apex, close to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Like nearby Bond Park, Lake Crabtree County Park, and Umstead State Park, Apex Community Park has the benefit of being in town, plus the appeal of hosting a fairly large recreational lake.
Another nearby park with paved walking trails is the North Carolina Museum of Art Park – but they don’t have a lake, just a pond. 🙂
The Lake Pine Trail Loop
Lake Pine is a great trail for running or walking, is smooth and wide enough to use your stroller or baby jogger, too – and is good for all skill levels.
The trail runs between the lake and other natural areas, so there’s a good chance to see wildlife.
I’ve seen deer, otters, loons, cranes, turtles – and fish 🙂
Dogs are also allowed on this trail but must be kept on leash.
The loop is about 2 miles long, and you have the option to venture off the main path to other unpaved nature trails, too. Continue reading Run and Hike the Lake Pine Trail – Even if You Have Asthma!