This page includes posts with helpful information for active asthmatics.
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Tag: asthma
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
Fitness & Wellness
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
Below are all of our posts with info and tips to help you get fit, eat a healthy diet, and promote wellness in your life.
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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!
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!