Tag Archives: asthma treatments

The Challenges of Smoking With Asthma, and Why You Should Quit Now!

Millions of people smoke, despite the potential health risk it brings. More so, it can be more dangerous for those with asthma. For those with asthma symptoms, it is best to take asthma treatments as prescribed by the best allergist in your area.

It is said that tobacco smoke is one of the most common asthma triggers, among a few. Tobacco smoke can irritate the airways and produce mucus in the lungs. It also weakens the power of cilia, tiny hairs found in the lungs that help get rid of the excess mucus out of our airways. A weakened cilium means the person can be more prone and at higher risk of asthma symptoms.

Facts about asthma and smoking

As mentioned, millions of people around the world smoke. It can be in a form of tobacco or vape. Surprisingly, more than 20 percent of people suffering from asthma still smoke cigarettes. This is even though smoking can worsen their asthma symptoms. An allergist would also strongly advise against smoking, more so if you have asthma.

Other facts about the link between smoking and asthma are the following.

  • Tobacco smoke is the second most common cause of asthma attacks. Symptoms can also be severe for smokers with severe asthma.
  • It is estimated that there are about 1,300 deaths that occur daily due to smoking.
  • Second-hand smoke is more dangerous than smoking first-hand.

So if you have asthma and still smoke, you might want to reconsider putting that tobacco in your mouth. Quitting is an option, but it will be a long journey. You can also consult an allergy doctor to help manage your asthma symptoms.

Is vaping a better choice than smoking tobacco?

More and more people are using vape as they believe it is a “lesser evil” smoking option. Also known as e-cigarettes, vaping involves inhaling and exhaling vapor through an electronic smoking device. Unlike regular smoking, vaping comes in different flavors or “juices”, which makes it irresistible among the younger demographics.

Vaping devices also come in different forms such as pens and even screwdrivers. These have refillable cartridges which turn into an aerosol that you can inhale and exhale. But is vaping a safer smoking option than tobacco smoking, you might ask?

Unfortunately, vaping is also no good, especially in the long term. For one, studies have shown that prolonged use of vape puts you at a higher risk of contracting chronic bronchitis and worsen your asthma. The risk is way higher if you smoke vape and tobacco cigarettes.

Another study by the American Academy of Pediatrics reveals that young teenagers who vape are most likely to shift to regular cigarettes later on. Using e-cigs can help you stay clean from tobacco cigarettes. However, experts including your allergy physician do not support these so-called claims.

E-cigarettes also contain nicotine which is addictive but highly dangerous to health in the long run. Some studies also reveal finding formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, which can cause cancer, in e-cigarettes. More so, it can trigger asthma and even make it worse.

Staying away from smoking

If you have asthma, it is best to stay away from all kinds of cigarettes. Secondhand smoke can also cause danger to your health – twice or thrice the danger, it is. Speaking of secondhand smoke, a lot of people often don’t mind being with a smoker. They think that it won’t harm them since they are not the one smoking in the first place.

However, secondhand smoking can be worse from regular smoking. More so, it can be more dangerous especially for small children. If you want to have a second lease in life and prevent asthma attacks, quit smoking. Here are ways to stay away from the dangers of smoking.

  • Lessen exposure to secondhand smoke as much as possible, or none at all.
  • If you have asthma and want to eat in restaurants, check if there is a “non-smoking” area. Better yet, avoid dining in restaurants that allow smoking.
  • Quit smoking for your children. Kids suffering from asthma are twice as more likely to end up in hospitals due to asthma attacks.

Conclusion

There are a lot of reasons to quit smoking. For one, it will improve your respiratory health. It will also lessen the risk of asthma attacks and other respiratory diseases. There are also other ways to de-stress, not just smoking. If experiencing asthma symptoms, make sure to get the asthma treatments that you need. Contact the best asthma doctor in Manassas VA

Life in Time of COVID-19: How to Keep Yourself Sane During Quarantine/Lockdown

As the COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc to our lives, we have no choice but to stay indoors and wait until everything is sort of okay already. This is actually the easiest thing we can do to help the government and to flatten the curve. This is also a chance for us to rethink our overall health.

COVID-19 chooses no one. From infants to the elderly, everyone can be at risk of contracting this disease. More so, those with compromised immune systems and pre-existing conditions are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Those who have asthma are also at risk of contracting the virus.

If you are suffering from asthma or any kind of allergies, you should consult an asthma doctor. An allergist will help you give asthma treatments to manage your conditions. Other than that, you should stay at home and build your health defense from this disease.

Why you should stay at home

A lot of countries implemented lockdown. This means citizens should stay at home to avoid the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, the government should also do their part in protecting their constituents from the disease. Businesses closed for the meantime and events got canceled as well.

For one thing, we should not downplay the impact of the disease. As of date, there are already more than 1.2 million total COVID-19 cases around the world. Out of these cases, about 70,000 have already perished. However, somehow good news is that more than 260,000 have already recovered from the disease.

As mentioned, there are people who are at higher risk of having COVID-19. These people should be extra cautious not to go outside as much as possible. If you have asthma and other kinds of allergies, you can contact an allergy specialist doctor. He or she will recommend the best asthma treatments to help manage your condition.

The doctor can also provide electronic prescriptions in case of medical needs. That is why you don’t have to worry about going outside to have an appointment at times like these. If you experience COVID-19 symptoms such as dry cough and difficulty in breathing, you should contact the nearest hospital for proper treatment and management.

How quarantine works

You should have a 14-day self-quarantine if you have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient. The same should also apply if you have been in a place where there are confirmed COVID-19 cases. However, even those without direct exposure and travel history should do quarantine as well.

It’s for everyone’s safety after all. Even those who don’t have symptoms can be a carrier of the virus. It can be more dangerous because you might be infecting a loved one without you knowing it.

Being on quarantine means you should not go outside, especially those who have travel history and exposure to a COVID-19 case. During that period, you should monitor for any signs of the disease like coughing, sore throat, and breathing difficulties.

If you are living with someone who manifests such symptoms (or if you are that person), make sure to follow quarantine protocols. Make sure to stay inside a designated room, wear protective equipment when needed, and disinfect more often.

What you can do during a quarantine

In the meantime, we have no choice but to follow the authorities if we want this entire health crisis to be over soon. We are fortunate to have a home where we can stay and keep healthy and safe. That is the easiest thing we can do to help flatten the curve.

Here are some things you can do while on quarantine.

  • Avoid going outside as much as possible unless for emergency purposes (ex. buying food and medicine).
  • Avoid social gatherings and large crowds.
  • Practice proper hygiene. Wash hands frequently, wear a mask especially when going outside, and disinfect your home every now and then.
  • Make the most out of the quarantine period. Enrich yourself through online workshops, watch video tutorials, and rediscover your former hobbies.
  • This is also the time to bond with your loved ones. Play board games, have a movie marathon and let your kids help you with cooking.
  • Schedule general cleaning. Get rid of clothes and other personal stuff you aren’t using anymore. Consider giving some to charity later on.
  • Seize the opportunity to be working at home. Not all industries can work at home (ex. front liners, manufacturing, law enforcers, etc.) We should be thankful we still have jobs we can do in the comfort of our home.
  • In case of allergy attacks, contact an allergy physician to know the next steps to do.

It’s for our own good

Being in quarantine can be boring. More so, we don’t know when this pandemic will end. Then again, we should be thankful we are able to stay at home until everything’s already fine.

 

You should be more careful if you have a compromised health. In case of asthma or allergy attacks in times like these, make sure to contact the best allergist in Germantown immediately. They are available for online consultation and will provide the medication you need.