Monthly Archives: September 2020

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

Can’t Afford Asthma Medicine? Here are Possible Alternatives

Millions of people around the world are living with asthma. For one thing, asthma can be detrimental to one’s daily life. It can also be caused by several triggers including excessive physical exertion and stress. Nonetheless, it is important to keep the symptoms in check to prevent asthma attacks. Also, you should consult an asthma doctor to help you manage your symptoms and live a normal life as possible.

Expense implications as an asthmatic person

As an asthmatic person, it can be challenging to stay healthy. That it is one of the most important arsenals of every asthmatic is the inhaler. It comes in handy in case of asthma attacks whenever and wherever you are. Unfortunately, asthma treatments can be way expensive whether you have insurance or not.

More so, if more than one family member (aside from you) suffers from asthma means additional expense. Consulting an allergist may also cost you fees to help manage your condition. In other words, asthma treatments can greatly impact one’s finances but usually have no choice but to avail to avoid further health complications.

Popular asthma treatments such as Ventolin and Symbicort can cost as much as hundreds of dollars per prescription. But the question is whether there are cheaper alternatives for asthma medications. The good news: yes, you can avail of asthma medicines that are way more budget-friendly and effective.

Cost-saving asthma medications

Here are some easy ways you can save on expensive asthma medications.

Deals and discounts

For one, several pharmaceutical companies offer enticing deals including asthma medications. You can even avail a year’s worth of asthma medicines depending on the deal and save money by using discount coupons and the like.

There are also programs specially meant for asthma patients that offer discounts or even free asthma medications. However, you might need to comply with specific requirements before you can avail of such deals.

Price comparison

Check various pharmacies and membership stores and compare their asthma medicine prices. From there, you would know which the best deals are and make a purchase decision depending on your budget.

Free samples

Your allergist doctor may give you some samples if he or she has some on hand. These samples are mostly given by sales reps who want medical experts (including your asthma doctor) to recommend their medicines to their patients. You can take advantage of these freebies while you still can. Unfortunately, these samples may only be limited and may be harder to get in the market after a few months or years. Your doctor knows better when it comes to properly manage your asthma.

Shift into another insurance plan

Make sure to stay updated with enrolment deadlines especially if you are planning to buy insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Your children may also qualify for your state’s health insurance program. You can also check other insurance companies’ websites as well. It is also important to note that you can file an appeal in case your insurance provider has denied payment for your asthma medications.

Why are asthma medications expensive in the first place?

Some reports revealed that the cost of asthma inhalers spiked as much as 56 percent from 2013 to 2018 depending on the brand. Some insurances do cover asthma treatment. However, some well-known asthma treatments may either be excluded or subjected to a higher copay.

Living in a low-income household can be more challenging when it comes to affordable asthma treatments. Research showed that those living in low-income areas have higher asthma rates. Imagine suffering from this condition and having no way to treat it with a limited budget in your pocket.

Until 2005, asthma inhalers contained CFC which is not environment-friendly but effective and affordable. As a result, this ingredient was eventually banned due to its potential environmental damage.

Later on, pharmaceutical companies were able to shift into patented ones without the CFC (in exchange for another ingredient, HFA) but did allow huge price increases. On a positive note, there are generic asthma medications now available that are more affordable.

Conclusion

Getting sick can be expensive. But sometimes, such medical conditions like asthma are usually inherited or because of their living conditions. Nonetheless, paying for medications can take a toll on your budget.

Fortunately, there are ways to avail of asthma medications without spending too much, as mentioned above. More importantly, feel free to consult the best allergist in Germantown for your allergy and asthma-related concerns.

Is it a Cold or an Allergy? Here is What You Need to Know

Getting the sniffles can be annoying. Imagine you’re about to sleep but you cannot breathe properly while lying down due to a clogged nose. Or when you’re about to eat your favorite food but you cannot savor its taste because of your runny nose.

Most people think that a runny or stuffy nose, coughing, and sneezing means you have the common colds. However, these symptoms can also indicate signs of an allergic reaction. In such cases, you should consult an allergist doctor near you to treat those allergy symptoms.

But first of all, we must learn to distinguish the difference between common colds and allergies. For one thing, it can be tricky since most of their symptoms are similar. However, their root causes and treatment should be treated accordingly with proper medications.

Common colds vs. Allergies: Know the differences

Although the symptoms of colds and allergies are similar, these two are way different from each other. On the one hand, a common cold is due to different kinds of colds. It is transmitted via droplets from a sick person when they sneeze or cough. Among tell-tale signs of a common cold include:

  • Runny or clogged nose
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Body pains
  • Watery eyes

People usually recover from colds between a week to up to 10 days. If the abovementioned symptoms last for more than 10 days, you might have yourself checked as it can mean a more serious condition like bronchitis or pneumonia. Colds are all-year-round according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

People who experience allergies and young children are more prone to colds. In such cases, you might have to go to an allergy clinic to help deal with your symptoms.

Allergies, on the other hand, happens following a reaction from the immune system due to contact with certain substances. These triggers, called allergens, cause the symptoms that are similar to that of common colds.

In some cases, those with allergies experience other symptoms not common in colds such as itchy eyes and rashes. Some people experience seasonal allergies, but allergies can be experienced all year round.

How to diagnose allergies and colds

You might not need to consult a doctor for common colds. But it can also be a good idea to consult an allergy doctor if you think you are experiencing symptoms beyond common colds.

In case of a bacterial or viral infection, you might have to undergo further tests like a chest X-ray. But in case of allergies, you need to consult an allergist specialist and undergo allergy testing.

That is why you need to know the abovementioned symptoms to differentiate whether you have colds or allergies. In the worst cases, you might already have been experiencing life-threatening symptoms without you realizing it.

How to deal with common colds

Common colds are not life-threatening unless the symptoms haven’t gone away for weeks. Over-the-counter cough syrups and medicines for colds as well as nasal sprays and pain relievers can provide relief from the common cold. Ask your doctor before taking over-the-counter medicines, especially for kids, or if you are pregnant or have an existing medical condition.

Other ways to provide relief from colds include:

  • Not drinking caffeinated drinks
  • Drinking more citrus-based drinks and water
  • Steam baths

Likewise, you should follow the prescribed duration of taking the medications. Otherwise, it can lead to side effects.

How to deal with allergic reactions

There are other treatments for allergies and prevent its triggers. Antihistamines are the most popular allergy treatments such as Benedryl and Zyrtec. However, these treatments can have side effects such as drowsiness. But other antihistamines have a non-drowsy formula.

For those with a clogged nose, you should take decongestants for relief. Decongestants come in spray or pill forms. Like any other medicines, you should follow the doctor’s prescription to avoid experiencing side effects. Other treatments for allergies include eye drops (for itchy and watery eyes), corticosteroids, and allergy shots.

You should also visit an allergy clinic for proper treatment of allergies. Whether you have allergies or colds, it can affect your daily life nonetheless. Talk to the best allergist in Manassas VA for your allergy-related concerns.