Asthma Support Group
Asthma is a disease of the human respiratory system where the airways narrow, often in response to a "trigger" such as exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators.
Cholesterol meds in new asthma link
Let me clear the air on this once and for all: There is absolutely no reason for ANYONE to take a statin, ever. But if you're battling asthma, make extra sure you steer clear -- because these meds can practically suck the air right out of your lungs.
A new study shows how asthmatics on statins for 12 months have pretty much the worst year of their lives: a 35 percent loss in lung function, compared to a drop of just 14 percent in those not on cholesterol meds.
That's a difference of 250 percent -- and when you're running out of air that quickly, you'd better keep your rescue inhaler handy. You're going to depend on it like never before: The asthmatics in this study used their rescue meds 72 percent more often after they started taking statins.
And for the icing on the cake, the patients who took statins couldn't even get a good night's sleep -- because the worsening symptoms kept waking them up.
With just 40 patients, it was a small study -- but it was no fluke. An earlier study on this also found that asthmatics who take statins lose more lung function, need more meds, have more trouble sleeping and spend more time in the doctor's office than asthmatics who don't take cholesterol drugs.
To me, the message is clear as day -- asthma and statins don't mix.
But you can say that about anything and statins, because you don't need cholesterol meds in the first place -- and that's true whether you have asthma or not.
Fact is, most people don't have a problem with "high" cholesterol. If your total cholesterol is below 300, you've got nothing to worry about except how to cook your steak tonight (rare, please).
And if it's below 200, head immediately to the supermarket and stock up on bacon and eggs -- because you've got some catching up to do.
Don't believe me? Read this. You'll never worry about your cholesterol numbers again!
Statins aren't the only common med linked to asthma -- keep reading for the painkiller that could have you gasping for air.
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'Safe' painkiller worsens asthma
Asthma patients, if your doc is still telling you that acetaminophen is safe for your condition, it's time to switch docs and find one ready to join the rest of us here in the 21st century.
It's anything but safe -- and if you've followed his advice and popped a Tylenol for pain, you may have already felt that telltale tightening in the chest that warns you to get the inhaler ready.
It's not a coincidence... and it's not bad luck: Despite the advice dished out by doctors every day, acetaminophen has proven time and again that it may worsen asthma -- and in children, it may even CAUSE the disease.
Now, sick of all the docs who haven't gotten that message, one physician is laying out the evidence in black-and-white -- like the recent study that found kids who take the drug just once a month have TRIPLE the asthma risk.
Even kids who took the painkiller just once a year had a 60 percent higher rate of asthma -- and it's not just kids at risk here. Dr. John McBride writes in Pediatrics that other studies have found that adults who take this painkiller can quickly suffer the lung-robbing consequences.
On the other hand, Dr. McBride suggests ibuprofen as a potential replacement, despite the fact that it can also worsen asthma -- especially in the estimated 20 percent of patients who are sensitive to NSAIDs.
These aren't the only meds that can knock the wind out of your sails -- as I just told you, statins can dramatically worsen your symptoms, force you to use more meds and even cause you to lose sleep. (Read about it here.)
Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors can also leave you feeling as if you've just been kicked in the chest by a donkey -- along with any number of other meds, which is why it's especially important for asthmatics to work with a doc who won't be quick with the prescription pad.
My prescription: A naturopathic physician who can get you off the meds you don't need and even help you live without that inhaler.
Breathing easy,
William Campbell Douglass II, M.D
Let me clear the air on this once and for all: There is absolutely no reason for ANYONE to take a statin, ever. But if you're battling asthma, make extra sure you steer clear -- because these meds can practically suck the air right out of your lungs.
A new study shows how asthmatics on statins for 12 months have pretty much the worst year of their lives: a 35 percent loss in lung function, compared to a drop of just 14 percent in those not on cholesterol meds.
That's a difference of 250 percent -- and when you're running out of air that quickly, you'd better keep your rescue inhaler handy. You're going to depend on it like never before: The asthmatics in this study used their rescue meds 72 percent more often after they started taking statins.
And for the icing on the cake, the patients who took statins couldn't even get a good night's sleep -- because the worsening symptoms kept waking them up.
With just 40 patients, it was a small study -- but it was no fluke. An earlier study on this also found that asthmatics who take statins lose more lung function, need more meds, have more trouble sleeping and spend more time in the doctor's office than asthmatics who don't take cholesterol drugs.
To me, the message is clear as day -- asthma and statins don't mix.
But you can say that about anything and statins, because you don't need cholesterol meds in the first place -- and that's true whether you have asthma or not.
Fact is, most people don't have a problem with "high" cholesterol. If your total cholesterol is below 300, you've got nothing to worry about except how to cook your steak tonight (rare, please).
And if it's below 200, head immediately to the supermarket and stock up on bacon and eggs -- because you've got some catching up to do.
Don't believe me? Read this. You'll never worry about your cholesterol numbers again!
Statins aren't the only common med linked to asthma -- keep reading for the painkiller that could have you gasping for air.
-------------------------------------------------------
'Safe' painkiller worsens asthma
Asthma patients, if your doc is still telling you that acetaminophen is safe for your condition, it's time to switch docs and find one ready to join the rest of us here in the 21st century.
It's anything but safe -- and if you've followed his advice and popped a Tylenol for pain, you may have already felt that telltale tightening in the chest that warns you to get the inhaler ready.
It's not a coincidence... and it's not bad luck: Despite the advice dished out by doctors every day, acetaminophen has proven time and again that it may worsen asthma -- and in children, it may even CAUSE the disease.
Now, sick of all the docs who haven't gotten that message, one physician is laying out the evidence in black-and-white -- like the recent study that found kids who take the drug just once a month have TRIPLE the asthma risk.
Even kids who took the painkiller just once a year had a 60 percent higher rate of asthma -- and it's not just kids at risk here. Dr. John McBride writes in Pediatrics that other studies have found that adults who take this painkiller can quickly suffer the lung-robbing consequences.
On the other hand, Dr. McBride suggests ibuprofen as a potential replacement, despite the fact that it can also worsen asthma -- especially in the estimated 20 percent of patients who are sensitive to NSAIDs.
These aren't the only meds that can knock the wind out of your sails -- as I just told you, statins can dramatically worsen your symptoms, force you to use more meds and even cause you to lose sleep. (Read about it here.)
Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors can also leave you feeling as if you've just been kicked in the chest by a donkey -- along with any number of other meds, which is why it's especially important for asthmatics to work with a doc who won't be quick with the prescription pad.
My prescription: A naturopathic physician who can get you off the meds you don't need and even help you live without that inhaler.
Breathing easy,
William Campbell Douglass II, M.D
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