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.

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Lungs & Respiration
/ Asthma Support Group

Fatigue

thp636
thp636
Can fatigue cause you to be more vulnerable to an asthma attack? At work recently I have noticed that I react far more severely to trigger exposure later in my work week. (4th or 5th day)

Or could the triggers have a cumulative affect?
Maybe exposure to small amounts of chemical wear down my resistance after a few days. Or maybe its
a week's worth of stress.

I always feel much better after a couple of days off.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Stress, fatigue and continual exposure to triggers can all worsen asthma.

The best thing to do is to control whatever factors you can as much as possible, if this possible at all.
thp636
thp636
Oh wonderful. It sounds like a triple whammy.

I am just really run down at the end of the week.At that point just about anything it seems will set me off.

I hope that the weather breaks soon so I can start walking/hiking or something to build up my stamina.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The more that you are exposed to a trigger the more likely you are that you will react to it. Some triggers are threshold triggers which means as long as you stay below the allergy threshold there is little to no reaction but repeat exposure to threshold allergies over days weeks or months increases the chances of triggering an asthma attack. Every time you go over your threshold increases the likelihood that your threshold will be lower the next time. Plus, when you are already fatigued then the added energy that it takes to breath makes the symptoms of an attack worse because you do not have the extra energy to put into breathing.
thp636
thp636
I did not want to revisit this issue but I seem to be stuck on a merry go round. As I work I get tired then I have attacks. the attacks make me more tired which causes the possibility of more attacks. A self perpetuating cycle.

I really can't afford to retire yet so I hope my pulmonary doctor and I can work out a plan.

I don't really expect a solution to this. I guess I'm only venting. thanks for your patience.
tom