Lupus Support Group
Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.
A few words of advice and warning.
I don't know how many of you have experienced asthma attacks, but I know that many of us are experiencing unusually cold weather these days. Here in Florida we have had days with wind chills in the 20s and freezing temps at night for a solid month. It's ridiculous.
Breathing cold air can bring on asthma attacks. Before this cold spell I used my emergency inhaler maybe once or twice a year, when I was exposed to mold in an office or something. My asthma was really about gone, although I never felt comfortable without having an emergency inhaler (albuterol) around.
The past month I have had several attacks. If you've never had one, they feel like this: your airways (bronchial tubes, top of chest) feel constricted, and when you try to EXHALE deeply you wheeze and cough.
You need to stop this reaction before it gets worse. The good news is there's an easy way to do it. Have benadryl tablets and coffee in the house. Even if you don't drink coffee usually. Coffee (with caffeine; decaf won't work) is a natural bronchodilator--it will open your airways. Taken with benadryl, you will stop the problem before it gets to be an emergency.
(Again, only caffeinated coffee will do it; there isn't enough cafffeine in Coke or any other soft drink)
Asthma can be very scary, especially if you don't know what's happening. Have the benadryl and coffee around in case it happens to you.
After you have felt constriction or had the wheezing/coughing when exhaling, get your doctor to prescribe an emergency inhaler like albuterol.
I don't know how many of you have experienced asthma attacks, but I know that many of us are experiencing unusually cold weather these days. Here in Florida we have had days with wind chills in the 20s and freezing temps at night for a solid month. It's ridiculous.
Breathing cold air can bring on asthma attacks. Before this cold spell I used my emergency inhaler maybe once or twice a year, when I was exposed to mold in an office or something. My asthma was really about gone, although I never felt comfortable without having an emergency inhaler (albuterol) around.
The past month I have had several attacks. If you've never had one, they feel like this: your airways (bronchial tubes, top of chest) feel constricted, and when you try to EXHALE deeply you wheeze and cough.
You need to stop this reaction before it gets worse. The good news is there's an easy way to do it. Have benadryl tablets and coffee in the house. Even if you don't drink coffee usually. Coffee (with caffeine; decaf won't work) is a natural bronchodilator--it will open your airways. Taken with benadryl, you will stop the problem before it gets to be an emergency.
(Again, only caffeinated coffee will do it; there isn't enough cafffeine in Coke or any other soft drink)
Asthma can be very scary, especially if you don't know what's happening. Have the benadryl and coffee around in case it happens to you.
After you have felt constriction or had the wheezing/coughing when exhaling, get your doctor to prescribe an emergency inhaler like albuterol.
Albuterol is for emergencies only, and I use it maybe 3 or 4 times a year at most.
I directed my post to people who have never suffered asthma and wouldn't recognize it. The coffee/benadryl trick worked at a dog show I attended when a young woman suddenly had problems. Evidently she was allergic to one of the dog breeds. She felt so much better she didn't have to leave.
Of course anyone having it bad should see a doctor to see if they need to be on a daily steroid inhaler.