My Brother-in law Skip, just died from asthma last Friday. We got the shocking call yesterday from my husband's older brother Dave. Skip would have been 70 on May 21st. Unfortunately Asthma runs in my side of the family too, I lost my Uncle (my father's brother) many years ago to Asthma. I have Asthma, my daughter has Asthma and also my Grandaughter Ashley has it. Luckily mine is not real severe, but my daughter's and Ashley's is very bad. Both my daughter and Ashley are on medication to control it.
Asthma is a respiratory disease caused by allergy, resulting in spasm and constriction of bronchial passages and swelling of the mucous lining, obstruction of breathing, and severe paroxysms of coughing and audible wheezing. It is the same type of hypersensitivity as Hay Fever, but in asthma the allergic reaction occurs in the bronchi, not in the nasal passages. Bronchial asthma and hay fever occur at the same time in many people.
Asthma is caused by the same agents as hay fever, and to a lesser degree, by foods like eggs, shellfish, nuts and chocolate. Some times ingestion of drugs may trigger an asthma attack. Another type of asthma, known as infective asthma, is caused by infections of the adenoids, sinuses, or tonsils.
Many people, don't realize that asthma can be a killer. If you have asthma or think you have it, please take care of it. See your doctor, take your medication as prescribed, and try to avoid triggers (which is some times impossible.)
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Comments: 109
Yes, a lot of people act like allergies and asthma are nothing. I think I've had someone tell me at least once that you can't die from asthma. Hello! If you can't breathe, you can die.
I understand the hurt and suffering, and I hope that your family and you will have the strength to remember all of the good, and wonderful moments in Skip's life. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I also suffer from asthma,and at times it is really hard to live with, but I past it on to my sons, and my youngest has had to be rushed to the hospital more times than I can count.
I have asthma. I spent a lot of school days in the little oxygen tent in the hospital and as an adult have had many "visits" to the emergency room due to anaphylaxis.
I am never without my inhaler and Epi-Pen.
I hope that this might make you smile.....at one point my attacks were so frequent that 911 had a note to ask me where my dog was when I called. He would get very upset when I was having an attack and didn't understand that the paramedics were there to help me. He would plant himself next to me and growl at them when they tried to get near me. It was never funny then, but it has made me laugh since.
Again, my thoughts are with you and yours:)
I have a lot of triggers, The main one being rabbits. Me petting a rabbit can put me in the hospital in a blink.
People who think its necessary to take a bath in colone, expecally those little old ladys i pass in the store I wonder if they realize the are a walking plague to those of us that have asthma.
And my biggest gripes is the smokers. You know the ones, they light up in the non-smoking areas or stand outside the doors of businesses trying to get that last puff as if their life depends on it. Well mine depends on you not getting that last puff at the door. Their little bit of joy in that last puff can send me into a downward spiral and need weeks of high powered medication that packs the weight on like mad. One day that medication may not work...and then your last puff may cause someone to take their last breath. That last breath could be someones child. Id just like all of those that smoke to think about that. Before lighting up in public.
thanks for the boot to the behind (I think)
I had two asthma attacks in my life, once when we had new carpeting put in our house, the second time when we bought our new trailer. I think both times the attacks were triggered by the chemicals used in the manufacture of carpet. I really thought I was going to suffocate from not being able to breathe. It was very scary to go through. Thank you for the reminders and warnings.
thanks for the reminders
Thank you again!
On my side and on my husband's side of the family, allergies run wild. My husband and I are tne ONLY left-handers in our families and also the ONLY ones without allergies.
I only came down with asthma after an episode of severe pneumonia more than 10 years ago. I was on inhalers for months; now, the cold boncho spasm does not bother me much, nor do most triggers, though I avoid down pillows.
I have infective asthma, trouble only when I am run down and come down with a severe cold/bronchitis.
Then I must go on prednisone and rest. This is what happened this week.
I was on prednisone a couple of times 10 years ago, and not again until the last year, when I allowed myself to get run down at work and on Gather. This past week has been the fourth time in a year I've had to go on prednisone. Fortunately, prednisone works great and so do the antibiotics. If I slept enough, I'm certain I would not come down with bronchitis; I'm certain I would get a cold, only. It is up to me to see that I maintain my control over the asthma.
Thanks for this most important advice and information.
Sorry about your brother in law. As I am 55, I have much to think seriously about during the rest of my decades here on earth.
Thanks for posting this reminder in the memory of your brother - in-law. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Best wishes to all of you.
Thanks for telling others about asthma...most people don't know how serious asthma is or can be. Again, I'm really sorry for your loss.
You are kind to let us know these medical facts. Thank you.
i take zyrtec and singulair..I did not know how bad my breathing was until I started singulair...that stuff really clears my lungs...and makes mild colds a lot shorter and easier to take!
asthmaattack.gather.com
God Bless and stay well!
Says Debi as she passes Trudy the box of tissues.
This brings to mind; that our school willnot let the children carry their inhaler. The inhaler has to stay in the office even with a doctors note; what at they thinking.
My youngest son has asthma and now that he is 29 will not take all of his medication and will not go to his allergist anymore, it greives me because he has had many scares, sending him to the hospital.
Thank you for the article andinformation, hopefully I will be able to get him to read it.
many blessings
Asthma this time of year gives me the blues. Be Blessed Love.
I also have asthma and I agree that people do not necessarily understand how serious it can be. Thank you for taking the time to express the true nature of asthma.
My sympathies are with you and your family!
My thoughts are with you all.
I actually thought I had asthma as a child, but recently, I started noticing a correlation between times I would wake up choking on reflux and my subsequent asthma attacks. I did some research and found that sometimes, esophageal spasm and reflux can be mistaken for asthma. I talked to my doctor and got on medication for the reflux and voila, the asthma disappeared. I have, since, had an asthma attack caused by allergies, but it isn't anywhere near as severe as when I would inhale regurgitated stomach acid when I was sleeping. So, my point is, you need to be aware of everything your body is doing because sometimes, there are other factors and it's important to find your specific triggers and especially for older adults, if you've had a worsening of your asthma and can look back and see that you also have had a worsening of your gastroesophageal reflux disease, there may be more of a correlation between those two things than you know. And, treating the GERD could reduce your asthma symptoms remarkably!
Thank you for posting this valuable information. I had asthma as a child.
Healing thoughts sent your way.
Wishing you laughter and healing, Dearheart.
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Thankyou for this great information.
TAKE CARE-BILL