| As a chronic asthma sufferer since I was a toddler, | | | | usually do. Some non-asthmatics think it is |
| I've tried most every treatment in the book. I have | | | | psychosomatic, but it's really incredible to have a |
| exercised induced asthma, allergic response asthma, | | | | major problem at someone's house, go home, take a |
| and stress induced asthma. From the maintenance | | | | shower and change your clothes. You'll be fine an |
| and rescue medications all chronic asthmatics are | | | | hour or so. If I am at home, where there are no |
| familiar with, to allergy shots, chiropractic, | | | | pets at all, I can go days without taking allergy |
| aromatherapy, breathing exercises and others, all | | | | medication. |
| with little or no relief. | | | | It becomes a social issue at some point as well. You |
| The exercise induced asthma is probably the easiest | | | | are invited to a friend's for dinner. I have to ask if |
| to control. Know your limits, and follow your doctors | | | | they have a cat, as I am very allergic. "Yes we do, |
| advice. Some inhaler medications which are taken | | | | but I keep a very clean house, and we'll keep it in |
| 10-15 minutes before exercise can help a great deal, | | | | the basement." In the meantime, all that dander is still |
| but don't overdo it. Stress is a bit harder to control, | | | | in the air, on the furniture cushions, on your host's |
| but we try to stay out of stressful situations, if | | | | clothing and hands. It doesn't need to be in proximity |
| that's possible! But we find some relief in common | | | | of the animal to be present. Of course you don't |
| prescription sedatives. I'll get to the other type of | | | | want to be rude to your hosts, but everyone you |
| asthma in a moment, but attacks which occur while | | | | know needs to be aware of the fact that this |
| exercising or under stress, can be effectively | | | | condition can and does kill people. |
| controlled by some asthmatics using special breathing | | | | The cleaning issue? Vacuuming, dusting, fans and |
| techniques. | | | | sweeping only serve to move the dander around and |
| The third type, which I find to be the most | | | | make it airborne again. There are some household |
| frightening, and is the most deadly, is allergy induced | | | | and commercial air cleaners and filters out there that |
| asthma. Allergy tests at your physician's office can | | | | do a fine job, but nothing is perfect. They won't |
| help identify most of the common allergens. A special | | | | remove the dander from clothing, carpets and |
| serum is made, and through a series of shots over a | | | | furniture. The best prevention is to just stay away. |
| period of time, the body's increased immunity to | | | | The new allergy sprays for carpeting, furniture, and |
| allergens can be quite helpful for many people. The | | | | even the animal itself are just temporary solutions, |
| most effective immunities seem to be certain types | | | | and I'm not sure if they work anyway. "Oh, but it's a |
| of plants, trees and grasses. Less effective are for | | | | short haired cat..." It doesn't matter. |
| food and chemical allergies, both man made and | | | | I've had to pass up potentially good relationships over |
| natural. | | | | animals, I've inadvertently hurt feelings because of |
| The least effective treatments, and the ones that | | | | them, I don't get asked to friend's houses who I've |
| bother me and a large percentage of the asthmatic | | | | told about the problem. Now, I still have a great social |
| population are the pet allergies. It's not the fur that | | | | life with many friends, but we go out, or they come |
| causes the problem, as most non-asthma people | | | | to my house. |
| think, but the dander. Dander is microscopic flakes of | | | | The point of this is education of the people around |
| skin that float around in the air and settle down | | | | you and those you associate with. Even meeting |
| eventually. Sort of like dandruff in people. | | | | someone new should know if you invited to their |
| Cats seem to be the worst offenders, less so with | | | | home. With a little tact, it is very easy to let people |
| dogs, but if I spend any more than 10-15 minutes in a | | | | know without hurting their feelings. They should |
| house with even one cat, and I am not pumped up | | | | know the potential dangers of what you face every |
| with allergy medication, I'm doomed. I need to take | | | | day, and not put you in a position that makes you ill |
| two popular 24-hour prescription allergy medications, | | | | or uncomfortable. They'll tell you about all the new |
| one in the morning and evening. Twice the | | | | medications they've heard of, and even |
| recommended dosage. Even then, I still will need to | | | | hypoallergenic cats. But you know what? I'm |
| use my rescue inhaler 3 to 4 times as often as I | | | | perfectly fine without one. |