Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
How Can I Manage Asthma Effectively Without Taking Addictive Painkillers?
Question: I'm 24 years old. I have had asthma since I was a child, but it has gotten worse in the past three years. Since 2011, I have had multiple bouts of bronchitis that turned into pneumonia. This past year, I have had bronchitis/pneumonia for over 12 weeks with a productive cough that lasts even longer. I also have had pleurisy twice in the past three years. Each time I have bronchitis/pneumonia, my asthma becomes much worse (more attacks and almost a constant feeling short of breath/wheezing). I have ended up in Urgent Care multiple times during each of these illnesses. I use Proair, Qvar, and Advair (Advair does not seem to work as well for me as it used to) and have gone on antibiotics and steroids during each illness. The main suggestions from my doctors were to take preventative measures (washing my hands, eating right, etc.), avoid people respiratory illnesses (but I work with young students), and if I do get a respiratory infection, go on bed rest and go to the doctor if it gets worse. I already exercise, eat healthy, and wash my hands/clean everything religiously. Are there any other preventative measures I can take? I'd like to stay at my current job with the kids, even though that does expose me to more illnesses. What is a realistic outlook for me (will my asthma/risk of infections most likely continue to get worse as I age)? And is it likely that I will develop pleurisy again, and if so, how can I prevent it or manage it more effectively without taking addictive painkillers?
Brief Answer:
You have to be consistent with your treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear,
You do seem to be having a lot of trouble with your asthma.
Asthma is an allergic disorder with known exacerbations from time to time as you are also experiencing. These are caused by infections like URTI, pneumonia etc.
You are also taking the correct line of treatment. But I`ll suggest that you have to be consistent with your treatment and you have to continue your inhalers even when you are absolutely alright because these are preventive inhalers which have to be continued for optimal outcome.
Advair is the most important preventive inhaler but since you say that it`s not very effective, you may try foracort/forair which are equally effective. You take them regularly for a period of 3 months and then it can be tapered off. The technique of taking the inhalers should also be correct as otherwise it`s a waste. Consult your local pulmonologist for the correct technique.
Since your immunity seems to be weak, you may consider taking influenza and pneumonia vaccine to prevent repeated attacks of respiratory tract infections.
Do some deep breathing exercises and go out in the fresh air.
You just need to optimize your treatment and I`m sure you will be benefitted.
You have to be consistent with your treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear,
You do seem to be having a lot of trouble with your asthma.
Asthma is an allergic disorder with known exacerbations from time to time as you are also experiencing. These are caused by infections like URTI, pneumonia etc.
You are also taking the correct line of treatment. But I`ll suggest that you have to be consistent with your treatment and you have to continue your inhalers even when you are absolutely alright because these are preventive inhalers which have to be continued for optimal outcome.
Advair is the most important preventive inhaler but since you say that it`s not very effective, you may try foracort/forair which are equally effective. You take them regularly for a period of 3 months and then it can be tapered off. The technique of taking the inhalers should also be correct as otherwise it`s a waste. Consult your local pulmonologist for the correct technique.
Since your immunity seems to be weak, you may consider taking influenza and pneumonia vaccine to prevent repeated attacks of respiratory tract infections.
Do some deep breathing exercises and go out in the fresh air.
You just need to optimize your treatment and I`m sure you will be benefitted.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Hello Dr. Dangwal,
Thank you for your response. I will discuss forair and the pneumonia vaccine with my doctor (I already get the influenza vaccine every fall).
Because I have been consistent with my treatment and using preventative measures, is there another reason that my asthma is getting worse (like could there be another condition that is contributing to my symptoms/frequent infections)? One of the urgent care doctors called it chronic asthmatic bronchitis, but when I look that up online, it looks like it is only found in much older patients.
Are there other treatment ideas I can use along with the inhalers when my asthma symptoms become worse? I really need to keep my job and I can't afford to keep taking time off for my breathing issues/infections.
Of course there is no way of knowing, but does asthma typically become worse as one ages? Will I need to prepare for possibly making a career change to try to prevent infections?
Thank you for your response. I will discuss forair and the pneumonia vaccine with my doctor (I already get the influenza vaccine every fall).
Because I have been consistent with my treatment and using preventative measures, is there another reason that my asthma is getting worse (like could there be another condition that is contributing to my symptoms/frequent infections)? One of the urgent care doctors called it chronic asthmatic bronchitis, but when I look that up online, it looks like it is only found in much older patients.
Are there other treatment ideas I can use along with the inhalers when my asthma symptoms become worse? I really need to keep my job and I can't afford to keep taking time off for my breathing issues/infections.
Of course there is no way of knowing, but does asthma typically become worse as one ages? Will I need to prepare for possibly making a career change to try to prevent infections?
Brief Answer:
It is only inadequately controlled asthma.
Detailed Answer:
Parawise answers to your queries:
Do discuss about pneumovacc with your PCP.
It is unlikely that any other condition is making your symptoms worse. It is only inadequately controlled asthma. Chronic asthmatic bronchitis is just a misnomer and it is nothing but asthma. I do hope you have got a x ray chest and spirometry done. If there is anything in chest xray, then a CT chest may be got done.
When asthma symptoms worsen, a short course of oral steroids can be taken after consulting your PCP. I hope you are taking montair lc on a regular basis as this is also a preventive medicine. During exacerbations you may also try doxophyllin.
It`s difficult to predict how your asthma will behave with advancing age. Every person has a different course of action. But generally it is seen that it becomes little more troublesome .
It is only inadequately controlled asthma.
Detailed Answer:
Parawise answers to your queries:
Do discuss about pneumovacc with your PCP.
It is unlikely that any other condition is making your symptoms worse. It is only inadequately controlled asthma. Chronic asthmatic bronchitis is just a misnomer and it is nothing but asthma. I do hope you have got a x ray chest and spirometry done. If there is anything in chest xray, then a CT chest may be got done.
When asthma symptoms worsen, a short course of oral steroids can be taken after consulting your PCP. I hope you are taking montair lc on a regular basis as this is also a preventive medicine. During exacerbations you may also try doxophyllin.
It`s difficult to predict how your asthma will behave with advancing age. Every person has a different course of action. But generally it is seen that it becomes little more troublesome .
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
