The trials of living with undiagnosed asthma
A colleague once recognised me by my cough when I walked past; he didn’t even have to look up. By then, I’d been annoying colleagues for years with my chronic chesty cough.
There was nothing to be done, according to a string of GPs over the years. Two asthma tests were negative and that was the end of it. No one ever prescribed an inhaler, or any sort of relief.
One GP even told me I was a hypochondriac when I insisted I had asthma or something like it.
So I’d carry around a great big bottle of Harker Herbals Deep Lung Support, made here in New Zealand, and swig it to open my chest – I’m sure people thought I was an alcoholic. As the only thing that cleared my lungs for a few hours, it became my best friend at work, out on jobs and in my cold rental unit.
Eventually, after insisting, I was referred to a respiratory specialist who agreed with what my body already knew: Asthma. He told me the active ingredient used in the asthma tests at the hospital expired after a certain time and, even though he kept reminding them to check this, that often didn’t happen. I was prescribed two inhalers.
It’s been about 11 years since my diagnosis, and I no longer rely on inhalers all that much. Several lifestyle changes contributed to this, I believe. The first was moving from beautiful but damp Waikato to Auckland (and my cough returns the minute I return there). The second was taking up swimming, which seemed to support my lungs.
These days, I often forget I have asthma. The biggest change? Adopting a whole-foods, plant-based diet. This seems to have improved my chest health so much that I mostly reach for my inhaler now when I have seasonal allergies and forget about it the rest of the time.
I’m glad to be breathing easy again. And I’m proud to have learned to listen to my body, take control of my own health and stand up to medical experts.
ASTHMA: THE STATISTICS
Asthma is a fact of life for many Kiwis, with more of us likely to be hospitalised for asthma in any given year than most other OECD countries. One in seven children (13%) aged between two and 14 – that’s 110,000 children – and one in eight adults (12%, or 452,000 adults) report taking current asthma medication. Pacific and Mā ori adults (aged 15 – 49 years) are approximately three times more likely to be admitted to hospital with asthma than European/other.
STRESS & EMOTIONS
I’ve always noticed that I’m more likely to have asthma-like symptoms like a coughing fit while I’m trying to brush my teeth, when I’m super stressed about the day ahead. And there is evidence of a link between asthma, anxiety and depression, though the outcomes are not always consistent. We do know our breathing changes when we have strong emotions. This causes muscles to tighten or your breathing rate to increase, which is why strong emotions can be an asthma trigger. Fear, anger, yelling and crying can all trigger asthma, but so can ‘positive’ emotions like laughter and excitement. We all know the stereotype of the nerdy guy reaching for his inhaler when he sees the object of his affection. Emotions aren’t wrong and we shouldn’t shy away from feeling or expressing them in a healthy way, but if certain emotions are a trigger for you, you may want to talk to your doctor about ways to handle the situation.
OTHER COMMON TRIGGERS
Tree pollen; grass; dust mites; weed pollen; cockroaches; animal dander; strong odours from perfumes, candles, or other scented products; smoke; the flu; chemical fumes; upper respiratory infections; rigorous exercise; extreme weather conditions, such as dryness or humidity.
EASY LIFESTYLE TWEAKS
■ Exercise right. Do warm-up and cool-down exercises 5-10 minutes before and after strenuous exercise.
■ Avoid heartburn. This burning sensation in the chest is called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and is a common asthma trigger. Avoid foods that give you heartburn and limit alcohol. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated also helps.
■ Stay on top of house dust. Vacuum regularly with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtered vacuum; cover pillows and mattresses with dust-mite-proof linen; limit upholstered furniture and soft toys.
■ Get rid of cockroaches. Their droppings contain potent allergens. Repair water leaks and use traps and baits, as sprays can irritate airways.
■ Look for the Blue Butterfly. This Asthma Foundation approved tick makes it easy to buy products that are easier on your chest. For approved brands, see sensitivechoice.com
■ Get your funded flu vaccine.
A NEW APPROACH
New findings could change how we treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and reverse the key hallmarks of inflammatory lung disease, say scientists led by Leicester and Glasgow universities. The approach centres on the activation of a protein, FFA4, found in the gut and pancreas where it responds to dietary fats including the fish oil omega 3. Activated, it is known to help control blood glucose levels. Surprisingly, the researchers found FFA4 in human lungs. By designing drugs that activate it in the lung, they found the muscle surrounding the airways relaxes, letting more air enter the lung. They also found that FFA4 activators reduced inflammation caused by exposure of mice to pollution, cigarette smoke, and allergens like house dust mites that cause asthma.