Definition of Asthma

[SongsOfDragons]

Hello peeps and those more educated than me...I have a medical query (no it's not for advice, fear not!)

My housemate has asthma. She wheezes sometimes; stairs, distance walking and hills can be a right nuisance, her coughs sound like WW3 and her breathing is off. I might be exaggerating, but it's not as clear as mine who doesn't have asthma. She has a Ventolin (salbutamol) inhaler which she carries everywhere and uses as necessary, which as it's now getting colder is at least once a week ish. Most of the time she's fine, but she has triggers which set her off needing her puffer - aerosols, smoke, exertion etc.

She's got a chest infection which I'm playing nursemaid for. Now she has panic attacks and I was so worried this morning that I made an appointment to see the nurse, lovely woman who was able to calm the Emsie down and we went back home. But there was an issue which made her a little upset; because she's not on Becatide (sp? the brown preventative inhalers) the surgery deem her 'not asthmatic'.

She has a family history of asthma - her grandfather and mother both have it and for them it has got worse as they've got older. They have both been placed on Becatide, though they both have other medical issues too. She has attacks; she had one yesterday in the middle of Sainsburys for which we had to call the First-Aider (who was dressed in an awesome black and red Vampire outfit for the day ^^). I know for things like epilepsy one can have seizures and not be epileptic unless they meet certain other criteria.

She thinks this exculsion because she is not needing the preventative is ridiculous. I, who always tends to argue dialectics/to reach a common ground, thinks it may be for data purposes or something. But why is this definition in place, and what does it mean for her? It's a lot of conflicting information as she has the symptoms and half the meds but not the name. What's the truth?

[BlaqueKatt]

She thinks this exclusion because she is not needing the preventative is ridiculous.

It is, there is not just one "type" of asthma. Nor is there just one "type" of medication for it. I had "stress induced asthma", only brought on by cold weather and exercise, I eventually grew out of it. Though at one point it was bad enough that I had 4 different inhalers(all different medicines in them). My husband has asthma that he takes a steroid preventative inhaler for, has a rescue inhaler for sudden attacks, and his is made worse by illness or allergies. My niece takes tablets to control it and daily nebulizer treatments, she seldom uses her rescue inhaler.

[Seshat]

I have asthma: as in, if I do a breathing test, my volume flow displays an asthmatic pattern.

I do not need medication for it. My overall breathing volume is high enough that even during an attack, I'm in no danger of dying.

This doesn't mean I don't have asthma. I do. It's just not clinically significant asthma.

[Andara Bledin]

But there was an issue which made her a little upset; because she's not on Becatide (sp? the brown preventative inhalers) the surgery deem her 'not asthmatic'.

This is probably something that means a lot more based on context.

What is the criteria by which they classify it and for what purpose? Knowing the answers to those questions could make a major difference.

^-.-^

[42_42_42]

When I get bronchitis I don't get regular bronchitis, I get asthematic bronchitis. At least that's what my doctor called it and put me on an inhaler. Fortunately, I haven't had it since I was a teen. Up until I graduated from college, I had a bout of it at least once a year and more usually 2 or 3 times a year.

[auroravoldemort]

Agreed with the previous posters, there are varying degrees of asthma. I have asthma, but I'd say it's pretty mild compared to other asthmatics I've known. I take a low dose of the "brown" (preventer) inhaler every day, which usually keeps it under control, and I take my Ventolin as and when I need it (usually at the gym, if it's cold out, someone smoking near me etc.).

Sounds like your housemate needs a preventer, and fast, although I'm not a doctor, just an asthma sufferer. My best advice would be to get her to see a doctor and explain her symptoms, and suggest the preventer as an option. All I do know is that taking the Ventolin frequently, and using it as a substitute for a preventer is a BAD idea. Hope your housemate gets the help she needs!

[tropicsgoddess]

Some people have more milder or severe asthma than others. My baby sis D has had asthma since she was 4 years old, her asthma is mild but there are times here or there when it's cold or when she has her bad days she has to use the nebulizer (which she hates) either with Albuterol drops or Broncho-Saline. Then there's my old neighbor K who's asthma is worse than my sisters and there's been tons of times where she's had to go to the hospital for her attacks. She should get with her doctor about the meds to see what's right for her, chest ailments plus asthma isn't exactly a good combo.

[rose_metal_nz]

Sounds like your housemate needs a preventer, and fast, although I'm not a doctor, just an asthma sufferer. My best advice would be to get her to see a doctor and explain her symptoms, and suggest the preventer as an option. All I do know is that taking the Ventolin frequently, and using it as a substitute for a preventer is a BAD idea. Hope your housemate gets the help she needs!

THIS. Absolutely sounds to me like she needs it. My mum got diagnosed with asthma, my daughter got diagnosed.. But when they diagnosed me, I stubbornly refused to believe you could "just get it". To me, asthma was something the kids at school used to use to get out of PE
But since I've relented & "allowed" them, the preventative inhaler (ours are different colours *shrugs*) is an absolute boon during winter, and I carry my ventolin with my everywhere (handbag FTW!) just in case. Has been helpful more than once - with me, I never know what will just set me off.

Strongly recommend your flatmate gets a preventer.