Can ignoring asthma symptoms cause permanent damage?

Question

I have broncho spasms when it is cold. But I dont mind the small coughs very much. I'm not a fan of taking medicine, I believe it is over used in this society and I should put it in my body unless i seriously need it. I know the symptoms will subisde in a couple hours on its own. If i simply dont take the medicine, such as a resuce inhaler, will there be any effects, or damage to my lungs?

Answer 1

I am an asthma sufferer, and have been for almost thirty years.
I would say if you can go without medication then do so, because if you really did need to use it and you were seriously gasping for air, then you would take it. You wont come to any harm if you dont take it, but, if you do get into any serious difficulties, then you must give in and take your medication. It is there to keep you out of danger. I am assuming that you have a preventer and a reliever........I tend to use my preventer minimaly, and just enough to stop me using the reliever.
In answer to your question.....no i dont think your lungs will be damaged, but, if you do have an attack of asthma, and you try to ignore it, this in turn can make your asthma worse, and the long term effects could be damage, or a serious visit to the emergency room....
Take care, and wrap up in the cold weather......hope this helps

Answer 2

If you don't treat your asthma, it'll just get worse. A living, somehow breathing example is my brother, whose asthma is also triggered by exposure to cold air, among other things. If you let your lungs take this abuse (that's what it is) and forgo rescue inhalers and/or preventative medicines, your lungs will basically give up.
Beware of some types of rescue inhaler, too; Freon is often used as a propellant and if cold is a trigger, it'll just make the attack worse.
Even if it doesn't bother you now, when it gets to the point where you'll be walking down the street and collapse from lack of oxygen, I'm sure then you'll be bothered. Even a couple hours on depleted oxygen resources can be permanently damaging.
I recommend carrying an inhaler on your person at all times (you never know when you'll develop another trigger) and taking some form of preventative measure. And just because people are always looking for a miracle pill doesn't mean real problems should go untreated.

Addendum: I'm sure two minutes of a bitter taste in your mouth is better than two hours of coughing and wheezing.

To further pound it into your head: If you, God forbid, have to go to the hospital on account of an asthma attack, be warned that your two-hour inconvenience can turn into a six-hour nightmare in the waiting room. An ounce of prevention...

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I feel your pain. I've had asthma for 14 years now and have seen several doctors. The truth is, there is no known cure for asthma at the moment. But the symptoms can be prevented. It really depends on what causes your brother's asthma. Mine is usually dust and hot weather. But I think the universal method is using the control inhaler.

I cured my Asthma the natural way?

Answer 5

Symptoms of asthma (or any disease) shouldn't be ignored. The fact that you have bronchospasms in cold weather means that your lungs don't function well in cold air. Today's mild bronchospasm could be tomorrow's full-blown and potentially fatal asthma attack. And yes, untreated, asthma can permanently damage your lungs.
Lynne,RN

Answer 6

Hi ... me too. I'm glad you asked, since when I told my doctor about the cold-weather wheezing and coughing, he basically brushed past it, since I haven't had a full asthma attack. According to him (and I suggest you ask your own doc too), he can give me an inhaler I use 15 minutes before the attack, which is kind of silly since one never really knows until one hits the cold weather. So he told me to avoid rushing in the cold. (Love the answer ... ) So I'm not sure if this helps, but some of these folks love to exaggerate -- just thought my experience might shed some light in a different way. Have a great day!

Answer 7

Dear asker ... Well first of all you should know that most of medical personnel do not prescribe nor give medications without a good treating reason.

And well if you are having broncho-spastic attacks due to cold air exposure, that may be means you have a mild degree of asthma, in which treatment is divided to many steps

a- behavioral and psychological : stop smocking and its exposure too, avoid the precipitating factor ( as for you its exposure to cold), and many other measures.

b- drugs ( which varies according to the condition and the severity) from inhalers to steroids.

and well for your simply ignore the condition and the attacks ... it may get worse and there are many consequences that varies with the annoying attacks, inability to breath, loss of consciousness ........ to permanent brain damage due to insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain .... and death in cases of irreversible resistant status asthmaticus .

But first and last the decision is for the G.P. or the specialist that you should see.

All my good wishes for you to get well and have a good health
Good luck

Answer 8

rescue inhalers, asthma meds, they are taken, to promote dilation of your airways, decrease secretions...thus enough oxygenation for your whole system. it's really up to you if u can suffer with broncho spasm and don't mind the wheezing....but u have to bear in mind that there will always be that attack that could be fatal. also, with not enough air going to your lungs....for two hours....ur body will learn to compensate which might not be a good thing......plus in 2 hours that u don't have enough oxygen to your brain.....the permanent damage might be on ur brain cells... there are times that u have to be proactive when dealing with your body, hey, u got only one, take care of it.

Answer 9

DONT IGNORE SYMPTOMS. Asthma can be fatal in some cases.

Answer 10

Asthma can cause emphysema, but your condition does not seem a cause of concern.