Mild allergy-based asthma?

Question

I have self-diagnosed this, admittedly, but basically I have a persistent mild cough that disappears entirely if I leave the city for a week or so, and which gets far worse when I'm exposed to smoke/fumes, etc. What I want to know is this: am I right to not seek medical attention over this? Please only answer if you have good reason for an opinion - no knee-jerk responses, please.

Answer 1

being a nurse i would advise that you check this out with your GP as he may suggest you have an inhaler if you usually live in a smokey area

Answer 2

Asthma is an allergy and is triggered by something. The best non medication treatment for asthma is learning your triggers and avoiding them. Common triggers are smoke, dust, mold, mildew, plants, dust mites, pets and grass/weeds.

If you can not figure our your triggers, you may need to see an allergist and have allergy screening done. This may point out your triggers.

The National Asthma Prevention Program and the Expert Panel of Diagnosis and Management of Asthma both agree if you have to use a prescription inhaler such as albuterol more then two time per week, your asthma is NOT in control and you will need a prescription controller medication.

Controller medications are steroids (Asthmacort Asthmanex, Flovent, Pulmocort), Leukotriene modifier (Singulair, Aculade, Zyflo) or mast cell stabilizers (Cromolyn sodium, Intal, Tilade).

You may want to talk to your doctor about several strong controller medications and maybe Xolair shots.

If you want a proven, all-natural way to cure your asthma, without having to pay for useless medications with harmful side-effects, then this is the most important page you'll ever read.

Answer 3

Tip, If you have allergies go into an a/c room. While your in their if you stop coughing it could be a mild Asthma. You can sort some things out yourself. If you go to a doctor it will be 90% guess work. He will put you on a steroid and inhaler which is not really solving the problem. Asthma is no just a cough but you would have some uneasiness in you lungs such as pressure & mucous. The coughing is usually to clear your lungs.
I have a few questions.
1) Do you have a pet
2) Do you live in a clean enviroment
3) Plants in the house
4) Molds in the cellar

Answer 4

Go and see a doctor this week! It does sounds like the mild asthma i had, caused by pollution and irritants/allergies. I was glad to get an inhaler or preventer as i think it was called but you may be suffering from a chest infection or something else. The doc may give you anti biotics instead, but if the cough is annoying you, you should get it checked out so you can do what is best and can feel well again.

Answer 5

I am not sure that you have asthma, but definitely alergic which can develop into asthma. I know because I put off going to the doctor and my allergies developed into asthma. Asthma intailes shortness of breath mostly. If you go see an alergist they will do testing which involves some tiny injections of possible alergins and see if you are alergic to them. If so then you can avoid those things or take medication to lesson the effect of them if you have to be exposed to them and hopefully catch it before you become asthmatic if you aren't already, and if you are that can be controlled too.

Answer 6

It does sound like you are having respiratory problems due to either smog or some other environmental cause. You could have bronchitis, asthma or it can be more serious. I know you do not want to hear this but see your doctor. He can do an allergy screen on you to see if it is allergies and treat it and if it is something else he can treat that too. Go see him and stop trying to diagnose yourself. You want to feel better right?

Answer 7

You are probably right that you have allergies caused by polluted air, dust, smoke and fumes. However a chronic cough should always be checked out. It can be symptoms of other conditions, i.e., emphysema or acid reflux, to name a couple. If you are being plagued by a persistent cough and even if it is caused by allergies, there are medication regiments that the doctor can give you that can help you get this under control. Good luck.

Answer 8

Get your condition diagnosed properly by a doctor and then seek remedies.

If you have Asthma then I would strongly recommend that you read a book on Buteyko breathing techniques. I suffered from Asthma for over 30 years and used inhalers to little effect. Inhalers on treat the symptoms and not the underlying condition.

Answer 9

Fine air particulates. It is figured in as a part of the air quality/pollen forecast. I have allergies the same way, to air quality. Go to your local doctor and describe the problem and they will put you on Singulair, which is a prescription asthma medicine, but it will also help to get rid of the cough that you are having which is more than likely air quality/allergy related.

Answer 10

Well you can decided not to seek medical help for this but you may have more allergies and getting your asthma treated makes you healthier and live longer. It is ok but it helps your life and you can be in the city longer and help with that cough.

Answer 11

I suffer from the same thing and eventually I did seek my doctors advice, he gave me an inhaler to use when I cough or wheeze, he said its better to treat the symptoms and puts less strain on the heart and lungs. Ive been using the inhaler ever since with no side effects. I only use it when Im in smokey conditions or polluted areas, as soon as I get to work (which is air conditioned) Im absolutely fine. I hope this helps, good luck.