Asthma Help?

Question

i am a 12 year old boy and have had asthma all my life. Lately, (within the past few days) i've had chest tightness. Other people with asthma will know what i mean. I use my inhaler, and for the most part, it goes away. My uncle passed away recently and i am under ALOT of stress. I'm starting to cough, not the asthma cough, but a regular cough. I know about asthma and everything about it. My question is, is having a tight feeling in my chest normal? I might be getting an asthma "flair" but i just want to know. Can stress cause an asthma "flair" ? I am just curiuos, can somebody help me?

I appreciate everybody's help and would just like to say that i'm going on antibiotics for my asthma. I am also using my inhaler for my asthma and i'm feeling better, thank you

I actually do own a peakflow meter and i will admit, my peakflows are down. However, i did call my doctor, (my mom works at the doctor's office) and that's when he prescribed the antibiotics. They know me and they CERTAINLY know about my asthma, so they will know if it is serious

WOW, i guess i did forget something, I do take Advair and i have for about 3 years. Sorry, another question. My advair doesn't seem to be working so well as it did 3 years ago. How about singulair, does this work better?

Answer 1

Yes stress can cause an asthma flair infact there is a lot of proof that yoga has helped a lot of people control their asthma.
If I were you I would see my doc asap and get this looked into. Maybe consider a medication change, or additions. There are a lot of meds out there now for asthma.

Answer 2

I am a 27 year old woman and I, too, have had asthma my entire life. I have activity and allergy induced asthma. When I am under stress at work, at home, or at school, I do feel the tightness as well. It could be the grief from losing your uncle is adding stress onto you and giving you the tightness in your chest.

There are things that I do to take preventative measures when my asthma starts acting up. I always, ALWAYS take my medicine religiously. I never skip a dosage. I take Singular at night, Advair in the AM and PM, and Zyrtec in the morning. I have my rescue inhaler, which I rarely use anymore because I am very active. My activity induced asthma is almost gone completely.

Depending on where you live (I live in Kansas), the changing of the seasons can really have an impact on your asthma. The humidity in the air, the pollen which is coming in with the flowers and trees, and the mold, which is because of the humidity.

Anyhow, keep your bedding clean. I wash mine every other day because I'm outside a lot and pulling in a lot of outside yuck. I know it's going to be harder for you because you are a guy and you are a teenager. Take you meds. Don't skip them. If you feel tightness in your chest, use your rescue inhaler.

Personally, I would just try to take preventative measures right now. YOU know what your limitations are and YOU know when you are about to have an asthma attack. If you feel like that is going to happen, tell your parent(s) right away. If you ever had an asthma attack before, you know this is no joke. I've had about three or four. After the grieving period is over because of the loss of your uncle, reevaluate your condition. If it has improved, you know why. If not, again, tell your folks and go see your doctor. Asthma CAN get worse (or better, or stay the same) as you get older. We become accustomed to some asthma triggers and develop new asthma triggers. But, again, just watch it. If anything feels out of the ordinary, it is. Go tell your folks and go to the ER.

Hope this helps! Sorry about your uncle.


EDIT:
I was on Advair for a while and was doing the 250/50 dosage. I was recently upped to 500/50 dosage. It works all right when taken alone, but when taken along with my Singulair and my Zyrtec, it works great!

Answer 3

Yes...Stress can cause an asthma flair...You seem very educated about this and that is great...My question would be why are you not using a Peak Flow Meter???This is a simple thing to use and very inexpensive...it will tell you when an attack is imminent..thus it is worth it's weight in gold....Chest tightness as you say you have is normal when you have an attack and may just be a warning sign to you...Since you already have asthma it is much easier for you to develop lung illness like Pneumonia and Bronchitis...If you have not had a Pneumonia shot in the last 5 years you need to get that....Make an appt. to see your Dr..or call and talk to the nurse in his office...since they are more familiar with your case....

Answer 4

Signs of an asthmatic episode include wheezing, rapid breathing (tachypnea), prolonged expiration, a rapid heart rate (tachycardia), rhonchous lung sounds (audible through a stethoscope), and over-inflation of the chest. During a serious asthma attack, the accessory muscles of respiration (sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles of the neck) may be used, shown as in-drawing of tissues between the ribs and above the sternum and clavicles, and the presence of a paradoxical pulse (a pulse that is weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation).

During very severe attacks, an asthma sufferer can turn blue from lack of oxygen, and can experience chest pain or even loss of consciousness. Just before loss of consciousness, there is a chance that the patient will feel numbness in the limbs and palms may start to sweat. Feet may become icy cold. Severe asthma attacks may lead to respiratory arrest and death. Despite the severity of symptoms during an asthmatic episode, between attacks an asthmatic may show few signs of the disease.

Symptomatic control of episodes of wheezing and shortness of breath is generally achieved with fast-acting bronchodilators. These are typically provided in pocket-sized, metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). In young sufferers, who may have difficulty with the coordination necessary to use inhalers, or those with a poor ability to hold their breath for 10 seconds after inhaler use (generally the elderly), an asthma spacer (see top image) is used. The spacer is a plastic cylinder that mixes the medication with air in a simple tube, making it easier for patients to receive a full dose of the drug and allows for the active agent to be dispersed into smaller, more fully inhaled bits. A nebulizer which provides a larger, continuous dose can also be used. Nebulizers work by vaporizing a dose of medication in a saline solution into a steady stream of foggy vapour, which the patient inhales continuously until the full dosage is administered. There is no clear evidence, however, that they are more effective than inhalers used with a spacer. Nebulizers may be helpful to some patients experiencing a severe attack. Such patients may not be able to inhale deeply, so regular inhalers may not deliver medication deeply into the lungs, even on repeated attempts. Since a nebulizer delivers the medication continuously, it is thought that the first few inhalations may relax the airways enough to allow the following inhalations to draw in more medication.

Answer 5

Please go to your doctor.... this is the asthma/allergy time of the year... along with of course.. Ragweed season in the fall... for your question YES.. but could also be an infection or just a Flair up... but you know... VERY well what it feels like not to be able to breath... How scary that is... how horrible.. and MANY MANY PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY from ASTHMA.... it is the most common reason to go to the ER ... please tell someone to take you in.. may need a steriod etc... or antibiotic.... VERY IMPORTANT>>> I completely understand with everything going on around you right now you probably dont wanna be the center of attention but YOU NEED TO BREATH... and your family should understand completely..... good luck .. sorry to hear about your loss....

Answer 6

You really need to go see your doctor, a tight feeling in your chest could be signs of many differnt medical problems, and yes stress can casue an asthms attack, My oldest son was the 5th worst case of asthmastic in the state on NC, and at times we were not to sure if he would make it or not, but thank God and a lot of good doctors he is now doing great. So go see your doctor be sure and tell him everthing that is going on in your life, he will check out everthing and make you better. Good luck I will be praying for you

Answer 7

First of all, condolences on your loss.
-Yes, it can, and also it sounds like you might be developing an anxiety along with it. Try to do breathing exercises and swimming helped me out a lot to overcome my asthma, just because with swimming, you have to control your breathing, and it also helps expand your lungs. Try not to stress so much, because it's the worst you can do. Try to better yourself, because you know that it's what people that love you would want for you. You're 12, so enjoy life and be 12.

Answer 8

Chest tightness is normal in asthma. Stress can also make it worse. If you continue to have tightness and your inhaler doesn't relieve it, you may need to try a new prescription.

Answer 9

Below is a site about asthma. It does say that stress can trigger asthma, and that tightness in the chest is a common symptom. You should read it, it was very helpful.

http://www.netwellness.org/ency/article/000990.htm