Problems breathing in the cold

H

Hemm

New member
Hi there,

I'm a male, 19 and have had asthma for all of my life. I've lived in Edmonton until I moved to Victoria for University for the past two years. I'm used to cold weather, snowfall, -40 etc. In Victoria, just had a huge snowfall and the first big one since I've lived here.

Oddly I've had problems breathing outside. I'm fine when I get back inside, but there's alot of pain in my chest when I'm outside. I'm on Ventolin and Advair, and even if I take that before I head out, once I get outside it just hits me. I'm thinking it could be the mold because the snow hasn't covered all of the grass outside. Also, I'm sort of distressed because I've been unable to outgrow my Asthma even though I'm living in better climates. Any help is appreciated.

Cheers.
 
Sorry to tell you but this is very normal for asthmatics. How are you premedicating? Usually it is one or two puRAB, 60 seconRAB apart, and 15-20 minutes before going out. Are you doing it that way? If you are just hitting the ventolin once and heading out, that's not going to do any good.

You might also try a scarf or mask over your mouth...
 
Cold is a major trigger for me. In addition to using my meRAB, I also wear a face mask when going out in the cold now. I have one that is double thickness fleece and another with a charcoal filter that I use when the air quality is bad. There are some good websites out there for the facemasks.

I find that once the asthma flares, it sometimes takes an extended time to get it calmed down. Just be persistent in your own treatment.
 
I went to my pulmonologist last year, April 09. She diagnosed me with acid reflux with the symptons I had. But we had plenty of cold air then, I just didn't document when it happened. But the summer came and it was gone. However this past October, I noticed breathing cold air made me cough. Then it hit me..I was coughing last winter too. I go into a coughing fit forever, it seems like, until I get inside then it slowly goes away. I have lived in Alaska all my life, and this is very new to me. I was cruising the internet and saw the worRAB 'cold air asthma'. This interested me and I found this website. I'll have to see my pulmonologist again and bring this up. I have Rheamatoid Arthritis also, so that always is the first thing to blame my issues on.
 
I have cold air asthma with a chronic cough as my primary symptom. I also have acid reflux with a chronic cough as a primary symptom. It gets to be a viscous cycle because the asthma coughing can cause acid to come up which irritates the lungs and throat.
 
Thanks. I have 3 problems and hope they are tied together. I have heart palpitations, which makes me cough. I get lightheaded sometimes just sitting still. I cough when breathing cold air. I cough when laying down. Cough drops help. Maybe I should have an ENT doctor give me a full work up. I'm finding out stress triggers the lightheadedness. I get a echo work up tomorrow. Then a holster for 24 hrs. Then if nothing shows they want to do an MRI of my head. Funny tho, none of this in the summer. I have RA too.
 
I just got done reading the book, "Asthma for Dummies" I found it very informative and I learned that once you have asthma, you will always have asthma. It may not be as bad if you have it under control, but it will always be there. Sorry to have to say.
 
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