Trouble Breathing

Hi,

Wondering if someone might have some insights.  I'm 23 years old and recently quit smoking marijuana (about a month ago) and quit smoking cigarettes over 3 years ago.  About 4 years ago I had had walking pneumonia and since then my breathing has been somewhat off.  It usually had only affected me during the winter months however, for some reason, this summer it I'm having the same difficulty.  I never had asthma growing up nor has anyone in my family ever had asthma.  Is it normal for adults to develop asthma?  All of the literature I've read explains that people usually grow out of asthma by the time they reach adulthood, and not the other way around.  The best way to describe it is when I struggle to take a deep breath, I feel as though I need to take a yawn to get a full breath of air.  It is also worse on some days and appears to be totally random.  It's not as if I'm waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air.

I had gone to my docotor a bunch of times who gave me albuterol inhalers and a long-acting bronchodilator but it hasn't helped at all really.  I've also had chest x-rays done and pulmonary tests which all come back normal.  I went to one doctor in NYC who said that he thinks it's more anxiety related than anything but this is also the same doctor who told me that smoking marijuana wouldn't lead to COPD which I find to be a load of ****.  Hence the reason I've stopped smoking all together.  If anyone has experienced the same symptoms or has input as to what this could be I'd appreciate it.  Thanks.

-Andrew

[Allisonc78]

Hi there,

You can develop asthma at any age. I have adult onset asthma and I'm 29. I started getting symptoms off and on then after a bad cold I have had it full blown everyday since. It has been really hard to say the least. But I have spoken with two different pulmonologists. One did tell me that if you come back normal on the pft you do not have asthma, and if you fail it you may have it.But I have read on the internet you can still have asthma if your tests are normal. My spirometry test was normal when I took it, but I do have it. I did come back with mild asthma on mt pft.

You need to get on some kind of cortisteroid and give it itleast a few weeks to see real improvement. When I first started using Symbicort I couldn't tell a difference, but it did improve my breathing after a few weeks. So if you haven't give it time to work. Your symptoms although mild are significant and should be taken seriously because asthma can get worse if not treated properly.

[hava]

The Yoga Pranayam (breathing exercises) will  help with asthma and breathing problems.Over longer term you will not need medicine.Please come back to report your progress, so others may benefit.
Build up your timing gradually. If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after a few minute.

Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose. Duration upto 5 minutes.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 12  times

Once you are better, continue the pranayam once a day.
Be patient, as the benefits will show over a period of months.Only by doing you will benefit
and feel good because you are helping your body.Those who say I have tried everything....
will be amazed at the result of doing pranayam.