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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Reactive Airways
Answered by
CO
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
Reactive Airways
by CPattee, Jan 12, 2008 12:27PM
In 1998 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and received 6 months of chemotherapy and 33 teatments of radiation. In 2003 I developed breathing problems and was taken to emergency and put on a breathing treatment for an-hour-an-a-half. My lungs looked clear and my alergist said I have no alergies (allergies). He called my breathing problem Reactive Airways. Every December since 2003 this problem occurs and last till the end of Spring and then clears up. I am currently using an inhaler to be able to breath. Could the chemo or radiation caused these symptoms I am now experiencing and will ever go away?
Thank you,
CPattee
Thank you,
CPattee
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Jan 14, 2008 12:19PM
, Jan 14, 2008 12:19PM
Reactive airways refers to bronchial tubes that constrict, in response to smaller doses of allergens or irritants, that do not cause constriction in persons whose airways are not hyperreactive. This tendency of constriction or obstruction is characteristic of Asthma. What you describe suggests that you have seasonal asthma. The radiation therapy may have played a part in bringing this on, but there is no way to know.
The seasonality of your symptoms suggest that you have asthma and not some other damage that could have been caused by radiation. You should check again with your Allergist about the possibility that this is caused by an in-the-home irritant or to an allergen for which you have not been tested. The first thing should be to confirm that you do have asthma and then, if you remain symptomatic despite the use of your current inhaler, for your doctor to step-up the therapy which may only be needed from December until the end of Spring, to control the asthma.
If you work outside the home, another possibility is that your lungs are responding to an allergen or irritant, seasonally present in the workplace.
The seasonality of your symptoms suggest that you have asthma and not some other damage that could have been caused by radiation. You should check again with your Allergist about the possibility that this is caused by an in-the-home irritant or to an allergen for which you have not been tested. The first thing should be to confirm that you do have asthma and then, if you remain symptomatic despite the use of your current inhaler, for your doctor to step-up the therapy which may only be needed from December until the end of Spring, to control the asthma.
If you work outside the home, another possibility is that your lungs are responding to an allergen or irritant, seasonally present in the workplace.
