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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
can you tell me anything about reactive airway disease (RAD)
Answered by
CO
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can you tell me anything about reactive airway disease (RAD)
by sunset68, Jan 14, 2009 02:59PM
I have been told i have rad or reactive airway disease but it seems no one really knows how too control it or too keep it from coming back.Also no one seem to what really cuased it.I have been on proair and prventil, advair 500/50, prednisone, medrol medpaks, and previcid for acid reflux.Does asid reflux affect the air way?
PLEASE HELP i'm tired of not being able to breath normal.
thank you
sinserly:
sunset
PLEASE HELP i'm tired of not being able to breath normal.
thank you
sinserly:
sunset
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Jan 20, 2009 11:28AM
, Jan 20, 2009 11:28AM
Yes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly called acid reflux, is now deemed to be a major factor in the development and worsening of asthma also referred to as reactive airway disease (RAD). There is a confirmed genetic basis for the development of asthma but not everyone with the “asthma genes” will go on to develop clinical asthma. If one is genetically predisposed to asthma, indicated by a strong family history of asthma, it may be worsened by allergy, infection, exposure to dusts, fumes and toxic gases.
The first step for you and your doctors would be an assessment of the factors, in your home and work environment that may be making your asthma so difficult to control. If allergic, the control might involve desensitization with allergy shots and/or a change in environment. You are currently taking all but 2 of the major asthma medicines: Singulair® (montelukast sodium) and Xolair® (omalizumab).
Not all that wheezes, however, is asthma. You and your doctors must confirm, without a doubt, that asthma is the correct diagnosis, since other conditions can mimic asthma, the most common of these being vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). Most doctors are familiar with this condition and it can be searched for by direct observation of the vocal cords, especially when your “asthma” is bad and/or by pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which include an inspiratory flow volume loop.
You should also have a chest exam and chest x-ray to rule out other, unexpected, lung disease that can cause wheezing, a prime example being cystic fibrosis (CF).
Good luck.
The first step for you and your doctors would be an assessment of the factors, in your home and work environment that may be making your asthma so difficult to control. If allergic, the control might involve desensitization with allergy shots and/or a change in environment. You are currently taking all but 2 of the major asthma medicines: Singulair® (montelukast sodium) and Xolair® (omalizumab).
Not all that wheezes, however, is asthma. You and your doctors must confirm, without a doubt, that asthma is the correct diagnosis, since other conditions can mimic asthma, the most common of these being vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). Most doctors are familiar with this condition and it can be searched for by direct observation of the vocal cords, especially when your “asthma” is bad and/or by pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which include an inspiratory flow volume loop.
You should also have a chest exam and chest x-ray to rule out other, unexpected, lung disease that can cause wheezing, a prime example being cystic fibrosis (CF).
Good luck.
