asthma control

[cmartin2112]

Hello,
I have been having some breathing problems latley and want to get a second opinion. Here is a brief description of my medical history.
So to start I am a 21 year old male and have had asthma pretty much my whole life I also do have pretty bad allergys too. I do smoke and have been for about four years (please don't rip me a new one I know it is bad and I am basiclly adding fuel to the fire). I am about 150 pounds and stand 5'9" and lift weights occasionly. I also don't eat very healthy...

So basically I am reaching out to you is because my breathing has become bad out of no where. It all started with this chest cold I got where I felt extremly short of breath. So I went to the doctor and they had me do a pft and told me my large airways were at 70% and my small airways were at 40 or 50% I can't remeber. But all in all they said I had a case of bronchitis and gave me some antibiotics and prednisone. So I finished the steroids and antibiotics and was still having problems so I went back and they did another pft and this time my fev1 was at 84% and doctor told me that he wanted to prescribe more steroids and antibiotics this time I asked him if there was anything serious going on like copd and is said no because my lung capicity was at 94%. So I went back after 3 weeks and samething did a fev1 was at 87%.
So now my doctor thinks my asthma is not under control and put me on advair 250 (which I was already on) and qvar he said come back in a month and see how things are going.

So I guess what I want to know is if you think I have anything serious like copd or lung cancer...
I don't have a family history of these diseases. I also don't know if it could he related to the season cause I know sometimes in fall I have some issues. I am very concerned about this it almost feels like I can't get air in the upper parts of my chest.

Thanks for the input!

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

I can appreciate that increased problems with your breathing could be very worrisome.  But allow me to first put your mind at ease.  The chances of your having COPD or lung cancer at age 21 are practically nil.  You should have a chest X-ray to rule out any type of previously unsuspected lung disease in addition to asthma.  And, since less than 2% of individuals with COPD have it on the basis of inheritance, you might speak to your doctor about getting a blood test for what is called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Also be assured that it is not uncommon for persons with asthma to have a very long recovery period, following just about any type of respiratory infection, viral or bacterial.

As for smoking cigarettes, I would only suggest that you continue to actively work-on smoking cessation.  Even if the only respiratory problem you have is asthma, quitting smoking now or in the near future could save you a lot of grief, in the years to come.

Finally, be “religious” about taking your asthma meds and stringently avoid any and all irritants and allergens in your home, workplace or school.

Good luck

[ill13632]

I'm also curious about this, I have asthma but my FEV1 even on dulera/singulair on the PFT blowing out with some effort is never higher than the low 70s