Is this asthma?

[zoe114]

I have bad allergies to dust mites and other airbourn things. I often am grasping for air, I tend to yawn for air rather than a full blown wheezing thing.
My question is, is this asthma or is it allergies that are not under controlled, or is it both?  

[zoe114]

I cannot help but wonder if this is the reason I always have to have my chocolate each night, at least now I know I have an excuse to have it( lol)- thanks!!

[987931]

If you don't like the stimulating effects of caffeine, try cocoa. It contains theobromine, which is also in the class of theophyline. I'm finding it very helpful, although I'm sure this could vary for different people.

[bsmsl]

Hi, I am glad that you are feeling some better.

Caffiene is in the family of drugs known as theophyline.  Theophyline is an old broncho dilater.  Anything with caffiene will help asthma symptoms.

Take care.

[zoe114]

I have not had time to post. I do feel comfortable to state that yes, this is asthma. I started taking allergy medication each day and that did clear up the runny nose and some other issues, but I still had the asthma. I was on a trip last week and desperate for my inhaler but it was not close by. I was eating out with some friends and I drank some tea- will, my gasping stopped. I read up later that the items in tea do help the airways for 4 hours.
I now understand that when I have yawning this is how I react to having asthma issues.
This is not the same as yawning when your getting ready for bed, but I yawn gasping for air.
I just wanted to post to pass on what I learned.  

[bsmsl]

I am glad that you are using your meds and feeling better.  It is really hard on your body when you can't breathe well.  If you become hypoxic (low O2 level) for a long time, you will develop an enlarged heart.  So taking care of yourself is important.

Yes, some of the side effects of asthma meds are bad.  However, if they are used properly there are very few side effects.  In addition to that, consider the effects of not using them.  In some cases, they are immediate hospitalization or even death.  Not taking care of yourself by taking your meds properly definitely has worse and more eminant consequences than the side effects of the medications.  

Some people have found some alternative medicine options to appear to be affective.  It depends on your specific case.  Those options are not for me, but they do seem to work for some.  

I will be posting a Health Page very soon about the propper use of inhalers.  Maybe that will help you.  Also, be sure to review the propper use of your inhalers with your doctor.  This makes them most effective with fewer side effects because more of the medication gets into the lungs and less is ingested.

God bless and keep us posted.

[zoe114]

I slept so well last night, no tightness in my chest- which I really never realized was there until it was gone, and I could take deep breaths, I mean really deep breaths. I am using the allergy meds first and then in the day time if I need to use the in healer I am. What I must remember is that I MUST take these meds even when I feel fine. I must sound really bad when I work out at the gym, I just think I am exercising just like anyone else, but I often realize no one else is pushing air out as hard as I am. Today I feel like I could go run a mile without any issues.

[freddie8605]

The Seretide inhaler saved my life, i was so unwell with asthma i was rushed to hospital after my air ways closed up during an asthma attack and after i was discharged from hospital they changed my inhaler and now i am doing so much better, so what ever you have heard it, its all about weighing up the positive effects and negative to see if it does help. You wont know unless you try. Trying the allergy meds first sounds like a good idea.

Hope you feel better soon

[zoe114]

I was given the diagnosis of asthma years ago but never really accepted the condition- really never knew how to handle it. I spoke with someone yesterday who said it's a very hard thinkg to really know and they suggested that I see first if taking allergy med's helps control the problem and if they don't then use my inheahers- and I will know for sure. Some of the things I read on here scare me to no end of using asthma medications, but I do know I often feel a lot better when I use them. I guess it is just going to be a case of wait and see.
Thanks

[bsmsl]

Hello and welcome to the community.

It could be asthma.  Your symptoms are consistent with possible asthma, but other things are possible as well.  You need to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Let us know how you are doing and what your doctor says.

God bless.