Lung damage from 2nd hand smoke

[ill13632]

I have asthma that I got from 2nd hand smoke and my FEV1 is 73%.  does this mean my lungs are damaged or there are allergens that are causing inflammation?  I think my chest xrays are clear, sometimes I get bronchitis.  I don't have any improvement after a year of symbicort/proventil

[allmymarbles]

It is most unlikely that your condition is due to second-hand smoke. Note that insurance companies (and they are in the business of making money) do not rate people for second-hand smoke. That means that they do not consider the applicant at risk. They do rate smokers.

Several years ago there was a study to determine the effects of "second-hand smoke." Result? There were no effects. Nada.

Look for some other cause for your lung problems.

[ill13632]

do you mean this could be from dust mite allergies from old carpet?  I was breathing a lot of 2nd hand smoke from unfiltered cigarettes

[ill13632]

no I really got asthma from 2nd hand smoke

[allmymarbles]

Asthma is an autoimmune disease. You cannot get it from second-hand smoke or other noxious fumes. However, exposure to fumes may precipitate an asthmatic attack.

[ill13632]

thanks for the info.  don't people get COPD like emphysema and bronchitis and asthma from smoking though?  isn't autoimmune asthma only one type of the disease?  

[ill13632]

I just don't understand how I developed asthma suddenly as an adult

[allmymarbles]

You can get emphysema and bronchitis from smoking. It is perfectly possible to develop asthma in adulthood. I did.

[hava]

This pranayam will help to control your asthma and improve your lungs.Do it twice a day, for the maximum duration. Let me know when you first start to notice the benefit. The effect is gradual, so allow months.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Kapalbhati pranayam -(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. Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom pranayam –
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 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a 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 21  times.
August 23 ,2011

[ill13632]

could I have developed asthma from too many antibiotics?  is there a cure for that?

[hava]

Follow the pranayam, and you will be able answer your own question - you can call it cure or control. You have to do it regularly to benefit. The body can fix itself with some help from you.

[allmymarbles]

You cannot develop asthma from taking antibiotics. That is not how an autoimmune disease works. You con't "catch" it, or develop it as a side effect.

[ill13632]

thanks for your reply!  can't you develop it when your gut flora is altered by ab?

[allmymarbles]

How many times do I have to say the same thing? Check out the subject on the internet.

[ill13632]

no there are medical studies that say that you can develop asthma from antibiotics

[ill13632]

I'm confused how did I get asthma then suddenly as an adult?  I never had it until 2 years ago and don't have any autoimmune conditions

[allmymarbles]

If you have all the answers then why bother asking us?

[ill13632]

well I obviously developed asthma for some reason and I don't have an autoimmune disease which only leaves 2nd hand smoke

[allmymarbles]

Again, why both asking us since you have already decided that your prejudice against smoking gave you asthma?

[Catwoman1954]

I too have developed asthma at 57 years of age, or maybe earlier and didn't know it. I too like you thought it may have been from second hand smoke, but I don't think you can get this from second hand smoke after researching the subject. COPD on the other hand is associated with smoking. My condition on the other hand may be due to a hiatal hernia or either allergens, which I plan on getting checked out soon. The use of antibiotics can cause an overgrowth of flora in the gut, but have nothing to do with asthma. You can get thrush from this, which can also be linked to usage of medicines for asthma treatment that contain a steroid. Hope this helps.

[ill13632]

have you had allergy blood testing?  I have level 3 allegies to mold and dust mites but I was told that it isn't that severe and my IGE is 145
what reasons do you have for thinking asthma and smoking are not related?  for instance smoking can cause immune problems with influenza and alters T cells/white blood cell counts
my pulmonologists implied that smoking did cause my problems
when I encounter smoke I find that I get headaches, trouble thinking when I'm not on prednisone
(by the way just ignore that allmymarbles, she doesn't know what she's talking about and isn't a doctor by any means)