Asthma and Stress!










Did you know that stress can cause an asthma attack?!

WebMD has a page that talks about how stress can cause an asthma attack. They say:

Stress and asthma: What's the connection?

"Stress can affect the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, immune, and central nervous systems. Asthma is no exception.
Stress can create strong physiological reactions that lead to airway constriction and changes in the immune system, which can worsen asthma symptoms.

The mechanism between asthma and anxiety is many-fold. Uncontrolled emotions can work the nerves and cause constriction of muscles, like the smooth muscles of the airways in the lungs. They tighten up and constrict, which can worsen wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness in people with asthma.
Although stress and anxiety start in your mind, asthma is a physical disease of the lungs.
It is important to note that asthma is not a psychosomatic disease. It's not in your head. Stress can trigger symptoms if you already have the disease, but if you don't have asthma, stress does not all of a sudden cause a person to develop the disease."

We had a "fun" weekend and had a little (well....a LOT) of stress when our basement flooded (yet again.) We had 1.25" of rain in an hour, and it decided to run down the back stairs and into our basement (the water even went through the sand bags we had piled up to protect the basement from the LAST flood!) Argh!!!!!!!!

I couldn't believe it was happening - again!

This flood wasn't as bad as the last time our basement flooded. We had shop vacs, carpet cleaners and piles of towels to soak up the water. Son #1 was on a date, and I called him in a panic to come and help. (I bet his date thought that was the worst date she had EVER been on!) But it was one of those "all hands on deck" times.

We spent 5 hours sucking the water out of the carpet. Once the carpet cleaning machines were no longer getting any water out, we started the 3 industrial fans and pointed them down toward the wet areas of the carpet. I think we can save the carpet this time! It was a LOT dryer the next morning.  (Last time, insurance wouldn't cover the damage - so we had to pay $1500 for new carpet. I was NOT happy.)
 
I am also using my moisture meter  to see how long we have to keep the fans going. I am planning on at LEAST one week, maybe longer.

But, with all that stress, both Daughter Kitty and I ended up having an asthma attack and had to use our inhalers. And I was REALLY trying to stay calm.....but sometimes you can't help it.

But, I am remembering our family mantra:




Comments

  1. I can definitely believe this!! My parents are getting divorced and I've used my inhaler four times this week.

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    2. I'm so sorry! That's hard to deal with. Especially when you already have enough stress in your life!

      HUGS!!!!

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  2. Yikes. The most perturbing thing about floods is how it just makes you go through so much work; too much for the situation at hand. But it has to be done. The water has to be scooped out and the floors and the walls restored. Anyway, I hope you look into ways as to avoid it from happening again in the future. Good luck!

    Gregg Hogan @ American Basement Solutions

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    1. Thanks, it's not the first time.....and it's frustrating that insurance won't cover it either (they always say "it's an Act of God" from the rain. So sorry....

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