My Life as an Asthma Mom

I was just watching a new series on a streaming service that highlights Dr. Lisa Sanders work with the New York Times.  In the series, she talks to patients who have "hard to solve medical mysteries." She researchers their medical record, then films a short video of that person explaining what happens to them. Then she puts the story up on the New York Times page. She asks people from all over the world to "crowd source" and help solve the mystery.  People film themselves, and send their diagnosis. Sometimes it's a patient that says something like "This sounds like me - I've had these same symptoms for years and they diagnosed me with _________." Sometimes it's a doctor who says, "I had a patient with these symptoms and we discovered it was ______."  Most of the diseases are really obscure and I have to look it up on my phone to see what they are talking about.  But one episode made me pause the episode - a...

As a Certified Asthma Educator, I often have people ask me if they can have a cat if they have asthma.  Well, it's not up to me to give "permission." And they may not be allergic to cats. But most people with asthma have allergies too.  In fact, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) says that between 65% - 75% of adults with asthma also have allergies. And 60% - 80% of children with asthma also have allergies. For that small percentage of you without allergies..... I am so jealous! All 5 in my family have allergies, and 4 have asthma. And allergies can make our life miserable. For those of us with allergies and asthma, having a pet is difficult. Many parents may veto the kids pleading for a pet. Others may opt to have one.  One of my friends wanted a dog to keep her company, so she had years of allergy shots so she could tolerate her dog. And the dog IS adorable and a lot of company, so well done Asthma Chef!   ...

Well, it's almost Back to School Time. And with all those kids crowded in one classroom, there are bound to be parents who send their kids to school when they are sick. That means lots of germs floating around the classroom.  And kids who don't cover their mouth when they cough and sneeze. And wipe their nose with their hand and then touch everything in the classroom.... Hello germs!  I would always dread Back to School Time because my kids would always get sick at the start of the school year, then I would get sick too (since I also have asthma.) Colds and asthma are not a good mix.  National Jewish Health says that 80% of childhood asthma attacks are caused by colds And 50% of adults suffer asthma attacks from colds Hospitalizations for asthma are so common when school starts that the "September Epidemic of asthma" is known nationwide! And 25% of kids who end up in the hospital for asthma do so in the month of Septembe...