My Life as an Asthma Mom

    I'm an asthma nerd, and my whole family knows it. So it shouldn't surprise me when someone says, " Hey, did you see the story about......"  This week's tip comes from The Hubster.  He was listening to a radio show that had a story called " Oxygen-Detecting Devices Give Misleading Readings In People With Dark Skin" on All Things Considered. Over the last 21 years, we have used pulse oximeters to check our kid's oxygen level. When they were little (and frequently in the hospital), we relied on the oximeter to know when to take the kids to the hospital.  But when we got to the ER, the doctors would lecture us to NOT just rely on the oxygen monitor. But to look at symptoms instead. They would tell us to watch for the following emergency symptoms :  If you use quick relief inhaler or nebulizer, and the kid's breathing isn't getting better (or it gets better and then comes back quickly.) You see changes in lips or fingernails (bluish or

        It's winter, and my lungs are NOT happy.    Did you know that some people with asthma can have asthma attacks from cold air?    This falls under the category of strange - but true! 😥   Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) says:   " When you breathe in cold, dry air through your mouth, the air doesn't get warmed by your nose first. The cold air goes to your lungs and airways. This can trigger an asthma attack." What to do? If cold air is one of your triggers, there are a few things that AAFA suggests.   You can wrap a scarf around your mouth and nose and breathe through that. This year, I wear a mask almost all of the time, so maybe my mask can take the place of my scarf?  If you usually go walking or running outside, can you change your workout? What about going to a city rec center and using the indoor track?  Or be one of those early morning mall walkers? Does your doctor want you to pre-treat with your inhaler before you go outside?  Find what