My Life as an Asthma Mom

It seems like all Congress does lately is fight. They don't seem to get any actual work done as neither side can agree on legislation.  But it was interesting to see that the Senate Health, Education and Labor (HELP) committee was investigating high price inhalers. In January, the HELP committee had contacted all 4 manufacturers of inhalers to ask why inhalers cost so much more in the US than they do in other countries. They gave a few examples: Advair costs $319 in the U.S. - but only $26 in the U.K. QVAR costs $286 in the U.S. - but only $9 in Germany. Combivent Respimat costs $489 in the U.S. – but only $7 in France.   In March, AstraZeneca announced it was lowering out of pocket costs to $35 (starting in June.) If you use any of these inhalers, they will cost less out of pocket when summer comes.  Also in March, Boehringer Ingelheim announced it was lowering out of pocket costs to $35, (also starting in June.)   These inhalers will also cost ...

    How could a fall possibly affect asthma? You might be surprised.  I had a bad fall last week and was injured enough that I needed to go to Urgent Care.   I was in a lot of pain and noticed that I was breathing hard and fast. From teaching asthma education for the last 15 years, I know that an asthma trigger can be strong emotions (such as anger, laughing, crying, surprise, fear, anxiety, etc) I was fearful that I had broken my arm and would need a cast. I knew that if I didn’t get my breathing under control, I would have an asthma attack. So I focused on belly breathing (which is similar to yoga breaths) to calm down my breathing and relax a little bit. Years ago, I taught Open Airways classes at local elementary schools. The six week workshops are short lessons designed to help kids learn about their asthma and how to control it. During one of the modules, I would teach kids how to belly breathe if they were having a hard time with their asthma....