My Life as an Asthma Mom

  (https://www.aafa.org/allergy-capitals/) Yes, I'm writing about allergies AGAIN. Our family is already miserable this year.  AAFA (Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America) , has just released this year's list of the worst places to live for allergies.  For all of you fans of "The Office", you know all about Scranton, Pennsylvania. Personally, I have never watched The Office........ don't hate me! Michael Scott's city of Scranton is the Number 1 worst place for allergies (yes, I had to Google the name of the boss on The Office - sorry Office fans!) So how does AAFA score the cities?  AAFA looks at: Fall and spring pollen levels Use of over-the-counter allergy meds How many board-certified allergists  Pollen levels We have a local allergy offices who posts the pollen count on their Facebook page. If you want to know the pollen count for your area, you can look on the National Allergy Bureau (NAB) Pollen Counts. You can also create an account through NA...

  Last week, our family of 5 all starting having problems with allergies ......already! It's mid February, and our usually snowy state has not been getting our usual snow storms. In fact, one of our storms went around us and ended up in Texas. They aren't used to the snow and most of Texas hasn't had power for days.  I guess they are all trying to keep warm, and that's straining the power system in Texas.   But our state is mostly dry and warm With the warm and dry temperatures here,  we are already having pollen.  I thought it was too early for pollen, but with an unseasonably warm and dry winter, spring has decided to arrive early. I could tell because all 5 of my family members (who live in different areas of the state) starting complaining about allergies the same week.  Hmmm When To Start On Allergy Meds   I was just listening to a national allergy and asthma webinar and the presenter said he tells his patients to start on allergy medici...

   A year ago, we were watching the news and seeing people in other countries dealing with the pandemic. Most were not allowed to leave their homes - and if they were, they were wearing masks.   Fast forward a year, and masks are part of our every day routine.  Before I leave the house, I think: Keys -  wallet - mask  I have a bag of masks in my office, my car and my purse. You never know when you might need a clean one.  As a life long asthma sufferer, I always wear a mask. I want to protect myself from any sick people that are coughing or sneezing near me. My three adult children and I have a habit of getting pneumonia or bronchitis at least once a year. Long before people jumped on the Germophobe bandwagon, we were carrying hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes (in the car and purse) and carefully washing our hands.  Yet, we still managed to get sick - and end up in the hospital. In fact - my kids were in the hospital 12 times for asthma...

    This is one of those really heartbreaking stories😭 A few years ago, I read a story about a young woman (Laura Levis)  who died of an asthma attack   My worst fear is that one of my kids would die from asthma. My kids have had 12 hospitalizations for asthma  - and 2 of those were ICU. I know how quickly asthma can go from bad to worse. Some people are surprised to find out that you can die from asthma.  Did you know that every day, 10 Americans die from asthma ? It's heartbreaking, but it can happen.   Later, I read another article from Laura's husband (Peter DeMarco), and learned that she died just outside the locked door to an emergency room (it was NOT clearly marked - unlike the photo above.) Peter wrote a lengthy article explaining how a long series of mistakes had led to Laura's death.    Could this happen to someone in my family?  I used to know where the entrance to our ER is located, but.....they just rebuilt the hospital...

  You would have to be living under a rock if you didn't see the protestors who stormed the U.S. Capitol. 😮 I was busy at work, helping in our COVID clinic. My phone kept pinging with texts, but I didn't have time to check them. On my commute home, I turned on the radio and was stunned to hear what was happening. What??!!! I turned on the TV when I got home and saw protestors climbing walls and smashing windows in the capitol.  I have spent a fair amount of time in the DC capitol building. I have also visited the House and Senate buildings multiple times when our family has advocated for allergies and asthma.  Like many people, I have walked those halls! I recognized different parts of the building on TV -  although they were happy times for us when we were there. As I was trying to process what I was seeing on TV, my lungs started to get cranky.   What was triggering this asthma attack?! Then I realized.........stress! Did you know that strong emotions an...

  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 p...

        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 ...