Alpha-1 can be confused with asthma
I'm on of those old-fashioned people that like to read the newspaper in the morning before I go to work. Yes, an actual newspaper! You know, the paper that some people still get on their driveway every morning. (And then I have to shuffle out to get it in my big fuzzy bathrobe and hope that none of the neighbors see me....... )
This week I read an article about Alpha-1 Awareness month. I've never heard of it before, so I thought I would scan the article. I'm always interested in learning something new.....trying to keep the old brain cells nice and sharp you know!
"Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) is a genetic (inherited) condition – it is passed from parents to their children through their genes. Alpha-1 may result in serious lung disease in adults and/or liver disease at any age. "
What caught my attention is how Alpha-1 can be misdiagnosed as asthma. Here are the symptoms that they list:
The most common signs and symptoms of disease caused by Alpha-1
Symptoms related to the lung:- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chronic bronchitis, which is cough and sputum (phlegm) production that lasts for a long time
- Recurring chest colds
- Less exercise tolerance
- Asthma that can’t be completely reversed with aggressive medical treatment
- Year-round allergies
- Bronchiectasis
One woman, Diane Angell, shared her story on a medication website :
"Gasping for air while cross-country skiing or coughing uncontrollably
whenever around perfume or smoke, Idaho (US) native Diane Angell had
always attributed her chronic shortness of breath to asthma.
"As a child, I noticed my mother’s chronic cough and constant use of cough drops," Diane said. "When I was in my 20s, I also developed a chronic cough. I was eventually diagnosed with asthma, but I didn’t feel my body was responding to the medication I was prescribed."
It wasn’t until Diane was in her early 40s and visiting her physician with gastrointestinal issues that tests showed signs of emphysema in her lungs."
"As a child, I noticed my mother’s chronic cough and constant use of cough drops," Diane said. "When I was in my 20s, I also developed a chronic cough. I was eventually diagnosed with asthma, but I didn’t feel my body was responding to the medication I was prescribed."
It wasn’t until Diane was in her early 40s and visiting her physician with gastrointestinal issues that tests showed signs of emphysema in her lungs."
Alpha-1 also affects the liver.
Symptoms related to the liver:
- Unexplained liver disease or elevated liver enzymes
- Eyes and skin turning yellow (jaundice)
- Swelling of the abdomen (ascites) or legs
- Vomiting blood (from enlarged veins in the esophagus or stomach)
If any of these things sound familiar, check with your doctor. Alpha-1 can be diagnosed with a blood test. It's important to know exactly what condition you have (asthma or Alpha-1) if you're going to treat it properly.
I'm hoping that all of us can take care of our lungs and keep breathing!
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