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Frequently Asked Questions
| Can I do sports? | Yes you can.
Many professional athletes such as Olympic swimmer Mike Dolan have asthma. Sports are great for you to do because first they are
fun, second it gives you the chance to be with friends and third it is a great way to get
into shape. Getting into shape will strengthen the heart and lungs. Strong lungs play a
part in a person being able to control their asthma. A few tips: |
| Can I outgrow asthma? | Yes and No. Asthma is a lifelong illness. Many children improve by the time they are teenagers and may experience few or no problems. However, with strong asthma triggers (virus infections, allergies, cigarette smoking) many of the symptoms may return. The elderly again become more susceptible to asthma, especially those that previously had problems, even if they "grew out" of their asthma as children. |
| What is RAD? | RAD (reactive airway disease) versus Asthma. These words mean the same thing. Many doctors will label a child with symptoms of mild asthma as having RAD if they are unsure whether the child will have continued or subsequent breathing problems. Reactive airway disease implies that the muscles in the airways are contracting (or reacting) thus causing airway narrowing. This is a component of asthma. To truly be diagnosed with asthma, there has to be at least two episodes of RAD. For the most part, the two terms are interchangeable. |
| Does cigarette smoke effect asthma? | Yes. Cigarette
smoke irritates the airway. Persons with asthma should never smoke, but
your airway can be hurt even if you are in a room where someone is smoking or where
someone was smoking. Cigarette smoke stays in the room and on clothes for
a long time. Smoke is an asthma trigger and asthma medicines do not work well if you stay
around your trigger. See: "Commit to Quit," a smoking cessation program offered through UTMB. (747-6653) www.utmb.edu (search "Commit to Quit"). |
| Can I have a pet? | Yes, however,
here are some guidelines to follow for pets with fur:Fish are good pets, except for those people with allergies to mold. The fish tank will produce humidity and will help mold grow faster. It is best to have a pet without fur or feathers. A good choice would be lizards or snakes. |
| Is there a spray that will kill dust mites? | Yes, recently, a product called AllerCare came on the market. It could be purchased as a powder or spray. It kills dust mites but does not kill the allergen. So it is not effective. In the short time that it has been used, AllerCare powder and spray have been found to cause burning skin, airway irritation and asthma episodes. The product has been recalled. |
| Do I have to use a spacer? | Yes. If you are using a metered-dose inhaler. To make sure most of your medicine gets to your lungs, you need to use a spacer. If you put your inhaler, without a spacer, in your mouth and spray, the medicine will land on the back of your throat, you swallow it and it ends up in your stomach. The medicine only works if it gets to your lungs. To make sure the medicine gets where it works (the lungs), you must use a spacer. (see how to use a spacer) Some new medicines are supplied as dry powdered inhalers. These inhalers are used without a spacer. |
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Copyright 2000. The University of Texas Medical Branch
Last modified:
November 03, 2006
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NIEHS
Center in Environmental Toxicology at The University of Texas Medical
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