Recently in asthma Category

I am a 40 year old male who developed chronic asthma two years ago during a house renovation. It may or may not be related to this, buy I have been on corticosteroids for about 1.5 years to treat my asthma. During that time, I've started feeling depressed, irritable, and noticed a significant drop in my libido. My last blood test we checked my testosterone and it came back as "Low" for my age. I am in very good health otherwise--gym, diet, etc.

I mentioned my "issues" to my GP who says, "We can give you Lexapro for your depression, and if you have sexual side effects we'll give you Viagra!" I'm like, when do the drugs stop!!! I am trying to taper of the corticosteroids (First Advair, now Pulmicort) to see if that will help me. I don't know if these drugs have messed with my adrenals etc. and if that has had any effect on my testosterone production and if seeing an endocrinologist could shed any light on to this. I'm feeling a little wary of my GP and her zealousness to prescribe drugs for everything. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

Asthma is related with lung.  Libido is related with kidney.

I suggest trying deep breathing to find which organ involved. Do you have a difficulty of breathing in or breathing out? This information will tell which organ involved. There could be more issues to be discussed. You can email me.

You can treat asthma without steroid, but by natural way. If you suffer asthma for 1.5 years, I believe a few acupuncture treatments would make you breathe better without steroid at all. There is no better way to treat chronic symptoms than acupuncture. If there is phlegm, acupuncture will remove phlegm. If there is any obstruction in bronchial tube such as stagnation, acupuncture will remove obstruction.

Whenever anyone takes steroid, kidney is damaged and bone is softened as a side effect. Your libido may be your age or kidney damage. Kidney is an organ recovering slowly according to my experience. However it may be not difficult to get back your libido as you are not that old.

If you want to get rid of all drugs, acupuncture could be a best alternative.

Asthma is a very common chronic disease involving the respiratory system in which the airways occasionally constrict, become inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant such as an allergen, environmental tobacco smoke, cold or warm air, perfume, pet dander, moist air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

The airway constriction responds to bronchodilators. Between episodes, most patients feel well but can have mild symptoms and they may remain short of breath after exercise for longer periods of time than the unaffected individual. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of drugs and environmental changes.

Treatment
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the lung is a number one organ involved in asthma. When the lung function is good, all above symptoms would be taken care of without any problems. When the lungs receive more dampness which causes mucus and the lung function is weak simultaneously, this dampness would be accumulated in the lung. Therefore dampness must be removed in the first place on this case. When dampness is removed, it is easier for lung to breathe.

Let me give you one example in the clinic.

She has suffered asthma for a long time. Her asthma was more severe at night. She got up 3-4 times at night due to difficult breathing. She got 3-4 nebulizer treatments whenever she got up at night. When she got up in the morning, her underwear was soaked with sweat. All medicines prescribed were in vain. She finally decided to pursue a different method, which was acupuncture treatment.

She heard about acupuncture, but she was reluctant as acupuncture needles might be painful. She suffered for a long time with asthma already and thought no matter what kind of pain from acupuncture needles should be less than the asthma pain she was suffering now. She discovered there was absolutely no pain when needles are inserted. She felt mucus dry up and a little easier to breath while on table. She also ordered herbs for a fast recovery. She took additional two acupuncture treatments and her symptoms were gone completely.