What’s the best option for mild problem

[brianserge]

I am 23 and noticed breathing issues a few years ago. I was in college at the time and didn't want to go to the doctor because I didn't have trouble breathing, I just didn't have as much breath as I thought I should have (and as I remembered having in High School).

After chest pains a few weeks ago, my worried and sweet wife convinced me to go to the doctor. After some pulmonary tests, EKG (to make sure the chest pains were not my heart) and X-rays (no heart swelling, thank goodness) the doctor said I had mild asthma and put me on Advair. It's been a week now, and if anything my chest hurts MORE. It's still not too bad, but I definitely don't feel any better.
I don't have major asthma attacks, but I do wake up sometimes with slight breathing issues and need to get a drink of water and cough a few times to go back to sleep. I also get a tight and painful chest (normally on the left side, but this morning on the right) sometimes.

What can I expect from the medicine and what’s the best way?

Thanks in advance!

[gingernut]

It sounds like your quack has been very thorough. It doesn't sound like anything serious is going on, but if your worried it may be best returning to your doc, if only for reassurance.

[bryanttony]

Your doctor may prescribe things for you to use against what seems to be mild asthma
which may not be too good for you in the long run. The Buteyko method is proven,
safe and very effective. The book Close Your Mouth and ABC to be asthma free are
self help books to teach yourself the Buteykjo clinic method. They are available from
www.amazon.com for USA and amazon.co.uk for UK and other countries. Patrick
McKeown a renowned practitioner teaches many other natural clinic methods at his site
www.asthmacare.ie (http://www.asthmacare.ie/) It will be well worth your time.

[gingernut]

Just for completeness, I've got to say that, at the present time, there is not enough evidence to support the Buteyko method.

Unfortunately, the current studies havn't got the power to demonstrate their effectiveness.

(Much as I'd love to offer this to patients as oppossed to a chemical, I can't)

[redsnail]

I have very mild asthmatic symptoms.
They appear as a cough when running in cold weather (so I don't!) and a cough can appear after a cold or some other URTI.

I usually take ventolin when the cough appears or before I do exercise that involves jogging outside in coolish weather or skiing. This usually keeps it well under control.

Other things I do to keep the cough to a minimum is exercise regularly. Jog, cross train, cycle etc as well as simple weights. Also, eat sensibly and generally try to manage stress sensibly.

At the moment I am recovering from a cold and the cough's appeared too. I find I tend to cough more at night, esp when going to bed.Which is annoying. It feels like there's some tight bands around the lower half of my ribs and a funny pressure sensation at the top of my lungs. It feels like there's only about a 1/4 of the volume available. Also, it feels like I want to cough often but I try and resist that. This will last for a few more days (I hope) and then it should go back to normal. In the mean time I try and not aggravate the cough.


I am sorry I can't comment directly on your medication. Asthma's one of those tricky conditions that it can be very mild in one person and a potential killer in another. Manage it properly and sensibly and you should be fine. Ignore it at your risk.