Archive for the ‘Asthma’ Category

Sue: I have just started taking Depakote for seizures and bipolar disorder. Some of the cautions about other medications are similar to Accolate. Is there a possible conflict? Dr. Kraemer: From your question, I would assume that you are using both Depakote and Accolate to treat two separate problems. ... Full story

Pat: Hi. My biggest problem is being where it's hot. And I hear cold air is what triggers asthma attacks, and I can go out in 20 degrees, shovel my porch from snow, the ramp halfway to the car, and if I come in the house at 70° I have a hard time vacuuming the ... Full story

Karen: I was told I had asthma, but now they say it is reflux, because I get tightness in the sternum and throat without a drop in peak flow. They don't recommend treatment. I only get a drop in peak flow if I stop in inhaled steroids. Do you have any suggestions? ... Full story

Diane: I have small airways , and the peak-flow device is an unreliable guide to the severity of my lung function. Apart from visits to my asthma specialist to assess my lung function, I have to rely on my symptoms to indicate a drop in function and an increase in dose for inhaled Pulmicort/eformoterol/ albuterol/oral prednisone, ... Full story

Lori: I've been hearing now several times from different sources that heating your house with natural gas and cooking on gas stoves might be exacerbating asthma? We'd converted to gas about three years ago or so and at that time, I felt that we were really doing a good thing because I felt ... Full story

Esta: My 19-month-old son has asthma. His only triggers are colds, but he gets into trouble almost immediately. This has been the case for the past three episodes. He gets so inflamed that we have to resort to prednisone. We have used it three times in two months. We recently put him on cromolyn. After less ... Full story

Rick: Let's talk about ways that patients can improve the environment at home or at work to lead a better life, to have more symptom-free days. Dr. Stempel: There are two main factors that we deal with, especially in the Pacific ... Full story

Jeff: Dr. Kraemer, what is your opinion on the routine use of full pulmonary function testing for all asthma patients regardless of disease severity, versus simple reliance upon peak flow meter readings. And, what potential impact do you think the introduction of an inhaled corticosteroid might have on a patient with less than optimal lung function? ... Full story

Shelly: My question is, how likely is my child to outgrow his asthma? Rick: Tell us about your child. How old is he? Shelly: Right now he's 9. Rick:... Full story

Nancy: My 4-year-old daughter has asthma. When she has a virus for 3 to 4 days she gets a cough that sounds like croup, only while she's awake. It's constant; 10-15 coughs a minute, and a nebulizer doesn't seem to give much relief. No retractions. Only Prelone for 2-3 days seems to help. Suggest anything? ... Full story