Might I have asthma?
Discussion
I've started having some issues with my chest, and its got me wondering if I might have asthma or some other repository disease...
I've always suffered with hay fever but recently, my allergies seem to be getting worse. I now have episodes which happen every 1 - 2 weeks where I literally cannot stop sneezing, get itchy throat, and even blotchiness on my hands (looks like a nettle sting). When I am not sneezing, I am totally bunged up.
However, I have also noticed a few things about my breathing. If I exercise very strenuously, then I can often cough and wheeze, and this also happens if I find something funny enough to laugh very hard (like if I am pissed and watching frankie boyle do one of his stand ups, for example).
Last few mornings (and its not the first time), I've woke to find my chest feels very "tickly", and causes me to have a dry cough... this morning was one such example, and I actually felt pretty breathless and quite lousy as a result.
I used to smoke, but now only have a few ciggies when drunk (which I am now going to try and knock on the head), and I have been known to smoke weed as well - if I get any more I'll bake some space cakes instead.
I've also noticed I am often worse after a night on the drink (possibly the cigs, but could be more than that).
Additionally, my dad suffers with a chronic cough which he was told was asthma, and sometimes he coughs so much he feels sick - although the difference between him and me is that my cough isn't productive - he claims to have a lot of crap on his chest whereas I don't really feel like I do.
I'm going to see how it goes trying not to smoke, and see if it improves, but I suspect another visit to my GP is likely.
I'm 31, a bit overweight (but am working on that), and neither fit or unfit. I am eating pretty well now, anything else I can do?
I've always suffered with hay fever but recently, my allergies seem to be getting worse. I now have episodes which happen every 1 - 2 weeks where I literally cannot stop sneezing, get itchy throat, and even blotchiness on my hands (looks like a nettle sting). When I am not sneezing, I am totally bunged up.
However, I have also noticed a few things about my breathing. If I exercise very strenuously, then I can often cough and wheeze, and this also happens if I find something funny enough to laugh very hard (like if I am pissed and watching frankie boyle do one of his stand ups, for example).
Last few mornings (and its not the first time), I've woke to find my chest feels very "tickly", and causes me to have a dry cough... this morning was one such example, and I actually felt pretty breathless and quite lousy as a result.
I used to smoke, but now only have a few ciggies when drunk (which I am now going to try and knock on the head), and I have been known to smoke weed as well - if I get any more I'll bake some space cakes instead.
I've also noticed I am often worse after a night on the drink (possibly the cigs, but could be more than that).
Additionally, my dad suffers with a chronic cough which he was told was asthma, and sometimes he coughs so much he feels sick - although the difference between him and me is that my cough isn't productive - he claims to have a lot of crap on his chest whereas I don't really feel like I do.
I'm going to see how it goes trying not to smoke, and see if it improves, but I suspect another visit to my GP is likely.
I'm 31, a bit overweight (but am working on that), and neither fit or unfit. I am eating pretty well now, anything else I can do?
Sounds very much like you have developed asthma as I went much the same way at about the same age. In fact what you describe could almost have been written by me. Go to your doctor and before making an appointment ask if they run an asthma clinic. This is usually run by one of the practise nurses and they'll do the usual peak flow tests before eventually prescribing an inhaler.
By the sound of it your asthma is being brought on by allergies just like mine so for most of the year you'll be fine with just the odd mild episode. I wouldn't worry too much but definitely go and see the doc' as it will get worse if you leave it. I ended up in A&E simply because I couldn't get to sleep and my breathing was getting quite laboured but half an hour of oxygen and an inhaler to take away with me did the trick.
By the sound of it your asthma is being brought on by allergies just like mine so for most of the year you'll be fine with just the odd mild episode. I wouldn't worry too much but definitely go and see the doc' as it will get worse if you leave it. I ended up in A&E simply because I couldn't get to sleep and my breathing was getting quite laboured but half an hour of oxygen and an inhaler to take away with me did the trick.
Edited by Arnold The Bat on Tuesday 19th October 00:36
Thanks for your post. Curiously I think I might have accidentally stumbled across a possible cause for my allergy. Red wine. I'm beginning to notice that every time I have it I am suffering allergic reactions (but not other alcoholic drinks, curiously), so am going to knock the red wine on the head and see if my symptoms improve.
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