Q: My 15-year-old has asthma and is learning to play the saxophone. If he practices a lot, he has shortness of breath afterward and sometimes the next day. Should he choose a different instrument? Dr. Bassett: Any exercise, even blowing into a windward or brass instrument can provoke asthma, notably shortness of breath, during and… Read more »
Asthma
How a Coach Can Help a Child Having an Asthma Attack
Q: I’m a baseball coach and one of our team members recently had a mild asthma attack. I followed the asthma action plan, made sure the child got two puffs of the reliever inhaler, and told the parent. I’m left wondering: how do you know that it’s a more severe attack and time to call… Read more »
How to Control The Itch and Blurring of Eye Allergies
Q: I moved to the northeast and find the tree pollen in spring bothers my eyes incredibly. They burn, itch, blur, and I get nasty conjunctivitis. Is there such a thing as “eye allergy” — and how do I control it? Dr. Bassett: In spring trees including birch, maple/box elder, alder and oak release their pollen,… Read more »
Visiting and Asthma: When Relatives Own a Cat
Q: It took a long time to get our 10-year-old daughter’s asthma under control with medication. One of her triggers is cat dander, and we’re planning to visit the in-laws who have a cat. Is it safe to stay with them? (My mother-in-law promises to board the cat, and vacuum like crazy.) Or would we be… Read more »
Sports Breathing Issues – Asthma or Not?
Q: My teenage son had a second spell of bad breathing during a school basketball game. Even when he stopped playing, it felt like somebody was sitting on his chest. Could this be due to asthma? Dr. Bassett: Your suspicions might be warranted, particularly if your son has a history of allergies and asthma. Exercise-induced… Read more »
Asthma Symptoms Triggered by Asprin?
Q: After taking asprin recently, I began to get asthma symptoms. I’ve since read online that some asthmatics are sensitive to asprin. Can you tell me why? Dr. Bassett: A small number of those with asthma can be adversely affected by asprin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. In some cases, the resulting… Read more »
Are Sinus Infections Connected to Asthma?
Q: I have moderate-persistent asthma and get frustrated with how often I get sinus infections. Is sinusitis actually connected to asthma and is there a good way to control it? Dr. Bassett: The relationship of your sinuses and their effects on the lungs is well known. Some even refer to the nose-lung connection as the… Read more »
Allergic Rhinitis or the Common Cold?
Q: When should a parent suspect a child has allergic rhinitis as opposed to just a persistent cold? Dr. Bassett: Allergies do share many symptoms with the common cold, but rhinitis has some telltale signs. A major clue to indicate your child has seasonal or indoor allergies is a strong family history. In a child with allergic… Read more »
Can Asthma Be Outgrown?
Q: I had asthma as a kid, but seemed to outgrow it. I’m 33 now, and I’ve developed a cough, and have felt tight in the chest around my girlfriend’s cat. Can asthma come back? Dr. Bassett: We know that asthma tends to persist from childhood through adulthood. A person may not have symptoms for… Read more »
Can Cat Allergy Develop in Adult Life?
Q. My teenage daughter brought home (and we’ve adopted) a calico cat. I started getting a runny nose and a cough when near it, so I went to an allergist for testing. The results were positive. I don’t get it: our family had cats when I was a child. Can you develop an allergy to… Read more »
The Summer Magazine
