What Does Asthma Pain Feel Like

How Do Healthcare Providers Diagnose Asthma

Your healthcare provider will review your medical history, including information about your parents and siblings. Your provider will also ask you about your symptoms. Your provider will need to know any history of allergies, eczema and other lung diseases.

Your healthcare provider may order a chest X-ray, blood test or skin test. Your provider may order spirometry. This test measures airflow through your lungs.

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Fatigue Or Low Energy

The exact mechanism behind how and why SIBO results in fatigue or changes to energy levels is not well understood.

In my practice and treatment of SIBO I’ve narrowed it down to 3 main areas:

• Reduction in energy production and efficiency in mitochondria )
• Nutrient deficiencies, specifically vitamin B12 deficiency
• Hormone imbalances, specifically stress-related cortisol changes

The bottom line is that treating SIBO with antibiotics, prebiotics and probiotics tend to partially improve energy levels but not back to normal levels.

The other half of the equation seems to be related to hormone imbalances and nutrient deficiencies that must also be addressed.

If you still experience fatigue after treatment or eradication of SIBO make sure to evaluate your serum cortisol and thyroid levels which can both contribute to energy production.

In addition, you might find benefit supplementing with supplements designed to improve mitochondrial function and efficiency .

Chest Pain In Children And Adolescents

After completing this article, readers should be able to:

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Can You Die From A Pulmonary Embolism

Yes, you can die from a pulmonary embolism. In fact, pulmonary embolisms may be responsible for many more deaths than actually diagnosed in the hospital. In many autopsy studies of people who suddenly died in the hospital, they found out that pulmonary embolisms were present in more than half of the cases where doctors didnât consider the possibility of pulmonary embolisms before death.

It is estimated that as high as 25% of people with new pulmonary embolisms die with an hour or two of getting the blood clot. Many of them donât even make it to the hospital. They might suddenly collapse and die. Some of them survive if CPR is performed quickly. Read âCardiac arrest vs heart attackâ if you would like to learn more about CPR and how you can save someone in cardiac arrest.

Despite the statistics, a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is not a death sentence. In fact, if you are hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism, you already dodged the worst part. Many people die from pulmonary embolisms because they donât make it to the hospital. Others die because they donât get properly diagnosed. If you are hospitalized with blood clots in the lungs, you already have two great things going in your favor: being in the hospital and being properly diagnosed.

There are more highly advanced treatment options available today than anytime in the past decade. You can read another extensive article on treatment options for blood clots in the lungs here.

Surprising Signs Of Adult

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That persistent cough that keeps you up at night may stem from more than just a tickle in the back of your throat. It could be adult-onset asthma.

Many people experience a jolt of disbelief when they are diagnosed with asthma later in life, especially if they have never experienced symptoms before. Asthma? That condition that causes kids to wheeze?

It turns out adult-onset asthma is far more common than many people realize. Asthma is often considered a disease of children, so adults may be surprised when they are diagnosed with asthma, says pulmonologist Javier Pérez-Fernández, M.D., the critical care director at Baptist Hospital of Miami.

The number of people with asthma grows every year. Currently, more than 26 million Americans have asthma, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those cases, more than 20 million are among adults, with the greatest number of cases among ages 35 and 65.

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the lung airways that can lead to coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath or wheezing. Among adults who develop asthma later in life, the symptoms may initially be more subtle than in children, which can cause patients to overlook or ignore the condition. But its important to treat symptoms as soon as possible so they dont become severe, said Dr. Pérez-Fernández, who also serves as director of pulmonology for West Kendall Baptist Hospital.

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Asthma And Chest Pain

If you have asthma, your immune system can cause your airways to become inflamed and swollen when youre around certain irritants. This can lead to chest tightness, pressure, or pain.

Studies show that chest pain, along with other non-respiratory symptoms, frequently occur before or during an asthma attack. If you experience chest pain after an asthma attack, it could be because youre sore from the coughing, deep breathing, or other symptoms you experienced.

Coughing, deep breathing, and changing positions can all worsen chest pain in people with asthma.

When Should You See A Doctor For Upper Back Pain

Sudden pain in the upper back can be a sign of a heart attack. or go to your nearest emergency room for upper back pain when:

• The pain radiates from your chest or also involves the jaw, neck, shoulder or arm.

• You have other symptoms, including , anxiety, , , lightheadedness, weakness, nausea or .

• You have sudden crushing pain or pressure in the left upper back or shoulder.

You should also seek emergency medical care for upper back pain when:

• You have new bowel or bladder problems.

• You have a fever or chest or abdominal pain.

• You have sustained a back injury, such as a blow to the upper back or a car accident, fall, or .

Most cases of mild upper back pain will resolve with home treatment. However, there are times when seeing a doctor is the safest option to make sure nothing serious is causing the pain. See your doctor when upper back pain:

• Interferes with your sleep, work, or daily activities

• Is constant or severe, does not respond to rest, or is worse when you lie down

• Persists for more than two weeks despite home management

• Occurs with , redness and swelling on the back, or weakness, or in the arms, chest or legs

• Radiates or spreads to the arms or legs

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What Should I Do If I Have A Severe Asthma Attack

A severe asthma attack needs immediate medical care. The first step is your rescue inhaler. A rescue inhaler uses fast-acting medicines to open up your airways. Its different than your normal maintenance inhaler, which you use every day. You should only use the rescue inhaler in an emergency.

If your rescue inhaler doesnt help or you dont have it with you, go to the emergency department if you have:

• Anxiety or panic.
• Bluish fingernails, bluish lips or gray or whitish lips or gums .
• Chest pain or pressure.

What Asthma Treatment Options Are There

You have options to help manage your asthma. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to control symptoms. These include:

• Anti-inflammatory medicines: These medicines reduce swelling and mucus production in your airways. They make it easier for air to enter and exit your lungs. Your healthcare provider may prescribe them to take every day to control or prevent your symptoms.
• Bronchodilators: These medicines relax the muscles around your airways. The relaxed muscles let the airways move air. They also let mucus move more easily through the airways. These medicines relieve your symptoms when they happen.
• Biologic therapies for asthma when symptoms persist despite being on proper inhaler therapy.

You can take asthma medicines in several different ways. You may breathe in the medicines using a metered-dose inhaler, nebulizer or other inhaler. Your healthcare provider may prescribe oral medications that you swallow.

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The Asthma Or Heart Attack Differences

While these can be common signs of both conditions, several telltale clues can sometimes help you to tell the difference. For instance, when the problem is asthma, the symptoms will usually improve upon using your fast-acting relief inhaler. However, this approach won’t offer any relief from a heart attack or other heart-related issue.

On the other hand, when your symptoms are caused by a heart condition, there can be several factors to look for. First, you may also experience swelling of the legs, feet and ankles. This rarely occurs with asthma and should be a big warning sign that you may be having cardiac difficulties. Further, when the pain spreads out from your chest to both of your arms and/or your jaw, this can also be a signal that you could be having a heart attack. Finally, if you suffer from angina , if you feel chest pressure and pain, you can try taking a nitroglycerin pill. If the medication makes you feel better, the problem is probably heart related, since this medication won’t resolve asthma symptoms.

Symptoms Of A Collapsed Lung

Sometimes as an asthmatic, we have a chronic pain associated with our lungs and difficulty breathing for extended periods. That being said, here are some symptoms of a collapsing lung to look out for:

• Sharp and stabbing pain on one side of the chest
• If that pain increases as you try to inhale

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Asthma Symptoms: 5 Signs Your Shortness Of Breath Is Serious

If you suffer from shortness of breath, youre not alone. Its a common symptom and one that prompts many people to see a doctor or seek other medical treatment. Knowing when your shortness of breath is an emergency isnt always easy. It can be the result of hyperventilation, acid reflux, or a panic attack cases when shortness of breath usually recedes on its own or more serious issues involving your respiratory health. There are many possible causes of shortness of breath, as well as signs that its time to seek medical help.

What Are The Types Of Bronchitis: An Overview

There are two types of bronchitis which normally affect people all over the world. One of them is acute bronchitis, and the other one is chronic bronchitis. While the former is a temporary respiratory problem, the latter can be termed as a rather ongoing disease.

• Acute Bronchitis

Many people refer to acute bronchitis as the chest cold. This disease normally happens due to a viral infection like a cold or flu, and it is very rare that it gets triggered by bacterial activities. A lot of people often think that this type of bronchitis tends to last for just a few days, but the truth is that it can affect your body for several weeks. It affects the human body in such a way that even after the infection is long gone, the individual might still suffer from a persistent cough for 20 days.

One thing which is important to keep in mind is that acute bronchitis is actually contagious in nature. This is due to the reason that it is caused by viruses. Therefore, the disease can be transmitted from one person to the other through direct contact.

• Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis can be considered as a serious respiratory problem. This one can affect your body in a number of different reasons. Many people develop chronic bronchitis due to continuous smoking while others become a victim of this problem due to regular exposure to a polluted environment.

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What Is An Asthma Attack

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs. During an asthma attack, the airways become narrower than normal and can cause difficulty breathing.

The severity of an asthma attack can range from mild to very serious. Some asthma attacks may require prompt medical attention.

The preferred way of treating an asthma attack is to use a rescue inhaler, which contains medication that expands your airways.

But what if youre having an asthma attack and dont have your rescue inhaler available? There are several things that you can do while you wait for your symptoms to subside or for medical attention. Read on to learn more.

In this section: Diagnosis and Lung Testing | How To Tell You Have Asthma | Your Healthcare Team

Asthma is a complex disease to diagnose, and only a healthcare professional is able to make a proper diagnosis.

If you are concerned that you may have asthma, contact your healthcare provider. In order to confirm an asthma diagnosis, your healthcare provider will take into account your medical and family history, allergies, and conduct lung function testing such as spirometry.

How Is Asthma Classified

Asthma is classified into four categories based upon frequency of symptoms and objective measures, such as peak flow measurements and/or spirometry results. These categories are: mild intermittent mild persistent moderate persistent and severe persistent. Your physician will determine the severity and control of your asthma based on how frequently you have symptoms and on lung function tests. It is important to note that a person’s asthma symptoms can change from one category to another.

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Angina And Heart Attack

Angina is the tightening of the chest caused by physical exercise, psychological stress, and extreme cold. The pain can sometimes radiate between the shoulder blades. A more pronounced pain is felt in the back, between the shoulder blades, during a heart attack. Since the pain is located away from the site of injury, it is called referred pain. Back pain between the shoulder blades is a referred pain associated with several conditions.

Care Advice For Asthma Attack

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Treatment For A Collapsed Lung

Treatment can vary from the severity of the collapse and the overall health of the individual. In my case, because it was not a severe collapse, I was observed closely to make sure that my lung would not collapse again.

In other, more severe, cases, needle aspiration or chest tube valves might be used to reduce the pressure on the lung. The most severe cases will require surgery to seal the air leak into the chest cavity.

Who Can Get Asthma

Anyone can develop asthma at any age. People with allergies or people exposed to tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke are more likely to develop asthma.

Statistics show women tend to have asthma more than men, and asthma affects Black Americans more frequently than other races.

When a child develops asthma, healthcare providers call it childhood asthma. If it develops later in life, its adult-onset asthma.

Children do not outgrow asthma. They may have fewer symptoms as they get older, but they could still have an asthma attack. Your childs healthcare provider can help you understand the risks.

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What Are Common Asthma Attack Triggers

An asthma attack happens when someone comes in contact with substances that irritate them. Healthcare providers call these substances triggers. Knowing what triggers your asthma makes it easier to avoid asthma attacks.

For some people, a trigger can bring on an attack right away. Sometimes, an attack may start hours or days later.

Triggers can be different for each person. But some common triggers include:

• Air pollution: Many things outside can cause an asthma attack. Air pollution includes factory emissions, car exhaust, wildfire smoke and more.
• Dust mites: You cant see these bugs, but they are in many homes. If you have a dust mite allergy, they can cause an asthma attack.
• Exercise: For some people, exercising can cause an attack.
• Mold: Damp places can spawn mold. It can cause problems for people with asthma. You dont even have to be allergic to mold to have an attack.
• Pests: Cockroaches, mice and other household pests can cause asthma attacks.
• Pets: Your pets can cause asthma attacks. If youre allergic to pet dander , breathing in the dander can irritate your airways.
• Tobacco smoke: If you or someone in your home smokes, you have a higher risk of developing asthma. The best solution is to quit smoking.
• Strong chemicals or smells.

With asthma, you may not have all of these symptoms. You may have different signs at different times. And symptoms can change between asthma attacks.