When a few hotels in Las Vegas announced they were reopening as smoke free, I was THRILLED.   I like Las Vegas but it is VERY HARD for me to go there with all the smoking.  Between the dust and smoke and the very dry air (which is not always great for asthmatics despite what some people claim) it is a place that I can feel tortured.   So staying in a hotel where the WHOLE hotel is non-smoking sounds awesome.

So here are a couple to get you started.   MGM Grand is a new one.  Trump International has always been smoke free but has no casino.   Hilton Grand Vacations is smoke free and has a hefty penalty for those who break the rules.   I have actually stayed at 3 of the Hilton Grand Vacation properties in Las Vegas and they are all VERY NICE.   One is a bit far from everything but it is probably the nicest (way down by Circus Circus).

Remember the dry air can aggrevate asthma in some people.   Dry weather can aggravate asthma symptoms in a few different ways. One of the primary reasons is that dry air can cause the airways in the lungs to become irritated and inflamed. This can make it harder for someone with asthma to breathe, as their airways are already narrowed due to inflammation.

Remember when traveling to plan for the worst – including with your asthma.  Bring your medications but also your rescue inhaler — even if you rarely use it – and bring a copy of your prescription as well as your doctor’s phone number.  Just in case something happens and you need to get it filled.

It is also a good idea to wear a medic-alert bracelet and put your medications in a waterproof container and to keep it with you.  Last thing you need is to lose your bag.

The post Traveling with Asthma – It matters where you stay!! appeared first on Asthma-News.com.

Anyway, there are times with my asthma where I feel like I am not doing great and it ramps my anxiety up to the roof and putting the pulse oximeter on calms me right down.  Oh look I am still at 96 or 95 or 97 (these are my usual numbers, I usually don’t go much above that except once in a while and I never really go below 95) so it knocks the mental challenge of asthma right off.  The worry and the unknown.  Well, now I know.

My brother had asthma growing up and I am sure it was very stressful on my parents to not know if he was doing ok.  For 20 bucks, you can buy one of these little gadgets and know immediately if you or your child or whoever is at least getting enough oxygen.  They still might be having an attack so don’t use it to assume that is not happening but stress can make attacks worse and having people around you all freaked out doesn’t help.  My husband being all freaked out and asking me right in my face when I can barely talk seems to not calm me down.  But sitting upright and doing some controlled breathing and wearing a pulse oximeter helps me get my mind focused.    Then at least I am not fighting an asthma attack and anxiety at the same time.

It also helps to know if you do get sick or have an issue and the number changes.  What are your normal numbers?  It is good to know your benchmarks.

The post Piece of Mind from a Pulse Oximeter — who knew!! appeared first on Asthma-News.com.

Well, this is obviously a question for your doctor but if you haven’t asked your doctor or they haven’t suggested one, you should for sure ask. For me and for a lot of people, this is a BIG YES YOU SHOULD.

Spacers help you to use your asthma inhaler properly.  That is the simple answer.   The longer answer is that using an inhaler isn’t easy.  It seems easy, we all get used to using it and think we have it down but it isn’t easy.   It is hard.  You have to time your breathing and aim correctly and maintain the correct head posture.  And on top of that you might be wheezing or be feeling the anxiety that comes with knowing you need some help with your breathing.

A spacer puts all of that in the right place and eliminates a lot of that timing.  Studies have also shown that spacers get more medicine from the dose into your lungs (where you want the medicine) than using just an inhaler.   Yes, sometimes you will have to just hit the inhaler but a spacer is something that should be part of the conversation for everyone, especially when you are a caregiver for someone with asthma.  The elderly and children may have a harder time using just an inhaler and getting an effective dose.  They may end up spraying the crap out of their tongue and being turned off by the inhaler.  So try a conversation with your doctor or asthma specialist to discuss adding a spacer.

Here is a link to a great article from the NIH on spacers.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6004521/

Here is a spacer similar to the one I use but get the suggestion from your doctor.  I like this one because it has a cap so it keeps the part where I put my mouth nice and clean.   You can also get a case and keep both your inhaler and spacer together which is a great idea for travel (an extra inhaler is also a great idea for travel since people tend to lose them and show up at the pharmacy in a panic)   Remember World War Z when he has to go to the skanky dude who has taken over the pharmacy during the end of the world just to get albuterol.  Don’t be him and get a spare inhaler for your trip.

And if you think you need a case – BE SURE TO MEASURE the length of your spacer.   Some spacers barely fit in the cases and most need the mask removed.  I don’t use a mask with my spacer, I use the mouthpiece but for people who like the mask, it might be a pain to move it on and off just to fit it into the case.   Here is a nice case for travel but it is a bit large but I use mine on trips not daily commutes so I want something that can hold some things and keep them dry.  I once had my suitcase left on a tarmac in Montreal for what must have been hours because all of my clothes in it were quite wet so I really wouldn’t want my medications or pills or any other medical things to get messed up so a nice waterproof case is nice.

The post Should you be using a spacer with your asthma inhaler appeared first on Asthma-News.com.

So as I work on getting better, I am starting the Asthma News as I have found that while a lot of information is out there, it is actually hard to find some of the research and information.  At least it has been for me.  I have ran so many things through search engines the last couple of months as I have had some weird side effects (toe cramps for example from the albuterol) and I have been trying to add some exercises and stretches to get stronger and better.  These things don’t seem to be easy to find answers to so I have made the Asthma News to hopefully provide some of these answers all in one place.  We will see where it goes as it will be a work in progress as I research my own recovery and my path forward as a now middle aged woman who has asthma.

Hope you will find some information that helps you in your journey as asthma is TOUGH!!!     Please remember to consult your doctor before you add anything or make any changes.  Some of the changes they will be very happy about and some may not be right for you — so be sure to take notes and ask your doctor — it is that simple.

The post Welcome to the Asthma News appeared first on Asthma-News.com.