	AllExperts > Asthma
	Search

About Marc Rubin, RPh AE-C
Expertise
I have worked directly with patients as well as caregivers for over 30 years. Have made presentations throughout Illinois to public schools to educate teachers and coaches about asthma, and how they should respond to these students needs. Presented a public education program on asthma through the US Department of Public Health. Specialize in helping guide asthmatic patients to take control of their disease in order to live a near-normal, fully active life.

Experience
Practicing pharmacist for 34 years, specializing in asthma for past 7 years. Statewide education to teachers and athletic coaches regarding asthma. In addition, and closer to home. my wife and daughter both have asthma, and my son has exercise induced bronchospasm. I'm also on the advisory board of a medical education company, Emmi Solutions, and directly involved in the creation of public education programs for asthma, COPD and diabetes.

Organizations
Suburban Asthma Consortium (President & Education Chair), American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), American Thoracic Society (ATS). Committee member of the Professional Education Task Force of the Chicago Asthma Consortium.

Education/Credentials
BScPharm, RPh, AE-C (NAECB Certified asthma educator), NIPCO Certified Respiratory Care Pharmacist

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Asthma > Asthma > Asthma

Asthma - Asthma

Expert: Marc Rubin, RPh AE-C - 11/2/2009

Question
My mother has been suffering from asthma for the past 4 years. We have seen many doctors, tried ayervedic medicines, breathing exercises as well, but they only provide temporary relief. Is there any way to decrease her suffering?

She is 42 years old, has cough/cold most of the time, is allergic to dust and works far away from home for which she travels by bus for 5 hours everyday.

Answer
Hi Tanishq,

I appreciate culturally your treatment approach using ayervedic medicines, but there is a time in which you must face that these remedies will not be effective in more serious cases. My concern for her extends to the availability of western medicine.

The basis of treatment for persistent asthma is the use of inhalation steroids. That is the starting point to address the presence of inflammation in the lungs. Therapy is a stepwise approach guided by the level of disability or impairment.

Another issue is that it is equally important to avoid the environment which worsens her condition. But how do you avoid dust when you travel 5 hours each way to and from work? Does she also cook over an open fire at home? Does her work expose her to chemicals which may have brought this on?

She really needs to be under the care of a lung specialist, either allergist or pulmonologist. I hope you live near a medical center which can provide these services.

Two things she needs to know: 1) this is not a condition which will go away, and treatment can just be stopped. Medications will be adjusted depending on improvement, but she needs to really learn about this disease, and 2)as a continuation of #1, she cannot just stop taking her medication when she feels better, or she will fall backward with worsening breathing.

Here is a link for patient education by the European Lung Association:

http://www.european-lung-foundation.org/

I hope this will begin to help her.

Sincerely,

Marc

Add to this Answer Ask a Question