Expert: Marc Rubin, RPh Asthma Educator - 2/8/2010

Question
Hi,i don't known how to start,i am just frightend.i am just 23,unmarried, 1 week back i cant able to sleep due to shortness of breath,next day i consult Doctor about this,he just advised some tablets,after using those i feel free to next day only.For next 2 weeks i didn't felt any breathing problem %26 i run my normal life,but 1 bad night i again noticed breathing aswell as cough(previous time there is no cough) problem,i immediately consult doctor,he declared that i attacked with asthma.Is this really asthma then ,what precautions i have to take,i don't known what it really means,in my family no body had asthma but my father had habit of cigaratte smoking.pleaseeee advice me what to do next.Is this can be cured?

Answer
Hello Pallavi,

Unless your doctor did lung function testing, you cannot just outright declare asthma. Is it a possibility, yes, with the history that your dad smoked, and I will assume in the house. You need to get in to see an allergist or pulmonologist for a correct diagnosis. There are many conditions that can bring on this lung inflammation, asthma being just one of them, which is why it is so important to be properly looked at.

Is there a cure for asthma? No, not at this time. Is it controllable so you can lead a normal life, most certainly. The key to success is knowledge; both about asthma as well as YOUR specific triggers which bring on an attack. From there you learn to balance prevention with medication therapy. I know it seems very scary now, but lets take one thing at a time and get the correct diagnosis.

Let me know what takes place.

Sincerely,
Marc