About Gary Expertise Will attempt to answer any question on respiratory disease, but please don`t ask me to make a diagnosis. Although I`ve worked as a respiratory specialist nurse in the UK for 6 years, I know nothing about the health systems of other countries. I have a particular interest in asthma, COPD, spirometry, and tuberculosis.
I am a healthy male in his 30's who has mild asthma. I work at a hotel as a van driver and drive pilots to the airport. Lately, I have been experiencing shortness of breath.(Not being able to take in a full breath.) Sometimes I wake up in middle of night with tight chest and short of breath. Yet, when I blow into my peak flow meter I blow 705, which is good. I cant figure this out.
A construction crew has just layed asphalt and blacktop at our Hotel and I breath in noxious fumes along with airplane fumes as well. Could this irritate my lungs and cause shortness of breath?
Thanks, Todd
Answer Hi Todd
Thanks for the question. If your asthma is usually well controlled then something is making it play up at the moment. Don't rely on peak flow alone, it can be misleading. I've known people who are using faulty peak flow meters and they think they are Ok when, in fact, their symptoms suggest otherwise. Go by your instinct. If your symptoms are worse than usual (and it sounds like they are at the moment) then something probably isn't quite right even though your peak flow is good. Night time symptoms are classic of asthma. You mention the recent laying of asphalt and the plane fumes. Does this correspond with the worsening symptoms? They could be related but it's difficult to say over one discussion like this. You need to have a chat with your asthma nurse or doctor about this and he/she'll undertake a detailed assessment including a diary (symptoms and peak flow) over a period of a few weeks to see what pattern there is and how it corresponds to the exposures you experience in work. You don't mention what medication you are taking for your asthma so having a chat with the nurse is important because they might recommend a temporary increase in any inhaled medication you have or even adding in some additional medication (temporarily).
In short, the situation needs a more detailed assessment than a chat over the net like this can allow. Go and see your doctor or nurse about it. You might want to start keeping a peak flow/symptom diary in the meantime yourself. Ask your chemist/nurse for a new peak flow meter in case the one you have is faulty.
