About Sue Enlow Expertise I can answer questions about asthma, COPD, and other respiratory diseases. I can also answer questions about breathing treatments and medications, ventilators, life support, aspects of ICU or the critical care environment, and CPR.
Experience I've been a Respiratory Therapist since 1990. I am currently a Supervisor, and I have worked in various hospitals in Southern California including teaching hospitals.
Question Lately my breathing has been not so good. I went to a doctor, they couldn't find anything wrong. I've had allergies all my life, but when they attempted the use of a nebulizer it didn't help me breath better. It feels like I need to get a second opinion. If it were my allergies wouldn't the use of a nebulizer have made breathing easier? And once an allergist gave me something that looked like a nebulizer but wasn't. It helped me breath alot better, I'd like to find out what it was but that was a long time ago. I'm not really sure what to think, how could a nebulizer have not helped me breath better?
Basically I breath fine, they tested me with something that could tell how much oxygen I was taking in, but it still feels like I need more air then I'm getting, if I move right or left sometimes it is easier. Any thoughts?
Answer Hello Sam,
Thank you for your question. First of all, it might help if I explain what a breathing treatment, or nebulizer, is and how it works. A breathing treatment is a liquid medication that is 'nebulized' and delivered, usually with oxygen, so that you can breathe the medication directly into your airways.
There are several different types of medications that we use. The most common medication is Albuterol (also known as Proventil or Ventolin). It is what is called a "bronchodialator". It is basically a muscle relaxer for your airways. Your airways are like tubes. They have muscles surrounding them. These muscles can constrict or even spasm (bronchospasm). A bronchodialator helps your airway muscles to relax, causing your airways to literally open up.
A second type of medication is a muclytic, like Mucomyst. This medication helps to break up the bonds in mucous to make it easier to cough out secretions. Sometimes the airways can become swollen inside and have mucous in them. This happens with a lot of asthmatics as well as people with chronic lung diseases.
Another type of medication is a steriod like Decadron or Vanceril (given via inhaler). The steriod medications do not have the same type of serious side effects on the body when nebulized like they do when they are taken in pill form. They help with the swelling or inflamation of the airways, thereby helping to open up and make it easier to breathe.
MDI's or Metered Dose Inhalers are a portable way of taking a lot of these medications. They are "puffed" and you breathe the medication in directly from the MDI. They aren't usually as effective as a nebulized treatment, but they work great for maintenance and quick emergency treatment on the go.
Sometimes allergies can cause bronchospasm or even inflamation of the airways.
Sometimes not. Everyone can react to allergies differently, and to different allergens (triggers) differently as well. That may be why a breathing treatment did not help your allergies.
The 'test' they used to check your oxygen sounds like it might have been a pulse oximeter (often called a 'pulse ox'). It is a small finger probe or clip that can read your pulse and the percent of oxygen in your blood.
There are a lot of things that can cause shortness of breath. Cardiac or heart problems, diabetes, allergies, infection, and even stress. You may want to consider seeing a Pulmonologist, or lung specialist. This type of doctor can do a check up, and several tests, and refer you to other specialists if needed.
I hope this has been of help to you. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask.
