Asthma, thanks CM

[puukao]

Calm down, calm down.......I'm not entirely blaming CM for my asthma. I am, however, fairly certain that the pollution in CM helped accelerate/worsen my asthma that may have been un-diagnosed? Maybe pollution can give you asthma, and if so then maybe that is how I got into this predicament. Bottom line, now I take meds for asthma, and before I did not. I am in my 40's and maybe my lungs are simply not as strong to combat the PM 10 or whatever particles.

Who is to blame? Of course I am. I knew the pollution was bad, I knew not to exercise (even with a face mask), and I had enough funds where I could have left. Furthermore, I still want to visit again outside of the smoky season, but i still wouldn't leave if i woke up one day and it was hazy.

I was there the entire smoky season, and I only create this post so others (perhaps people with kids) understand that they can have lung issues that might last years. I still feel strong, exercise well (most of the time), but started to have enough asthma symptoms where I went to a doctor. The next step will be an inhaler.

I won't post too much on this thread unless others have had similar issues. If you have kids that are active no matter what, maybe something to think about.

I can find OTC primatene pills that seem to be fine, for now. Anyhow, hope I'm the only one. take care.

[Jingthing]

Don't fear the inhalers.

For real effective control, you will probably need TWO inhalers.

One is called a rescue type inhaler and the other is more about preventing ever getting a serious attack (has some steroids in it but not serious like oral steroids).

I've been using both daily for decades now and haven't really had a serious wheeze the entire time.

Asthma not properly treated can send you to the ER or worse. Take it seriously. Prevent that from happening. If you're wheezing at all regularly, you probably are not treating this effectively yet.

BTW, my existing asthma was the main reason I didn't choose to live in CM in the first place.

[masuk]

From a USA Environmental Health Perspective:

Abstract

Several components of air pollution have been linked to asthma. In addition to the well-studied critera air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone, diesel exhaust and diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) also appear to play a role in respiratory and allergic diseases. Diesel exhaust is composed of vapors, gases, and fine particles emitted by diesel-fueled compression-ignition engines. DEPs can act as nonspecific airway irritants at relatively high levels.

.......children living along major trucking thoroughfares are at increased risk for asthmatic and allergic symptoms and are more likely to have objective evidence of respiratory dysfunction.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241152/

I am amazed at the public vehicles in Chiang Mai (Song Tiaws) which belch out clouds of diesel exhaust. Sitting in the rear of these wagons can often be a very smoky affair.

I am amazed that they are are checked on an annual basis at the Land Transport centres, and yet continue to be certified as roadworthy, when they obviously are NOT.

China is trying to reduce pollution, and the buses there all run on LNG, motor bikes are electric.

[dru2]

Don't fear the inhalers.

For real effective control, you will probably need TWO inhalers.

One is called a rescue type inhaler and the other is more about preventing ever getting a serious attack (has some steroids in it but not serious like oral steroids).

I've been using both daily for decades now and haven't really had a serious wheeze the entire time.

Asthma not properly treated can send you to the ER or worse. Take it seriously. Prevent that from happening. If you're wheezing at all regularly, you probably are not treating this effectively yet.

BTW, my existing asthma was the main reason I didn't choose to live in CM in the first place.

I use Ventolin as a rescue inhaler and Seretide (mainly during the rainy season) as a long-term inhibitor. Away from Chiang Mai valley, especially in the rains, the problem decreases by 80% or so.

[Jingthing]

Don't fear the inhalers.

For real effective control, you will probably need TWO inhalers.

One is called a rescue type inhaler and the other is more about preventing ever getting a serious attack (has some steroids in it but not serious like oral steroids).

I've been using both daily for decades now and haven't really had a serious wheeze the entire time.

Asthma not properly treated can send you to the ER or worse. Take it seriously. Prevent that from happening. If you're wheezing at all regularly, you probably are not treating this effectively yet.

BTW, my existing asthma was the main reason I didn't choose to live in CM in the first place.

I use Ventolin as a rescue inhaler and Seretide (mainly during the rainy season) as a long-term inhibitor. Away from Chiang Mai valley, especially in the rains, the problem decreases by 80% or so.

OK, what I've been doing is this:

Two times a day --

Ventolin 4 puffs space by one minute

Clenil (50 not 250 so low dose) steroid 2 puffs spaced by one minute

The Ventolin opens up the lungs to take in the Clenil.

Works really well and the steroid dose is really quite low.

If the need is there, higher dose of Clenil.

The goal really is NO ATTACKS at all. Nothing to rescue from. That I think is really possible for most asthmatics.

Think prevention, not rescue.

Obviously, new asthmatics, see a doctor.

I don't think primatene is a serious asthma med.

[Tokay]

I've had non stop respiratory problems since I moved to Chiang Mai, which is a shame because I really like the place. Best city in Thailand, but the pollution is wearing me down. As much as I do not want to leave, I fear the pollution will make me leave eventually.

[puukao]

Don't fear the inhalers.

For real effective control, you will probably need TWO inhalers.

One is called a rescue type inhaler and the other is more about preventing ever getting a serious attack (has some steroids in it but not serious like oral steroids).

I've been using both daily for decades now and haven't really had a serious wheeze the entire time.

Asthma not properly treated can send you to the ER or worse. Take it seriously. Prevent that from happening. If you're wheezing at all regularly, you probably are not treating this effectively yet.

BTW, my existing asthma was the main reason I didn't choose to live in CM in the first place.

Great advice, and I was told to get a Rescue type inhaler. I should have mentioned that, forgot, and thanks for bringing this up.

[puukao]

Don't fear the inhalers.

For real effective control, you will probably need TWO inhalers.

One is called a rescue type inhaler and the other is more about preventing ever getting a serious attack (has some steroids in it but not serious like oral steroids).

I've been using both daily for decades now and haven't really had a serious wheeze the entire time.

Asthma not properly treated can send you to the ER or worse. Take it seriously. Prevent that from happening. If you're wheezing at all regularly, you probably are not treating this effectively yet.

BTW, my existing asthma was the main reason I didn't choose to live in CM in the first place.

I use Ventolin as a rescue inhaler and Seretide (mainly during the rainy season) as a long-term inhibitor. Away from Chiang Mai valley, especially in the rains, the problem decreases by 80% or so.

OK, what I've been doing is this:

Two times a day --

Ventolin 4 puffs space by one minute

Clenil (50 not 250 so low dose) steroid 2 puffs spaced by one minute

The Ventolin opens up the lungs to take in the Clenil.

Works really well and the steroid dose is really quite low.

If the need is there, higher dose of Clenil.

The goal really is NO ATTACKS at all. Nothing to rescue from. That I think is really possible for most asthmatics.

Think prevention, not rescue.

Obviously, new asthmatics, see a doctor.

I don't think primatene is a serious asthma med.

I think you are correct that primatene isn't a serious asthma med. So far it has been fine, but taking this seriously and will get some inhalers in the near term if needed. meds are new to me, so will update as time goes by and hopefully attacks go to zero. if not, inhalers it is.

[scubascuba3]

I used to take Ventolin inhaler in UK and weaned myself off it and haven't needed it since. Mind over matter, I'm convinced you can become dependent on these things.

Now..I can't say this would work for everyone but will definitely work for some people. I've tried the approach with a couple of other health things and it worked

[cooked]

I have mild asthma and occasionally have to take a course of QVAR for a few days. As mentioned, Ventolin is essential for people that suffer from serious attacks. I live in Buriram and moving here from Switzerland hasn't changed anything.

[Beetlejuice]

I suppose health wise living in Thailand has it advantages and disadvantages.

Back in the UK during my younger days right from when I was a toddler, I used to suffer every year from acute bouts of hay fever, which is actually a form of asthma. So bad in fact that during the pollination season when the pollen particles was air born and seemed everywhere, I could hardly function, it felt like breathing in hot pepper powder, streaming eyes, nose running like a tap and hard to breath. Taking anti histamine pills helped relieve the symptoms but made me drowsy, it was just awful.

Then more or less after I settled in Thailand my hay fever just vanished, never again to suffer the intense discomfort of those symptoms. As for the Chiang Mai pollution problem, at times I do find it unbearable, so for me it`s a case of lose on the swings and gain on the roundabouts, or if one thing doesn`t get you, something else will.

[puukao]

I agree that allergies can happen anywhere and be worse than CM for some. An allergy pill is certainly not fun to rely on like any other form of medication. The good news is the pills I am taking seems to help from a performance standpoint. Swimming after taking the pill has lowered my swim time from 9:48 to 8:48 over the same distance in the same pool and seemed to give me more energy for additional workouts. so, if you think you might have an issue, don't disregard it. I did for a month or so and am glad I finally did something about it.

I also know that pollution can make allergies much worse. We are all affected a little differently, and I do tell myself that Chicago in 1900 was likely much worse. Plus the steel mills, coal mines, etc.....and so much of China.

[Saan]

I've had asthma for 30 years and at various times it flares up but strangely I don't seem to be adversely affected during the burning off period.

[crusader79]

I started getting asthma every winter in my 40s and it turned out to be an allergy to dust mites. The Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng famously died in CM at age 42 after a dust mite-induced allergy attack (although there is speculation her asthma medication may have been the cause).