There are some very special people celebrated in May: Moms! So the doctors and staff of the Florida Lung, Asthma, & Sleep Specialists want to be among the first to express their appreciation to their own mothers, and to moms throughout the world! In their honor, we print the wise remarks of Washington Irving:

A Dedication To Our Moms

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us;
when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us;
when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness,
and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Allergic Asthma Season

We have all heard the old adage that April flowers bring May Flowers! They also bring pollen, which stimulates allergic asthma.

As we reported in our previous blog, May is a very special month for Asthma Awareness. May 6 is also officially Asthma Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness for those who live with this respiratory condition. This international recognition makes it a highly appropriate time for us to share some information about this disease.

According to Dr.Sanjay Gupta, “Breathing is something we don’t need to think about, until suddenly we can’t do it. Then breathing becomes all you can think about.” This is undoubtedly true, as any asthma sufferer will testify. We have heard them compare the onset of asthma to being plunged under water without the chance to drink in air. Likewise they have said that it feels like a Mack truck parked on their chests.

Many people have asthma because they have allergies. “Anything that can cause allergies can also cause asthma symptoms,” said David Rosenstreich, MD, director of the Allergy and Immunology Division at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

Statistics tell us that three out of four adults with asthma have at least one diagnosed allergy. “In fact, the most common form of asthma is allergic asthma, which accounts for 60 percent of all cases.” Allergic asthma, is also named extrinsic asthma, because it is ignited when the sufferer inhales allergens from outside the body. We can count dust mites, mold, pollen, and pet dander as some of the most common perpetrators.

The Anatomy Behind The Asthma Attack
It only requires a few steps to begin the wheeze and gagging cough that typify an asthma attack:

Step I: An allergen, such as pollen or mold spores “triggers an immune response in the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs.”

Step II: The smooth muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes begin to tighten.

Step III: The airway is narrowed.

Step IV: Inflammation and swelling occurs in the bronchial tubes. Now the airways become even more narrowed.

Step V: The unhappy and very inflamed membranes inside the bronchial tubes secrete what they believe is a defensive measure: thick mucus.

Now the patient is really suffering because “this can narrow the tubes to the point where almost no air is passing at all.”

For some people, the Asthma attack is simply inconvenient. Others endure life threatening emergency situations. The take-away is this: In the words of the Asthma Day Awareness Campaign, “You Can Control Your Asthma.”

Do not just assume that you have asthma because you have some breathing difficulty. This condition must be examined; it should not be diagnosed and treated with over-the-counter medicine.

The Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists, advise meticulous testing and careful diagnosis for asthma. Then we can develop a treatment plan before you reach a perilous, life-threatening state. We will work with you to discover your triggers. When you know what causes your attacks, you can work to avoid those situations.

Find out about allergens in the air at this convenient site!   One other important point we have for you today:  If Mom has asthma, please consider her triggers when you choose your Mother’s Day Gift!

A Special FLASS Asthma Month Tip:  If you have a smart phone, you can load the ap that will report the condition of the air around you. Then you can take control by limiting your outdoor time on those days!