I've seen people with acute asthma attacks who got them under control just by "getting a grip" and relaxing and breathing properly. We have come to the ridiculous point in Canada where something like a child in 5 is diagnosed with asthma. If kids just got out and played a little more and got some exercise instead of being over-pre-schooled or video gamed and if they had been properly nursed by their mothers, their immune systems would be just fine. I know many allergic people (dogs/cats) who when they come to my brother's cat hair infested home for relaxing massages (his new job) they conveniently have no symptoms. I think it once again has to do with relaxation (see Sigourney Weaver in Copy Cat), the whole asthma exaggeration phenomenon is a sales gimmick. Anxiety (misnomer for bad mental hygiene) controls too many lives.
Eos of the Eons
Mad Scientist
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You seriously don't think 5 year olds should be diagnosed with asthma??? I have a severe allergy to cats, since birth, and get asthmatic symptoms around them, and NO AMOUNT OF relaxation or anthing else stops the reaction.
Bad mental hygiene. ???
Frac.
I can only wish you a nice severe allergy to contend with. You ever been stung by a bee? Go try it out. If that doesn't work, then try injecting yourself with peanut butter or something. Anything to get that reaction going. Then try your tricks. You're not allowed an antihistamine or epi pen of any kind to stop that immune system/allergy attack or asthmatic reaction.
I've been so relaxed I've been unconscious (asleep) and I've woken up to horrible reactions (including a reaction to sulfa antibiotics). Blew up like a balloon in my sleep, like the Michelin Man, 4 times my usual size, eyes swollen shut, enlarged tongue gagging me, etc. I didn't even know I was allergic to the stuff, and I wasn't unrelaxed in any way, and no amount of "relaxation" after waking up would have helped. I'd be dead if I followed your advice.
My dad had asthma in the 50s and 60s and he got plenty of exercise. He grew out of it, but not by "relaxing".
You gave your advice, now I advise you to learn something about the immune system's cells and these things called histamines. It not just about adrenalin.
Could learn the difference between allergies and asthma too. I do admit that asthma is rarely just about allergens. Allergies just exacerbate it. Almost anything can irritate though. When dealing with asthma, look up IgE.
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Eos of the Eons
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Aw heck, here:
http://www.chicagoasthma.org/site/epage/29012_410.htm
Darn cells involved in immunity make the whole things very complex, but the end result cannot be solved by "relaxing" when the reaction is severe.
I can stand to be around dogs, since my allergic reaction is low to them, but get around a cat and my life is in danger. I have no control over different levels of reaction I have to these beasts. My body decides for me how much I'm going to overeact, because my immune system's cells are set off more by one than the other. I cannot control the reaction of the mast cell, it doesn't need my brain's involvement, it is triggered by the cat's or dog's protien from their dander that lands on my skin, gets breathed in, and sets off that uncontrollable chain reaction. I have to get away before the reaction gets too severe or reach for something that will block those cells from reacting.
In the case of asthma, those airways need to be opened up, and that needs to happen before the reaction is addressed. That is quite often why two types of meds are needed, or two in one, etc.
Not a simple matter.
http://www.chicagoasthma.org/site/epage/29012_410.htm
Darn cells involved in immunity make the whole things very complex, but the end result cannot be solved by "relaxing" when the reaction is severe.
I can stand to be around dogs, since my allergic reaction is low to them, but get around a cat and my life is in danger. I have no control over different levels of reaction I have to these beasts. My body decides for me how much I'm going to overeact, because my immune system's cells are set off more by one than the other. I cannot control the reaction of the mast cell, it doesn't need my brain's involvement, it is triggered by the cat's or dog's protien from their dander that lands on my skin, gets breathed in, and sets off that uncontrollable chain reaction. I have to get away before the reaction gets too severe or reach for something that will block those cells from reacting.
In the case of asthma, those airways need to be opened up, and that needs to happen before the reaction is addressed. That is quite often why two types of meds are needed, or two in one, etc.
Not a simple matter.
You read me wrong, I said the Canadian medical system is overdiagnosing by declaring 1 in 5 has asthma. Asthma severe enough to not be controlled without medication is quite rare. It's typical of Canadians to overmedicate everything and anything.
You seriously don't think 5 year olds should be diagnosed with asthma???
Sure relaxing may not work for you but it works for a great number.
I was well nursed and properly fed in childhood, chances are I'll never have any.
Being truly allergic to antibiotics is quite different than simple asthma attacks
My words were not advice but an opinion (spending most of my life in school, mostly in biology) about the over diagnosing and over medication of Canadians, a situation that simply need not be in most cases.
Lucian
Illuminator
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I understand that you and your daughter have severe cat allergies--I really do--but do you have to qualify cats in general as "weird stuff"?
By the way, I congratulate you on not being allergic to chocolate. Life just wouldn't be worth living without chocolate
six7s
veretic
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I was diagnosed with asthma as a child. Took pills (my mommy had to grind them up and put them in OJ as I couldn't swallow them whole) from about 8-15ish. Not sure why (or exactly when) I stopped taking the pills. However, I always had emergency inhalers and used them, as needed.
My worst attack was when I was about 14 high in the mountains of Greece far from any medical facility. Even after several doses from my inhaler, my breathing didn't improve. My folks rubbed Vicks vapo rub on my chest and slowly the symptoms subsided. Scary, though.
Near the end of high school, my asthma nearly disappeared. I'd often go weeks without using my inhaler. Then I hit college and began smoking. My asthma came back with a vengeance.
On occasion, I have used tnt666’s “relaxation” technique. Sometimes I would find myself having an attack but without my inhaler. I’d simply “calm down”, take very long, deep breaths (as best I could), until the symptoms subsided. It never brought me back to 100%, but close. /anecdotal - YMMV
I’m now 35, still have asthma, still smoke, still play basketball, soccer, etc., and still use my inhaler, as needed. Trade-off, I guess.
My worst attack was when I was about 14 high in the mountains of Greece far from any medical facility. Even after several doses from my inhaler, my breathing didn't improve. My folks rubbed Vicks vapo rub on my chest and slowly the symptoms subsided. Scary, though.
Near the end of high school, my asthma nearly disappeared. I'd often go weeks without using my inhaler. Then I hit college and began smoking. My asthma came back with a vengeance.
On occasion, I have used tnt666’s “relaxation” technique. Sometimes I would find myself having an attack but without my inhaler. I’d simply “calm down”, take very long, deep breaths (as best I could), until the symptoms subsided. It never brought me back to 100%, but close. /anecdotal - YMMV
I’m now 35, still have asthma, still smoke, still play basketball, soccer, etc., and still use my inhaler, as needed. Trade-off, I guess.
Eos of the Eons
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Removing allergens is the key, not relaxing. In asthma the trigger doesn't need to be constant, just a little and you're on your way, and deep breathing will then clear the trigger if it was allergy based and was breathed in. Breathing in clear air will decreas the amount of the allergen, or clear it. Dumping a cat next to me and telling me to relax will just kill me. If someone has asthma and the trigger is constant, then telling them to relax and deep breathe will only cause the ingestion of more of the allergen and a more severe reaction. You mind has no control over the immune system cells and their reactions to allergens or antigens. You might as well try to get a blood cell to crawl out of your skin.
I'd like to see the evidence that asthma is overdiagnosed. Where are the studies please?
I'd like to see the evidence that asthma is overdiagnosed. Where are the studies please?
Lonewulf
Humanistic Cyborg
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Man, that sucks. From the sounds of it, you really cared about her... more than anyone who would just shrug their shoulders and say "whatever", when hearing her beliefs.
I hope she doesn't end up seriously hurt or dead from this, regardless.
Sorry I didn't respond sooner, obviously I've been in kind of a funk. Thanks for the kind words people. I really did care about her, unfortunately she thought we were just too different. The funny thing is that when we first started going out I was worried that it would be her worldview that would drive me away. Before her most of the people I knew were skeptics, or at least they never talked about anything crazy. I went through a pretty serious life change to accommodate her differences, she just couldn't do the same for me I guess. /sigh
Fortunately the people who actually know what they're talking about recognise this for the complete load of crap it is, otherwise I'd probably be dead. You're free to give us your opinion, but don't expect to be treated as anything other than an uninformed idiot when it's as nonsensically wrong as this.
Lonewulf
Humanistic Cyborg
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Well, there's plenty of fish in the sea, as they say.
Just gotta pick yourself up and keep on going.
I wish I could say something insightful or more comforting, but I can't think of anything...
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six7s
veretic
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Lonewulf
Humanistic Cyborg
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How does that work?
Go to a singles bar and ask 'Do I come here often?'?
However it is more fortunate, less reclusive people manage to get girlfriends. D:
I wouldn't know one way or the other.
Lonewulf
Humanistic Cyborg
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luchog
Neo-Post-Retro-Revivalist
Of course. That's what makes cats so much fun!