Asthma Alcohol
Hi. I am an asthma patient. I have the habit of drinking and I have a feeling that alcohol consumption is making my condition worse. Is there any connection between asthma and alcohol consumption? I am single and I stay alone. I have no idea how to deal with sudden asthma attacks? Luckily when I had my last attack, my friend was there who just came to visit me. We both were drinking and after lunch, I started wheezing and it became uncontrollable. I cannot abstain from drinking. What should I do? My sister suggested an alcohol addiction treatment in Calgary ( http://www.canadadrugrehab.ca/ ). Anyone here has previous experiences? Or is there any other effective way?
I can't advise regarding the treatment issue. However, I can attest that anything is possible with asthma and what triggers it. I've found that alcohol can trigger mine, especially wines that have sulfites in them. Whenever I drink it, I have to ask myself, is having an asthma attack worth my life? Frankly, for the many years I've had asthma, I've never taken it very seriously....until recently. If indeed alcohol is a trigger for you, you may need to discuss it with your healthcare provider and doing some soul searching. Is alcohol worth your life?
I wish you the best.
Thanks so much for your candid posts Shon and Elisabeth. While we cannot provide medical advice over the internet (for your own safety), your comments certainly warrant a response.
There are many different 'triggers' for asthma - and it's best to set yourself up with a physician who treats asthma to learn what yours are, Shon. At the same time, you can discuss your circumstances surrounding your alcohol consumption. You may also want to listen to your sister's good advice.
I thought you might find it helpful to review this material on asthma triggers: https://asthma.net/triggers/Please check back with us and let us know how you're doing. All the best, Leon (site moderator)
