Living

Last summer, we had a terrible fire in our valley. For a time, it was a Priority 1 fire. And the building where I work was surrounded by smoke –...

Sometimes we call them asthma episodes. Sometimes asthma attacks. Sometimes asthma flare-ups. What’s the difference between these three phrases? Here is my take. This is where asthma symptoms stop you...

On the last day of April, I coached my last Special Olympics practice — the end of a six-year-era. In lieu of a wind-up outing, due to a shortened season...

It’s summer! Many people look forward to warmer weather, longer days, and sunshine. I, however, do not enjoy summer; the heat and humidity, as well as growing mold, can trigger...

Air conditioners are great for those hot summer days. They keep the air cool, refreshing, and comfortable. There’s also evidence they may help improve asthma control. With that in mind...

As we wake in the morning, one of the first things we streamline to in the morning is coffee. That invigorating elixir that starts most people's days around the world...

So, I’m in an airplane. Somehow I usually wind up sitting above the wing. As we’re taking off, I’m looking at the wing, and this reminds me of a question...

Summer is officially here, even though it is still pretty cool here in northern California. I’m enjoying one of my favorite places, my small deck off of my bedroom on...

I’ve long wanted to write an article called Did Dinosaurs Have Asthma? However, I think we probably don’t know enough about lung physiology of a creature we can no longer...

Asthmatics have hyperactive airways. A neat way of describing this is to say that they have “twitchy airways.” So, what is this anyway? Here’s what to know. For 99.99% of...

Asthma inhalers are one of the most effective tools for achieving and maintaining steady asthma control. The medicine they deliver is important, even in the presence of triggers and irritants...

Recently, the five-year-old son in the family I work with went on his first field trip. He had a great time at the farm petting animals, checking out tractors, and...

With a family of 5 with allergies and asthma, we have a lot of allergy and asthma medicines in our house. As I was getting ready for work in our...

Breathing is a passive movement. It is an action that our brain triggers our body to do without us consciously thinking about it. Until it becomes difficult and we are...

Have you seen ads online for mobile apps or online based doctors? They’ve been available in Canada since about 2015, but being a chronic patient, I’ve never had any real...

Being a parent is a tiring job, and often, life with a chronic illness often comes with fatigue. Both together can be a recipe for complete exhaustion and feelings of...

Navigating life with a chronic condition can be challenging. Adding children and parenting stress into the mix can make it feel like an impossible task at times. No matter where...

Let’s discuss geriatric asthma. It’s a newly defined asthma subgroup. It refers to asthma in the elderly or those over the age of 65. It may present in unique ways compared...

In this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing physical health conditions. Phrases in quotes are the words of our community members across various conditions on what it’s...

Both asthma and COPD can sometimes flare up. This is often referred to as asthma or COPD exacerbations. With asthma, these episodes are usually referred to as asthma attacks. With...