alt.support.asthma FAQ:
Asthma -- General Information

Introduction

This FAQ attempts to answer the most frequently asked questions about asthma on the newsgroup alt.support.asthma. It was compiled by Patricia Wrean, prwrean@sfu.ca and is currently maintained by Marie Goldenberg, mwg@radix.net. The Asthma Medications FAQ is also posted monthly as a companion to this one. For information about allergies, please see the alt.support.asthma FAQ: Allergies -- General Information (still under construction), and its companion posting, the Allergy Medications FAQ.

Please be aware that the information in this FAQ is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consulting with a doctor. Most of the contributors are not health care professionals; this FAQ is a collection of personal experiences, suggestions, and practical information. Please remember when reading this that every asthmatic responds differently; what is true for some asthmatics may or may not be true for you. Although every effort is made to keep this information accurate, this FAQ should not be used as an authoritative reference.

Comments, additions, and corrections are requested; if you do not wish your name to be included in the contributors list, please state that explicitly when contributing. I will accept additions upon my own judgement -- I'll warn you right now that I'm a confirmed skeptic and am not a great believer in alternative medicine. All unattributed portions are my own contributions or those of the original author, Patricia Wrean prwrean@sfu.ca.

Archive-name: medicine/asthma/general-info
URL: http://www.radix.net/~mwg/asthma-gen.html
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: 17 September 2000
Version: 5.3

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not added yet

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added since last version

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updated/corrected since last version

Table of Contents

General Information

0.0 Changes since last version

1.0 What is asthma?

1.0.1 What is chronic asthmatic bronchitis?

1.0.2 What is status asthmaticus?

1.0.3 What is anaphylactic shock?

1.0.4 What is COPD?

1.0.5 What is emphysema?

1.0.6 What is bronchitis?

1.0.7 What is pneumonia?

1.0.8 What is cystic fibrosis?

1.1 What is an asthma attack?

1.1.1 What is wheezing?

1.1.2 Do all asthmatics wheeze?

1.1.3 What is `coughing asthma'?

1.1.4 Is asthma hereditary?

1.2 How is asthma diagnosed?

1.2.1 What is a spirometer?

1.2.2 What is a peak flow meter?

1.3 How is asthma normally treated?

1.3.1 How is an acute asthma attack treated?

1.4 What are the most common triggers of asthma?

1.4.1 What is intrinsic/extrinsic asthma?

1.4.2 Can gastric reflux trigger asthma?

1.4.3 What is occupational asthma?

1.5 Asthma and Pregnancy

Medications

2.0 What are the major classes of asthma medications?

2.1 What are the names of the various asthma medications?

2.1.1 Are salbutamol and albuterol the same drug?

2.1.2 Can albuterol be taken while taking salmeterol?

2.2 Are some asthma drugs banned in athletic competitions?

2.3 What kinds of inhalers are there?

2.3.1 Do inhaler propellants bother some asthmatics?

2.3.2 What is a spacer? What is a holding chamber?

2.3.3 What is "thrush mouth" and how can I avoid it?

2.3.4 Is Fisons still making the Intal Spinhaler?

2.3.5 What's the difference between Spinhalers and Rotahalers?

2.3.6 Why are so many asthma drugs taken via inhaler?

2.3.7 How can I tell when my MDI is empty?

2.3.8 Are my aerosol inhalers going to disappear?

2.4 What kinds of tablets are there?

2.4.1 Why do I need a blood test when taking theophylline?

2.4.2 Why are combination pills not commonly prescribed?

2.5 What is a nebulizer?

2.6 What medications should asthmatics be careful about taking?

2.6.1 What about corticosteroids and chicken pox?

Miscellaneous

3.0 What resources are there for asthmatics?

3.1 Where can I get the latest copy of the FAQs?

3.2 What is an FAQ, anyway? What is a Usenet newsgroup?

3.3 How about some other WWW links?

List of Contributors

References

Disclaimer

General Information

0.0 Changes since last version

September 17, 2000

Asthma Gen: Added 3.3 WWW links section

Asthma Gen: Added reference to Living Well With Asthma book

Asthma Gen: Added reference to The Doser (inhaler counter) in section 2.3.7

Asthma Med: Added reference to Advair (salmeterol / fluticasone)

Asthma Med: Added reference to Bambec (bambuterol)

Asthma Med: Added reference to Combivent (ipratropium / salbutamol)

Asthma Med: Noted that Bronkaid and Isuprel appear to have been discontinued in Canada

Asthma Med: Added reference to Xopenex (levalbuterol)

Asthma Med: Added reference to Oxeze (formoterol) turbuhaler

Asthma Med: Added reference to Pulmicort neb soln available in US

September 17, 1998

Asthma Med: Added note that Foradil (formoterol) is now available in Canada

February 17, 1998

Asthma Med: Added Serevent Diskus, Flovent Rotahaler, Pulmicort, Airomir,

Tilade nebulizer solution, and Singulair (newly approved medications)

Asthma Med: Added note that Medihaler-Epi has been discontinued

Allergy Med: Added note that Seldane has been discontinued

Allergy Med: Added Nasonex (newly approved medication)

Asthma General: Added section 1.4.3, Occupational Asthma

December 6, 1997

Asthma General: Split web version of FAQ document into multiple-page format.

August 17, 1997

Asthma General: Added section 1.5, "Pregnancy and Asthma"

Asthma General: Added reference to new version of NHLBI report

Asthma General: Added reference to Adams book

Asthma General: Correct reference to Gershwin to reflect 2nd edition

June 17, 1997

Asthma General: Correct publication information on "Children With Asthma" by Dr. Plaut

Asthma General: Added links to archived version of Allergy Medication FAQ

May 17, 1997

Asthma Med: Added note that Nasalcrom now Over-The-Counter (OTC) in US.

Asthma Med: Added Zyflo to Leukotriene Receptor Inhibitor section

Asthma Med: Added Proventil HFA MDI

Asthma General: Added discussion of phaseout of CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) MDIs

Asthma General: removed comment that "both spinhaler and rotahaler are available in the US"

(the spinhaler is not available in the US)

Disclaimer

Copyright 1996 by Patricia Wrean, 1997-2000 by Marie Goldenberg. Permission is given to freely copy or distribute this FAQ provided that it is distributed in full without modification, and that such distribution is not intended for profit.