cold air asthma mask
Question:
> I live in Canada and have suffered from asthma induced by cold/dry air since > 1994.
I used to have problems in cold weather and my tubes went into spasm as soon as I stepped out. One doctor described me as having hypersensitive airways. I also relied on Ventolin, which is not a good crutch to overuse. I don’t know what Qvar is, but my problem was effectively treated with Flovent, and while I can feel increased effort in breathing in the cold, there is no more spasm and during the rest of the year I always have comfortable breathing. Flovent is a corticosteroid and you take it all year at a dose tailored to you. It basically desensitizes your airways so there is no longer a need for air warming measures. I would recommend you see a specialist and look for a treatment such as Flovent in order to permanently make your airways less of a problem.
Response:
> As a hunter, I like to use a virgin wool scarf around my neck and wrap > it to cover my nose and mouth. It’s quite soft and seems to work well to > keep me from coughing and gasping in realy cold, dry air which is pretty > common here in Nebraska in the winter time.
I’m alergic to wool but polyproylene "wool" works for me. One of these days I would like to get one of those Eskimo parkas with the long hood and wolverine fur rim. I doubt I’ll ever be able to aford one so I might just try making something similar. Ted
Response:
Mike, As a hunter, I like to use a virgin wool scarf around my neck and wrap it to cover my nose and mouth. It’s quite soft and seems to work well to keep me from coughing and gasping in realy cold, dry air which is pretty common here in Nebraska in the winter time. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I live in Canada and have suffered from asthma induced by cold/dry > air since 1994. Throughout life I’d get colds and they started to > last longer and finally one lasted for 6 months with multi-antibiotic > treatments and finally a doctor prescrived some ventolin and it gave > some relief. Since 1994, I’ve given up all winter sports. ><SNIP> > If anyone else has some tips or tricks to > help with cold/dry air or on their experiences with polarwrap I would > certainly appreciate hearing about them. Mike Dugan (PhD, Animal > Nutrition) Lacombe, Alberta, Canada
Response:
Combining a beta2-agonist with a face mask to prevent exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Millqvist E, Bengtsson U, Lowhagen O. Allergy Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to test the effect of combining a P2-agonist with a heat- and moisture-exchanging cellulose face mask in patients with bronchoconstriction induced by exercise in cold air. METHODS: Nine allergic, asthmatic patients with a history of adverse reaction to exercise were tested on an ergometric bicycle at a temperature of approximately -10 degrees C. They were in turn given no treatment, given premedication with a beta2-agonist, allowed to breathe through a heat- and moisture-exchanging cellulose face mask, and given both premedication and the face mask. After each treatment regimen, they were subjected to provocation with exercise and cold air. RESULTS: The decrease in FEV, was greatest with no therapy (mean maximal change: 27%), and this diminished when the face mask was used (mean maximal change: 12%,) or premedication with a 32-agonist was given (mean maximal change: 7%); no decrease in FEV1 occurred with the combination of agonist and face mask. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that different mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). This finding may be of importance for asthmatic athletes who train and compete in a cold climate and are affected by small changes in their lung function.
Response:
>When I go outside in winter, I always have to >cover my mouth/nose when breathing and keep my humidity high in my apartment. > I never seem to be able to catch my asthma problems before it’s >too late and I suffer for a couple weeks with a tight chest, dried airways….
I searched "weather and asthma" on Medline. Over 1000 results, many about just this issue. Interesting stuff. The lung linings of Asthma sufferers just tend to dry out so much quicker than the general population, it seems. Cold/dry or even hot/dry air are the usual suspects, of course. Then the problems begin. This is not news here. The mechanisms of why lung drying happens, and all so quickly, were an eye opener, though. >The masks work as a heat exhanger (you breath into what appears to be >a copper mesh and vapors condense and the warm air heats the copper, and >when you breath in, the air gets heated and humidified)
Quality warming masks with preventive medication showed excellent results with Scandanavian athletes in one study. In fact, I have not see another good solution yet. Gonna try this approach myself. I am no expert, and not selling anything, just looking for my own EIA answers. Good control, nose breathing, and all the other kinds of nose and mouth coverings only go so far. Thanks for posting about this, Mike. Dave
Response:
> I live in Canada and have suffered from asthma induced by cold/dry > air since 1994.
This seems almost too obvious to mention, but have you tried using a humidifier in your home and/or workplace? If your lungs are well-hydrated when you go out into the cold, perhaps you will fare better. For me staying well-hydrated when I exercise is a problem. I always drink water in advance and almost constantly during the exercise, but I often still end up with cramps and the constant-throat-clearing kind of respiratory discomfort. Plus, I have to urinate several times in the hours after the exercise, which is a problem if I’m going to a concert or a movie. It has occurred to me to purchase a humidifier for use during the exercise since I usually work out on a stationary rower or bike here at home. — (650) 236-2231 [daytime] http://www.wsrcc.com/alison/ Q.: Why does Bush want to invade Iraq? A.: Because invading the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge would be too obvious.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I live in Canada and have suffered from asthma induced by cold/dry air since > 1994. Throughout life I’d get colds and they started to last longer and > finally one lasted for 6 months with multi-antibiotic treatments and finally > a doctor prescrived some ventolin and it gave some relief. Since 1994, I’ve > given up all winter sports. When I go outside in winter, I always have to > cover my mouth/nose when breathing and keep my humidity high in my > apartment. I never seem to be able to catch my asthma problems before it’s > too late and I suffer for a couple weeks with a tight chest, dried airways > and thick mucus. Respiratory difficulties always seem to settle in my chest > and then with a course of antibiotics. I’ve typically used ventolin > regularly when I’ve had difficulties (even though I have no change in > max-flow rate) and recently I’ve upgraded to 2 puffs, 2 x day Qvar to see if > I can get better control. Now that that’s said…. > I realize my difficulties arise usually with cold/dry air and I’ve hunter > around the net for a mask to help. A couple years ago I tried one but it was > just thin foam rubber that didn’t seem to do anything for me. Recently I was > searching again and happened upon PolarWrap masks. I first found them on a > law-enforcement website and they endorced them for wear in cold weather for > those who have to spend a lot of time in the cold. I then went to the > website www.polarwrap.com website and found a local retailer that carried > them. The masks work as a heat exhanger (you breath into what appears to be > a copper mesh and vapors condense and the warm air heats the copper, and > when you breath in, the air gets heated and humidified) and they are really > not that bulky. The website also seems to have some credible evidence on the > effectiveness of the mask for heating and humidifying inspired air. I tried > it last night at about -10 degrees C and it actually seemed to work. I’ve > also used it a little around the house when my asthma starts to flare with > some success. I hope this is not a re-post and I haven’t wasted your time. > If anyone else has some tips or tricks to help with cold/dry air or on their > experiences with polarwrap I would certainly appreciate hearing about them. > Mike Dugan (PhD, Animal Nutrition) > Lacombe, Alberta, Canada
I don’t think I could stand all that around my neck. That would give me clausterphobia (sp). I just use a dust mask in the cold, seems to help me and they are throw away. But then again, the climate isn’t that cold around here in Texas. Kathy
Response:
I live in Canada and have suffered from asthma induced by cold/dry air since 1994. Throughout life I’d get colds and they started to last longer and finally one lasted for 6 months with multi-antibiotic treatments and finally a doctor prescrived some ventolin and it gave some relief. Since 1994, I’ve given up all winter sports. When I go outside in winter, I always have to cover my mouth/nose when breathing and keep my humidity high in my apartment. I never seem to be able to catch my asthma problems before it’s too late and I suffer for a couple weeks with a tight chest, dried airways and thick mucus. Respiratory difficulties always seem to settle in my chest and then with a course of antibiotics. I’ve typically used ventolin regularly when I’ve had difficulties (even though I have no change in max-flow rate) and recently I’ve upgraded to 2 puffs, 2 x day Qvar to see if I can get better control. Now that that’s said…. I realize my difficulties arise usually with cold/dry air and I’ve hunter around the net for a mask to help. A couple years ago I tried one but it was just thin foam rubber that didn’t seem to do anything for me. Recently I was searching again and happened upon PolarWrap masks. I first found them on a law-enforcement website and they endorced them for wear in cold weather for those who have to spend a lot of time in the cold. I then went to the website www.polarwrap.com website and found a local retailer that carried them. The masks work as a heat exhanger (you breath into what appears to be a copper mesh and vapors condense and the warm air heats the copper, and when you breath in, the air gets heated and humidified) and they are really not that bulky. The website also seems to have some credible evidence on the effectiveness of the mask for heating and humidifying inspired air. I tried it last night at about -10 degrees C and it actually seemed to work. I’ve also used it a little around the house when my asthma starts to flare with some success. I hope this is not a re-post and I haven’t wasted your time. If anyone else has some tips or tricks to help with cold/dry air or on their experiences with polarwrap I would certainly appreciate hearing about them. Mike Dugan (PhD, Animal Nutrition) Lacombe, Alberta, Canada
Response:
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