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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Asthma / January 2007

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Asthma meds - are they necessary if no symptoms

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Jett456@yahoo.com - 22 Jan 2007 00:06 GMT
I have adult onset asthma, at least that is what I am told.  I have
never had an asthma attack but have suffered a few bouts of bad
bronchitis over the last 10 years resulting in lung damage.  Spirometry
test results were mild COPD.  My last CT scan showed 'emphysema like
changes'  I did smoke when I was younger (I'm 48) but not heavy.  My
docs have put me on singulair and asmanex.  I feel like maybe I
shouldn't be on these medications without symptoms and that my doctors
are maybe pushing drugs.  They say if I don' t take the meds it will
result in emphysema.  My only symptom is an  occasional feeling of
breathlessness when walking up hills.   I really hate taking medicine
if it isn't really necessary.
Linkd@mindspring.com - 22 Jan 2007 02:54 GMT
Yeh, like mabey the medication helps.  Stop taking them and prove the
doctors point.  You think you have only a few symptoms and a litte
lung damage now wait until you get older.  How many opinions have you
from other doctors.  Probably none since you are so informed.

>I have adult onset asthma, at least that is what I am told.  I have
>never had an asthma attack but have suffered a few bouts of bad
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>breathlessness when walking up hills.   I really hate taking medicine
>if it isn't really necessary.
mcs - 23 Jan 2007 23:31 GMT
>I have adult onset asthma, at least that is what I am told.  I have
> never had an asthma attack but have suffered a few bouts of bad
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> breathlessness when walking up hills.   I really hate taking medicine
> if it isn't really necessary.

If you don't take asthma meds it will result in emphysema? I think the point
is to help you breathe and if you can't breathe good enough you might get
worse . But what if you move to clean air and you breathe better, you think
you will get emphysema still ? I never heard that , from a doctor
00doc - 24 Jan 2007 01:45 GMT
>I have adult onset asthma, at least that is what I am told.  I have
> never had an asthma attack but have suffered a few bouts of bad
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> breathlessness when walking up hills.   I really hate taking medicine
> if it isn't really necessary.

I think you need the diagnosis clarified.

Preventative meds do not alter the long term course of the disease in
emphysema. Dilators are used for symptoms and inhaled steroids are sometimes
useful to prevent frequent attacks. If there are no sumptoms and no flares
there is no need for meds.

Asthma, which is distinct from emphysema, is more tricky. Inhaled steroids
do prevent long term lung damage from uncontrolled inflammation. The meds
should be tapered tot he lowest effective dose inclkuding commingoff of them
completely if doing well enough. However, asthmatics are notorious for
underestimating the severity of their disease. In addition to monitoring
symptoms objective tests such as spirometry and peak flows should be used.

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