I'm writing to see if anyone can steer me toward some
advice that might help my asthmatic brother-in-law, who
lives in Glasgow, Scotland. He is 50, and here's his
medical history:

-Severe asthma as a child.
-Developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
as an adult.
-Recently his asthma attacks returned--he said when
they occur they happen first thing in the morning.
-Has twice fainted at the onset of a coughing fit.
-Sometimes suffers the "shakes" (I think this may be
after he uses his inhaler?)
-He mentioned something called "rigor," but I don't
know what that is.

National Health doctors in Scotland are not always the
most forthcoming with information, and many patients
overseas are much less direct in dealing with their
doctors than we Americans are. So I'm trying to suggest
to my brother-in-law where he might find some help, whether
it be asking his doctor new questions, trying new medicine,
trying techniques to avoid attacks, etc.

I'm hoping he can at least discover the cause of his
fainting and find a better way to cope with or limit the
return of his asthma.

I'm not sure exactly what medicines he's taking, but he
has an inhaler, and he mentioned a beta-blocker.

Any help or advice you can offer would be appreciated.