Asthma - Marla Elkins, FNP

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Marla Elkins, FNP
Asthma

Q: What is asthma and what are the most common causes of asthma?
A: Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways in the lungs. There are two types of asthma –airway constriction & inflammation. Airway constriction may make you feel a tightening in your chest. The muscles around the airways of your lungs squeeze together or tighten. Inflammation can reduce the amount of air that you can take in or breathe out. They become more swollen and irritated when your asthma symptoms worsen. In some cases, too much thick mucus is produced, which further obstructs the airways.

Q: Is there more than one type of asthma?
A: There are several types of asthma: allergic, nonallergic, exercise, cough variant, and pregnancy related. The type of asthma depends on the triggers or cause of the asthma and the symptoms that each individual experiences. Triggers can include tobacco smoke, dust mites, pets, mold, strong odors, pollen, exercise, cold weather, and colds and other infections.

Q: What are some symptoms of asthma?
A: There are several symptoms of asthma. Wheezing produces a whistling sound usually heard when breathing out. A cough or hack that may not go away and often occurs or worsens at night or with exercise. Chest tightness is described as feeling as if a rope is being pulled tighter and tighter around your chest. Shortness of breath, often described as feeling as though you're trying to breathe through a straw and can't catch your breath at all. With asthma, breathing out is especially tough.

Q: Do allergies have any effect on asthma symptoms?
A: Yes, allergies can make asthma worse especially if you have allergy induced asthma. Allergic asthma is triggered by an allergic reaction to allergens such as pollen or pet dander. You may find that your asthma is worse in the spring when there is an increase in flowering plants, while others find their asthma is worse in the late summer or early fall due to ragweed or mold from leaves on trees. These triggers can cause airway constriction, inflammation, and mucous production to become worse. Typical allergies cannot develop into asthma.

Q: What level of exercise can someone with asthma perform?
A: You probably already know that asthma can affect your life on a daily basis. But there is a lot you can do to minimize triggers. Planning and adjusting your exercise carefully—and consulting your doctor—can help you find an exercise routine that won’t cause asthma symptoms. It is important that your doctor knows how exercise affects you and if it triggers symptoms. Talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Q: I have asthma and am planning to start a family. What precautions do I need to take to have a safe pregnancy?
A: The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor prior to becoming pregnant about what you might expect and what you can do about your asthma symptoms.

Q: Are there any natural treatments for asthma?
A: Avoiding your known triggers can help you to reduce the amount of medication that you may need.

Q: Is asthma preventable? Is there a cure?
A: Asthma can be preventable if the cause is environmental exposures and the worsening of symptoms can also be preventable. Unfortunately most asthma never goes away but the right treatment can help keep it under control.

Q: Can children “outgrow” their asthma?
A: Once a person's airways become sensitive due to asthma, they remain that way for life. However, about 50% of children experience a noticeable decrease in asthma symptoms by the time they become adolescents, therefore appearing to have "outgrown" their asthma. About half of these children will develop symptoms again in their 30's or 40's. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict whose symptoms will decrease during adolescence and whose will return later in life.

Q: Are there any foods that can trigger asthma that should be avoided?
A: Any foods that you feel make your symptoms increase should be avoided or at least enjoyed in smaller amounts or less frequently. Some common culprits are beer, wine, shrimp, and dried fruits. Some medicines, including over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, cold medicines, nonsteroidal pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), and even eye drops can also trigger asthma symptoms.

Q: Can stress trigger an asthma attack?
A: Stress is a common asthma trigger. When you have stress and asthma, you might feel short of breath, anxious, and even panicked. Stress may cause your asthma symptoms to worsen and cause you to feel frightened. As the wheezing and coughing gets worse, your health becomes one more reason to worry. Asthma, stress, and anxiety make for a vicious circle, and one that can spiral downward quickly.

Q: Does being overweight have any effect on asthma symptoms?
A: In obese people the lungs are under-expanded and the size of breath is smaller. These factors make it more likely that their airways will narrow. In addition, there is chronic low grade systemic inflammation in the obese. This systemic inflammation appears to originate in fat tissue. Inflammation can affect the smooth muscle in the airways causing the airways to narrow excessively.

Bio:
Marla Elkins, FNP, has worked with Fred Shield, MD, at Cedarwood Internal Medicine for three years. She and Dr. Shield see a wide range of patients with a focus on treating patients with asthma.

Marla earned her undergraduate degree in nursing at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, and practiced as a registered nurse for four years before earning a masters degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Marla is a family nurse practitioner, certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Marla grew up in a small town near Redding, California, and now lives near Lake Don Pedro with her husband and two children. She enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with family and friends and also practices Sho Shu Kung Fu.