Q: I'm a figure skater, and maybe after a few jumps and spins, I start wheezing and my chest feels so tight that I have a really hard time breathing. I don't know why this is happening. I was never like this before, and I'm pretty confident that I don't have asthma, since I have 4 cats and I would have known if I did. Does it have something to do with my diet? I'll admit it, I haven't exactly followed my balanced meal guidelines this month. Or does it have something to do with me getting dengue 9 months ago? It's really affecting my performance in the rink. And I also notice that in PE at school, I also undergo the same things. Why is this? Please answer sensibly. I would like to get some answers here first, before consulting my doctor, as it is quite a hefty sum to get a checkup. Thank you in advance. I don't take vitamins. What are the multivitamins you can recommend? I'm 13, tortoise. I don't smoke, stupid. I don't and never will. Hey, watch your fat-lipped mouth, toad. I am a FIGURE SKATER. We ain't fat, got that?? And, PLEASE, I am 13! I haven't even kissed someone yet!!
A: My answer will be quite lengthy but, informative and useful. Exercise is a common trigger of asthma attacks. People with Exercise Induced Asthma are believed to be more common than usually sensitive to changes in the air temperature and humidity to changes of the air. * When you are at rest, you breathe through your nose (and sometimes when we are asleep). Breathing through the nose serves to warm and humidify the air you breathe in to make it more like the air in the lungs. * When you are exercising, your breathe through the mouth and the air that hits or enters your lungs, is colder and drier. The contrast between the warm air in the lungs and the cold inhaled air, can trigger an attack. I'm almost finished. * Once the attack is triggered, the airways begin to swell, this is known as a broncospasm. Plus, larger amount of mucus are secreted. * The swelling and extra mucus partially blocks or obstructs the airways. This makes it more difficult to push air out of your lungs or, to exhale. * Keep an asthma diary ( symptoms, length of the attack, weather conditions, etc.) * There are several medications (pills) and inhalers that are quite helpful in controlling your attacks. I realize that money is an issue with being evaluated by your Doc but, you need to be evaluated and have something prescribed for you. You can arrange a payment plan so that you don't have to pay the full amount of the cost of the visit. Call the office ahead of time to find out if they are willing to do this for you. If not, go to the Emergency Room. They will schedule a payment plan. **Whew ! Here's a great website that is very informative and easy to understand: http://www.webmd.com/asthma/exercise-induced-asthma I hope that this is helpful and Good Luck with the financial problem.