Silly Question

I personally find that i can breathe in really easily it is breathing out i find really hard is this normal asthma? Does any one else find this?

Just curious - not looking for medical advise

Plumie

[Hidden]

yeah, at times i feel this, very strange especially before i was diagnosed with asthma! Can breathe in no problem but have to make a big effort and kinda squeeze with my tummy muscles to exhale. Its not always like that tho.

[Hidden]

plumie- its a classic sign of an asthma attack. if you think about it the peak flow measures the breaths out-

[Hidden]

Like the others say its quite normal in asthma. Normally to breathe in the diaphragm falttens and intercostal muscles lift the ribs causing a drop of pressure inside the thorax so air to rushes in to th lungs to equalise the pressure difference. The reason exhaling is affected first is that it is usually a passive process, normally you just relax your diaphram and intercostal muscles, the lungs recoil due to their elastic nature, increasing pressure inside the thorax so air moves out of the lungs to equalise the pressure again. When there is obstuction to air flow in the airways this natural recoil may not generate enough pressure difference to force the air out through narrowed airways. You can force air out of your lungs using intercostal and abdominal muscles, but the body was not designed to work that way, it is very tiring and the pressure difference when you breathe out won't be as much as you can create breathing in.

[Hidden]

Yes people with Asthma struggle to breathe out rather than having problems breathing in. I think some people have trouble with both when they're really not feeling well but mostly its on breathing out, or expiratory phase, hence why they usually say you have an expiratory wheeze if you wheeze and the peak flow, measures expiratory rate.

hope that helps

[Hidden]

hey

thank you for your replies that is really helpful! I like the detailed reply too thank you! It does explain a lot. I did think i should know the answer but i guess it not something you think of till someone says something.

Thank you!

Plumie