Can Flu Trigger an Asthma Attack?

[baroque570]

Good morning. I have had a nasty case of a virus, probably flu. Yesterday, I started to get that spasmodic coughing that I get from cough variant asthma. Finally, I started to (maybe) put two and two together and I reached for my Ventolin inhaler. The cough eased for about an hour. Question: Could a virus trigger CVA?

[Erin001]

Any illness can affect asthma whether it's an infection or virus it can all affect it

To be honest with you anything can affect asthma

Sorry to hear your feeling a bit rough

Did you not get the flu jab all asthmatics are entitled to it for free?

[baroque570 in reply to Erin001]

Thanks Erin. That does explain things! I did get the flu jab, but it seems that I got the bug anyway. Last night I couldn't stop coughing, but I didn't put it together with CVA. Finally I used the rescue inhaler just to see whether it would help. I'd already taken tons of cough medicine to no avail. I was amazed to see that the Ventalin worked. That explains it. It WAS an asthma attack after all.

[Hidden]

Hi baroque570

There's some info here about colds and flu when you have asthma. bit.ly/2y6A7p5

Colds and flu can raise your risk of having an asthma attack, the exact reason for the link hasn't been well understood. The latest research we have suggests that when people with asthma get a cold or flu, there's a rise in levels of an inflammatory protein in the cells that line the airways. This can set off a range of other inflammatory reactions, including narrowing of the airways, which can lead to an asthma attack.

If you have a written asthma action plan, do update it with your doctor or asthma nurse with this trigger.

Hope that helps,

Dita

[baroque570 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, Dita. Great information! I will definitely follow through.