Estimated 80% of Asthma Attacks caused by Rhinovirus - the common cold (plus what to do about it)

[Matman]

I wrote not so long ago about use of Nasal Spray such as First Defence (there are other brands too). These Sprays are suppose to help prevent you getting a cold if someone sneezes or coughs over you.

Don’t recal, at that time, being aware of the fact rhino viruses (colds) cause an estimated Whopping 80% of Asthma Exacerbations,

My solution, especially when mixing with crowns that might result in coughs and sneezes coming my way from unshielded gobs and noses, is to carry my First Defence and instantly use it up my own nose in response to receiving a cough or sneeze in the face., Also, to rapidly getting out of close proximity to the sneezer or cougher.

Very recently (in Italy) a Medical Community App - not one you can download - has been developed for the medical community to start to identify precisely ‘which’ rhino virus someone is contaminated with by testing their blood. This goes hand in hand with research hoped to evolve treatments for the specific cold virus that are most likely to trigger Asthma.

If you think you’re about to get a rhinovirus (cold) what else can you do? Maybe short term increase of Vitamins C, D, E (naturally from food / drink, or via supplements) PLUS temporarily susspend all booze drinking, as recent Aussie Research has pinpointed several triggers in all forms of booze that could make your Asthma worse. Wine in particular contains sulphites which are among the worse culprits apparently, but it’s not just Wine / Sulphites but other stuff that ends up in booze too, including alcohol itself. (Remember alcohol is a poison / toxin).

I don’t like using Pub / Club / Restaurant or Cafe Glasses, nor their Cups (except for paper disposables) as I’ve seen how often they are poorly washed after the ‘customer before you’ (who had a cold to pass on) drunk from them. Ditto Cutlery unless, again, disposable.

Finally, carrying a small bottle of hand disinfectant gel (pharmacists sell for about a £1) can be useful if using public transport, recreational facilities like Gyms and Swimming Pools, or when visiting GP Surgeries / Hospitals.

Cut down the opportunities for catching a rhino virus infection, in order to cut down your risk of Asthma Exacerbations.

Matman

[Robin77]

Do you have any links to the people in Italy working on this App?

Re colds and asthma attacks, for me every single cold leads to severe exacerbations and chest infections.

So thank you for sharing precautions.

Will see if I can buy First Defence online.

I've become fanatical about hand disinfectant. On public transport I've also been using masks and that makes me feel a lot safer. My doctor advised me to use what they use in her hospital. They are comfortable, fit closely and have a filter grade 3. Supposed to filter out finest particles like viral particles. Nobody stares. I just can't risk infections any more.

[Blizzard1 in reply to Robin77]

I've been considering using masks too. I'm more worried about not catching anything than feeling self conscious - how well have you found they work?

[Robin77 in reply to Blizzard1]

Well, only been using them for the last four/five months! If they stop me getting the 2 severe exacerbations per year I've getting, I'll be happy! Truth be told, if I had been properly diagnosed, I would have been far more aware years ago. I would have avoiding public transport as much as possible and using masks for every unavoidable trip or crowded public place. Everybody knew I had problems but insufficient action was taken, including by me. That's what you get for battling on regardless. If you want to know the brand, I can PM you. Bought on Amazon, not cheap but not your basic model either. Supposed to filter viral as well as bacterial particles and very comfortable to wear.

[Blizzard1 in reply to Robin77]

Please could I have info on the mask too!

[Beader3 in reply to Robin77]

Please give info on mask!

[Robin77 in reply to Beader3]

OK, will PM later or tomorrow since not allowed to mention brands here.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Robin77]

I would also like to know about masks. I'm more interested in them for keeping out polllution, but find that the proper ones I buy with filters actually make it hard to breathe when walking - they seem to fit too closely. I can use them short term but any length of time and it just makes breathing harder - not asthma just the having something in front of mouth and nose.

[Matman in reply to Robin77]

Believe First Defence is available without prescription in most UK High Street Pharmacists. There are a few other similar Nasal Sprays that appear to do much the same thing which your local Pharmacist will be able to refer you too - so can’t say one is better than the others as I’ve only tried First Defence.

The Tech is targeted at the Medical Community so is probably not available to the Public. However, here’s the Link to Article mentioning Chip / App developers:

medicalxpress.com/news/2018...

[Robin77 in reply to Matman]

Thank you, Matman.

[Hidden]

Matman, whilst I can completely understand that you would want to get out of the way of anyone who is sneezing and coughing (I would do likewise), I believe that the common cold is actually infectious from before symptoms start to show.

It’s almost impossible to completely avoid getting such bugs, however I have found over the years that keeping myself as physically fit as is possible (even though I’m an exercise induced asthmatic) has really helped in lessening the impact of a cold when I do get one.

[Matman in reply to Hidden]

Agree with your first point...but...it is also an acknowledged fact that coughs and sneezes spread infection and that - even after the non-symptomatic period - infection continues to get spread in the early symptomatic phase by infected airborne nasal and lung fluids harbouring the virus.

Ref your second point, I agree that exercise is important but have not seen any evidence that it improves immunity (though it can probably help in coping with infection).

[Hidden in reply to Matman]

Of course the airborne spread is a problem, but that’s not the point I’m making. It’s the less obvious phase (the symptomless phase) that makes it so hard to avoid catching a cold. That and the fact that door handles, computers, phones, desk surfaces, etc, can all harbour cold germs too.

Re exercise - from my own experience (and I’ve been asthmatic for over fifty years) I have found that the more physically fit I am the healthier I tend to be as far as infections are concerned. Exercise doesn’t necessarily stop me getting a cold - though actually it’s rare for me to get a really bad one - but I do think it may be why when I do I get a bad one, I usually tend to recover from it well and quite quickly.