This sounds like a stupid question, I know.

[Wheezycat]

I wonder if others are clearer than I am about susceptibility to any respiratory viruses if you have asthma? I am thinking if your asthma is otherwise well controlled, not if you are going through a bad spell. I am asking as both my husband and I are over 70, so currently clinically vulnerable, but he considers me more vulnerable due to my asthma. But could I be more likely to pick up the Covid or any virus due to my asthma? I know both steroid inhalers and Montelukast suppress some immune responses like inflammation, but does that make us also more susceptible to getting any virus in the first place? Or is he (and I to some extent) unnecessarily concerned? We are being meticulously careful at present, and I prefer that.

[Chip_y2kuk]

Inhaled steroids reduce the immune systems function in the lungs and that will make you more susceptible

Also asthma as a chronic condition makes your lungs the weak spot and an easy target for any virus/illness

For example in February I had a cold, they don't normally do well in me as I take herbal supplements to boost my immune system.. the snotty nose lasted 2 days start to finish I felt a bit tired and had a slight temperature at this time (just 2 days)..... a few days later I was in the doctors picking up 10 days of antibiotics and steroids for a chest infection

Chip

[Wheezycat in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Hi, yes, I know once you have these things it can sink you. They have done me In often enough, so that part is far from unfamiliar. But as you say the suppressed immune systems may be an extra hazard. It is the actual catching it I am curious about.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Wheezycat]

Providing the rest of you is healthy you should have the same chance as anyone else it's the... *if*.... you catch it and it being a respiratory virus your chances are not as good as someone without a respiratory condition.... although it appears that diabetics and heart problems (high blood pressure being a common one) also put you at great risk

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

My impression is that overall, while some people of course may be different, asthmatics are not generally immunosuppressed, and are not more likely to catch things unless they have other problems affecting the immune system. Inhaled corticosteroids can have an effect but as far as I'm aware this is usually more of an issue in COPD where some factors that are less common in asthmatics can increase risk of pneumonia and other infections. The dose is very low compared with pred and other systemic steroids.

It's more that if we do catch things, even just colds, we tend to have more of a reaction than others eg even mild asthmatics may find that colds 'go to their chest' and linger.

For example though I have severe asthma, I generally have a fairly decent immune system and manage not to catch things too often. When I do get colds etc however, my lungs think that going into spasm is a helpful reaction and have a wild party. When I got RSV in December (I might have thought it was COVID but dammit I had a swab and they found RSV so probably not), they also went nuts over that. Pretty much like they do over other things that aren't actually harmful, like thunderstorms, lavender, and perfume. This is why I'm not meant to go out, not because I'm really more likely to get it, but because my lungs can't be trusted to behave round triggers. And viruses are a big trigger for me as they are for many asthmatics - but more so now I am severe.

If it helps, my impression of COVID is that it's weirdly not solely a respiratory virus as such but affects various systems. It can be very bad of course and can set off asthma, but it doesn't seem to be inevitable that it will, and non-severe asthma as an underlying condition doesn't seem to be the most risky. Trying to keep on top as much as you can is probably a good strategy in general.

Hope this helps! It is a weird virus so to some extent no one really knows, but they're learning fast.

[Wheezycat in reply to Lysistrata]

Thanks, Lysistrata! That was exactly what I wondered about. I, too, have read about how weirdly it can affect you, and how long it can go on for so it is not something I want, but if my husband gets it then I will, too, most likely, so we both have to be super careful. As we are. Shielding in all but name.

About triggers, all the extra garden burning and bbq-ing is currently something of an issue triggers wise. While so far I don’t react on lavender, many things that smell I do, so I dislike them all. But anything burning has become a biggie for me, including toasted bread and people making cakes!

I had to look up RSV as it is not something I have heard of. It doesn’t sound great. I hope it is fully behind you by now, after effects etc and all.

[Beetle53 in reply to Wheezycat]

Wonder how many of us reading this had to Google RSV🤣... We learn something new everyday. Hope you're better now L.

Interesting reading all the inputs as so many of us are going through similar things.

Stay safe everyone.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Beetle53]

Oops sorry lol, I work in a medical/scientific area and I'm lazy lol so I didn't spell it out!!

I believe it causes cold symptoms in normal people but more issues in babies, old people and apparently severe asthmatics! It kind of wiped out January when I was nebbing every single day gahh - better now but my frequency of admissions seems to have increased so suspect it's still having effects. I won't lie, I do wish it had been COVID as what I'm reading in recent scientific studies suggests that most people do mount a normal immune response to it after they have it, though as yet they don't know how long that lasts.

Ugh to the burning Wheezycat - I am starting to find cooking more of an issue now and have no windows in my kitchen (but a good cooker hood). Seen people burning which I'm sure can't be legal in London zone 2, grrr. Thankfully not close enough to affect me but still (though I would happily go in a garden if I only had one, even with that).

[Poobah]

I had this argument with my employer's occupational health provider, in that they said that asthma or asthma treatment does not weaken the immune system and so asthmatics are no more likely to pick up viruses etc than a normal, healthy person.

Unfortunately, in my experience it doesn't feel that way. I now work hard to avoid viruses etc by taking Vits C & D3, zinc and gargling with Listerine. I also avoid humidity extremes, too wet & too dry. I have to say that it works on the whole.

At the moment I'm taking VitC/zinc lozenges - after Dr Moseley (BBC's Trust Me I'm a Doctor) recommended zinc lozenges. They are difficult to get hold of but managed to order some from Holland and Barrett. Not for long term use but given Covid-19 I'm taking them daily.

I now pick up less colds than I used to and chest infections have been fewer than in the past. Last June I got a cold and managed to get on top of it in 24 hours. Before it would have gone to my chest but gargling several times a day, along with a few tablets of Vit C, normal dose of Vit D3, did the trick. I also use Beconase to reduce nasal inflammation.

Back in February I had a virus that gave me a sore throat, cough and a phlegmy chest, had a course of steroids but no need for antibiotics. I must admit that even though the GP called it bronchitis, it didn't feel like a bad dose. Maybe I was lucky.

I used to get bronchitis at least once a year, my record is 8 in a year. But in the last five years I've only had two bouts and rarely get a cold.

[Wheezycat in reply to Poobah]

It is complicated, isn’t it. The last 12 months have been brilliant for me compared to the previous 12, when I ended up on several courses of prednisolone and antibiotics. This year none of that, and my one cold I could manage myself. Oh, joy! But I still struggled all winter with being affected far to often by just walking outside.

I think I accept I am (and I am talking about myself) no more likely to get stuff than anyone else, but if I do I can get really ill and it sets me up badly for some time. I do think that undermines my immune system. Overall it really gets me worried about getting anything! So strict caution in these days prevails.

I am interested in you Zink lozenges. Holland and Barrett did you say? Must find out more.

[Poobah in reply to Wheezycat]

The H&B lozenges are Vit C plus zinc - nicer taste as they have to be sucked slowly which is key to exposing the throat to the zinc. I tried Boots and other outlets plus Amazon but these were the only lozenges available - all the others were just tablets.

[LDloveslattecoffe in reply to Wheezycat]

I am the same.

Want to put a point out there if you have been on an inhaler for a long time (ie I was on seretide for about 10 years) you may feel your asthma is well controlled

BUT

if you get start to get a lot of infections (not just respiritory could be ear infections, sinusitis etc) it could mean although you think asthma is well controlled it's not.

I learn if I get lots of infections then it's time to change my inhaler.

Dec 2017/Jan 2018 Chest Infection (took Pred)

March 2018 Staph Aureous respiratory infection (had pred)

Between March an Dec 2018 2 ear infections

5/12/18 to Feb 2019 moraxella catarrhalis infection (had 2 doses of Pred)

Started a new inhaler Duoresp Spiramax

Late March 2019 a viral infection (still getting inhaler in system)

Since inhaler changed, last Christmas/New Year and this March first season in 3 years NOT to get an infection.

When I was a teenager it took 4 years from initial symptoms to diagnosis - constant tests and hospital appointments checking for all sorts to see why kept getting infections.

When asthma diagnosed at 19 and put on Ventolin and Becotide I enjoyed 3 years free of infections.

Then infections frequency started again changed Becotide Inhaler.

Apart from the infections felt asthma was well controlled so for me the more infections I catch is always an indicator inhaler needs changing.

So I assume inhalers starting to become ineffective = increased infections.

Does that mean it's the Asthma that makes me more susceptible to infections?

I think so because it increases when inhalers become ineffective.

I do have other conditions (PCOS - an endocrine issue) and am prescribed maintenance doses of folic acid and Vitamin D (800 units twice a day - total 1600units) as without these I become deficient ie Vit D had borderline took tablets sorted it. 2 years later check Vit D it was so low not just borderline but very low so had extremely high dose for 12 week then no vitamin D within 6 months I was back down to borderline so put me on for life.

[Wheezycat in reply to LDloveslattecoffe]

Goodness! You have had a lot of changes! I hope all is working well for you now, as that is so important in this crisis.

[LDloveslattecoffe in reply to Wheezycat]

Thanks Wheezycat, yep no infections since March 2019 since the NEW inhaler kicked in thank god.

Diagnosed with Asthma 30 years and just realising for me when I have been on inhalers for a long time infections increase, change inhaler and infection free for a while. The increased infections only real sign that Asthma is not as controlled as I thought and the change of inhaler reduces risk of infection.

I was trying to demonstrate it is the Asthma that makes me susceptible to infections because as recognised the longer been on an inhaler the less effective it gets and the more frequent the infections.

This is particularly an issue because when I get an infection my Asthma flare's up badly so I am hoping that I might be free for some time of infection since started Duoresp last year.