I have been gasping for air and reaching for salbutamol this morning. I guess there is nothing unusual in that !
Do my fellow asthmatics believe there is a connection between stress and asthma, between anxiety and asthma, and between emotion and asthma ?
Have my fellow coughers noted any connection between asthma attacks and the full moon ?
I happened to notice that the full moon is this evening. For me there was heightened anxiety yesterday due to a crisis meeting at work (nothing unusual in crisis meetings in a care home) and my mother having a crisis in her journey with dementia.
Could it be there is a connection between the full moon and heightened emotion, anxiety and stress ?
Or am I a complete lunatic ? Perhaps I should ring my local asylum and book a room ?
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PaulRosedene
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I do feel stress and anxiety have an affect on my breathing. I cant say I have ever given the moon any thought.🤔
Friendly greetings, Ive have had Asthma since I was 11, and although dust, smog, fumes, humidity and cold tempretures affects me, stress and anxiety have been another cause. I have also noticed over the years that I tend to feel fluctuations with Asthma around the full moon, and new moon. As for calling yourself a lunatic, that's a bit harsh on yourself, Lunatic's root meaning derives from Luna and tic, luna being the moon (in latin & Spanish), tic as in a nervious tic or twitch. Though as far as I'm aware there is 'no proof' of interactions between the moon and our biology, but it is interesting how earlier ancient cultures seemed to see a link between emotional state and Lunar cycles. Bless to you.
I don't know about the moon - that may well just be a coincidence.
There are definite links between asthma and emotions/stress/anxiety for many people. As with everything else, it isn't a one size fits all and it doesn't necessarily happen for everyone, or affect everyone the same way. I've seen too many people, including medics, try to claim that 'stress affects everyone's asthma' or 'everyone with asthma is anxious' - nope, doesn't work like that. Some people might feel better during acute stress (me!) but when things resolve the asthma hits them (friends). Or asthma gets worse with some kinds of stress but not others (eg fine with exam stress but not with family stress).
It doesn't have to be just negative emotions either. My mum told me that my asthmatic uncle used to get asthma attacks ahead of events he was excited about when he was a child. So he'd have one every single Christmas Eve (the family doctor stopped going to bed because it was so regular). And often before stuff like his birthday, or going back to school (he generally liked school and looked forward to it so it wasn't anxiety).
The other thing to remember (for people with asthma and those who treat us) is that if stress or anxiety triggers asthma (or asthma triggers stress and anxiety) *the asthma is still there*. Yes, stress and anxiety can affect how people breathe sometimes, and that may not be asthma itself and it may not help the asthma. BUT if stress or emotions are triggering asthma, then it still needs to be treated as asthma as much as if the trigger were cold air or an allergy - not ignored or downplayed because 'it's just stress'. If you have asthma after a stressful event, treat it as you normally would.
I have certainly experienced asthma after a stressful event. I went on a retreat many years ago after a stressful time at work. I ended up being taken from the retreat to A&E and was kept in hospital for several nights.
Are some of the treatments for asthma and anxiety similar ? I remember reading someone posting about anxiety on this platform and seem to recall they were using ventolin.
Yep - it can definitely do that. I think I'm just odd in that stress is really good for my lungs! I meant to say by the way that I'm sorry to hear about your mother.
I don't remember seeing that post, though it might be that they had a mix of things going on. Ventolin isn't a treatment for anxiety and shouldn't be used just for that, though again if someone is anxious because they have asthma symptoms, then Ventolin might help if it removes the asthma symptoms. Generally they are separate, though both anxiety and asthma can often benefit from learning good breathing techniques - as long as they're not used instead of asthma medication when that's needed.
The one that really scares me is people getting mixed up, thinking asthma and anxiety are interchangeable, and telling people with asthma to breathe into a paper bag (or even worse, a plastic bag)!! REALLY not a good idea for asthma and as far as I know, not even recommended for anxiety or panic attacks anymore - I think grounding is now the preferred way to approach panic.
This post might help with the differences/similarities between asthma, anxiety, and dysfunctional breathing patterns - which way too often get treated as if they're the same as anxiety: healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...
Dear Lysistrata, I have seen your moniker many times, but only in this state of nervous agitation have I been moved to look it up. Are you named after the female peace seekers described in the play by Aristophanes ? If so, perhaps you could inspire the women of Russia to adopt the same policy ?
I am yes! I studied the play once and liked it and the lead character, though I now have a filthy mind as a result of reading so many Aristophanes plays. 🤣
The unicorn is more about the asthma. I'm not the most typical of asthmatics, which can cause problems with medics - and sometimes they try to claim my kind of asthma, or how it presents, doesn't exist - so, the unicorn. After some encounters I feel like I should have chosen the username Cassandra instead, after the ancient prophetess (no one ever listens to her, even when she's right...).
Thank you I think it's more suitable in the medical context than here - I really do feel sometimes like I could say anything at all with certain medics because it's not going in!
I studied the plays as part of my first degree - there's no reason anyone would need to have done generally. Though the comic ones ARE funny when they're well performed and modern jokes added - as long as you have a reasonably dirty mind, lol. The tragedies are good but intense.
As for the moon, I'm not aware of it affecting my asthma, but I usually experience a lot of sleep disturbance during a full moon, even if I am sleeping in a room with blackout curtains, so it's obviously not just the brighter light which is affecting me. It wouldn't be surprising if something which is powerful enough to have an effect on tides etc could also affect humans, but it would be difficult to prove scientifically because it would be so hard to rule out all other factors (e.g. weather, diet, hormone fluctuations, stress etc, etc)
Sounds like you're going through a stressful time, I'm sorry about your mom.
Definitely stress impacts my asthma, I can't comment on the cycles of the moon;), maybe menstrual cycles ahha? I'm the kind of person though where when I get stressed, I get sick after, so now that my asthma is worse I get stressed, I get sick and have an asthma flare. So stress management is something I'm trying to work on (with limited success if my christmas flare is any indication...)
I'm glad you like the title of the post ? Did you see Lysistrata's comment as to why her symbol is a unicorn ?
Just wondering if we can all have a daemon and what mine might be ! (HDM)
Now stress management is a massive subject in its own right. This might be down to personality, but if I was given any advice on stress management, then I would just get stressed about it.
Did you ever watch the TV series "Kung Fu" where the teacher used to say "Hey Grasshopper ..." ?
Thanks for your empathy with my Mum. Her dementia symptoms took a big downturn out of the blue on Wednesday and Thursday (just before the full moon). She seems to be improving, but we will have to see if she can regain her mental capacity of a week ago.
BTW I work in a care home. One resident went stir crazy one morning. He was throwing stuff around. He had been showing medical symptoms so we called the ambulance. They or we called the police later. As soon as he saw the police he was all smiles and became a charming gentleman. That incident was on a full moon too !
Just saw this poem by Rumi on FB. Not sure I can copy it in though :
Yes, Paul! There is some kind of emotional connection. In fact there is research to support that. I can get an asthma attack if I see some thing hideous, like a pile of dog poop. I sometimes think of asthma as my body misbehaving, like hiccups, or stage fright. ❤️Dixie
I once mentioned when I was very young that when there’s a full moon, more so in winter months, my asthma worsened. A consultant told me it’s because the air is colder with a full or new moon which cuts through quicker and we then breathe it in, even if we have scarf over our mouths, aggravating the lungs (he was a guy who had a lot of beliefs about lunar cycle being related to emotions also which could affect asthma).
Lunatic also means moonstruck. It might cause a heightened sense of excitement rather than anxiety.I don't think we should dismiss anything out of hand with asthma there is still so much to learn. Asthma attacks were recorded when Vesuvius erupted all those centuries ago but I still feel we are miles away from taming the beast.
The stress you are under is massive and when I was on the same journey with my Mum my asthma was off the scale and I also had constant chest infections and heart issues. My son has autism and full moon definitely changes him in various ways so no you are not mad lol.
hi Paul, there is a definite role that. Stress and emotions play a role in asthma attacks. Can’t comment on the moon. But I find if I don’t allow anger or frustrations to erupt, I will remain healthier. Good luck to you. Stay as happy and level as you can. 💕
Paul , I got a lot of help Managing my asthma at ultimatepulmonarywellness.org. This US site is run by doctors of respiratory therapy. There, I learned specific tips on managing breathlessness despite the fact I am a retired nurse anesthetist. They also have a Facebook support group for all types of lung disease.
Speaking as an asthmatic and a scientist - just to add on the moon point: I don't think there is any way the moon phase could affect people's asthma. The consultant who said that weather was colder during the full moon did not know what they were talking about (on that issue). However, nights when it is clear are almost always colder so maybe it was just that they could see the moon on cold nights and put two and two together to make five.
Thunderstorm asthma is real though - it is caused by more pollen getting blown around and broken up into tiny inhalable drops in heavy rain.
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I think it's more suitable in the medical context than here - I really do feel sometimes like I could say anything at all with certain medics because it's not going in!
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