chest pains

[Brownbearotto]

I’ve only had adult onset asthma for 18 months. I have chest pains about once a week. Sometimes my oxygen level goes down to 90 or 89.

Does anyone else have these? I think I read that the inhaler relaxes the lungs so maybe that’s what’s going on.

[Troilus]

Hi Brownbearotto. I think if you are experiencing chest pains you need to see your GP - maybe there is something going on there- better safe than sorry.

[Brownbearotto in reply to Troilus]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[Brownbearotto in reply to Troilus]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[Homely2 Administrator]

Re oxygen if my oxygen level was 90 I would be very unwell, as I understand it, for an asthmatic anything below 95 is problematic. So have you a condition other than asthma.

Re chest pains, I get left hand chest pain and general chest soreness, when my Asthma is bad. However my Asthma medics do not like it, and send me to cardiac department for checks.

I think you need to ask your medics re your oxygen levels and chest pain.

[Brownbearotto in reply to Homely2]

Thank you i

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I really think you need to be seeing your GP about this asap - chest pains plus dropping oxygen needs checking out. As Homely2 says, it's also not normal for asthma.

Asthmatics can often maintain oxygen sats for ages even in an attack, and do not routinely sit at lower levels (vs other lung conditions where it may be more normal and ok to be under 95% and may be better tolerated). I also would feel very very unwell with asthma if my sats were 89/90%!

The reliever inhaler (blue, Ventolin/Salamol/salbutamol, or for some people Bricanyl/terbutaline) relaxes the muscles around your airways that are too tight when asthma is flaring. But that shouldn't be causing your oxygen levels to drop, as relaxing the muscles would be opening your airways more.

Definitely book in with your GP asap - and let them know it doesn't happen all the time as your oxygen may be ok when you go to see them. Try to think about when it happens and what you're doing when it does/anything that seems connected.

[Brownbearotto in reply to Lysistrata]

Very helpful 🙏🏽

[Gareth57]

are you getting your oxygen level from something like a Fitbit overnight or is it from a pulseoxy meter on your finger during the day? Nighttime readings are generally lower than daytime, but would be worth asking your GP.

[Brownbearotto in reply to Gareth57]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[Poobah]

He's an NLP practitioner. So not a specialist in asthma or respiratory disease.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Poobah]

Thanks for flagging Poobah - removed.

[Brownbearotto in reply to Poobah]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[Patk1]

As others have said,do see Yr gp.What do u tend to be doing when 02 levels are low+ does chest pain occur whn 02 drops? Gp will probably ask you too.

Sometimes when relaxed( or when tense) we don't breathe as normally would.its always worth focusing on breathing to see if it helps bring 02 back up - see " controlled breathing techniques,pursed lips breathing technique" on ALUK website. It's my goto when struggling & helps maintain airflow.