Dealing with smoke, stress, and extra heartbeats

[FearNot]

Hi everyone. I've decided to come out from lurking on this forum and say hello. Here's a little about me.

I was diagnosed several times over the years with mild asthma. It didn't trouble me much until wildfire smoke pollution took me over the edge and to the emergency room. I was better in the winter but had to go into urgent care with bronchitis for the first time in my life.

When the wildfire smoke arrived again this summer I could no longer brush off my asthma. After a terrifying experience with my albuterol inhaler giving me extra heartbeats, I sought help from a doctor who is also a naturopath. It turned out to be the best thing I could have done. She prescribed lobelia to prevent asthma attacks, and it has kept me from needing my rescue inhaler.

My husband and I installed an air conditioner and a smoke filter. We added more weatherproofing also. I purchased a Cambridge mask for protection out of doors. We use a salt lamp to ionize the air naturally. I am on the Meditteranean diet for life. I am a novelist with a high-stress lifestyle, but I'm changing that now. Beyond these things, we're planning to move in a few years near the ocean, since sea air helps me. I just have to make it through until then. We are considering installing a whole-house filtration system. Any thoughts or advice?

[Carakraft]

So glad you said hello and thanks for sharing your story!

[FearNot in reply to Carakraft]

My pleasure.

[Minushabens Asthma Captain]

It sounds like you're making some good choices really; move away from the smoke to air that does you good & fix up your house as it needs to be. Hopefully, that will help you. I get irritated by the neighbours burning garden rubbish!

[FearNot in reply to Minushabens]

That bothers me too. We have a neighbor who burns bonfires at the edge of his property, not far from the front of our house. Hopefully yours are more considerate.

[VinswaynW]

Hey there FearNot! Surely a HEPA filtration device will help with the air quality issues you are going through. A ion air cleaner will possibly help also. Eliminate all drapes, carpets and throw rugs in your living spaces is another great idea that has helped me considerably with my asthma symptoms.

[FearNot]

Thanks for commenting with advice, VinswaynW. A hepa filter behind a box fan turned out to be quite helpful. However, even a good-quality hepa filter doesn't remove all particlate matter. Neither does a particulate mask, Sometimes I had to use both. Electronic ionizers can make asthma worse, but I used a salt lamp to create natural ionization. I'll look into eliminating carpet, etc, thanks for the suggestion. My husband has allergies, and that would pronanly help him too.

[pmh18623]

Thank you for sharing. I am intrigued by your naturopathic approach and will look into a consultation.

I second the recommendation to remove most if not all carpeting, also indoor plants. When first diagnosed my physician recommended that, and it helped immensely!

[FearNot]

Thanks! I can see why you might remove indoor plants due to allergies and pollen. On the other hand, plants clean the air. I suppose it would depend on how much pollen they generate and your sensitivites. I grow herbs and peppers in my kitchen window and would be loath to give them up.