Increased awareness of your asthma?

[GFloss]

Is anyone else finding they're increasingly aware of their asthma right now/finding they're reaching for their inhaler a bit more often even though they generally feel well? I'm fairly mildly asthmatic but have had a history of health anxiety, so reckon the combo is making me sub-consciously scan for how well I'm breathing!

[Junglechicken]

I’m certainly seeing an increase in blue inhaler use. I do suffer from hay fever during the spring but the current awful awful situation is making my asthma 10 times worse. Lots of pains that I usually get when upset too.

[GFloss in reply to Junglechicken]

Thanks so much for replying and sorry to hear you've been experiencing the same. I can relate to some stress aches too, guessing we're far from alone! I also suffer with early hay fever and have just got back on my anti-histamines, which my doc was really supportive of. Thinking I'd prefer to keep allergies as calm as poss rather than hold off a little longer as I may otherwise be tempted to.

[chocqueen78]

I am definitely more anxious at the moment and therefore using my ventolin more.

I keep feeling tight chested and it sometimes feels like there is a weight on my chest and I need to concentrate in order to breathe. I also suffer anxiety. It doesn't help that I work in a hospital.

[GFloss in reply to chocqueen78]

Thank you so much for your reply. I completely get what you mean about that heaviness and needing to concentrate to breathe at points. Then of course when we concentrate it feels as if it's feeling different/harder to do. I hate how anxiety can increase these things and then these things increase the anxiety..! Thinking of you working in a hospital right now, hoping the team are being really supportive to you and you're able to work on your calming techniques (if you get a spare second to think that is). I'll be sure to think of you and everyone else keeping the hospitals going when we're all clapping this eve.

[Poobah]

Definitely more aware of every symptom, no matter how small. Keep busy and distracted. I'm rationing news feed as it is wall to wall at the moment.

[GFloss]

Thanks Poobah, I guess even those without health conditions are finding themselves noticing all sorts of extra things right now! Totally agree being busy helps and staying as active as lockdown allows. My breathing didn't feel greart before heading out for my one walk yesterday. It was a cold night and I walked up some pretty steep hills and yet felt so much better by the time I was back/didn't need my inhaler like I expected to. I definitely need to work on that news restriction - it's just so tempting to look but agree it's best to pick set times and resist the Twitter scroll.