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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

My answers: How do you fake a wheeze?

Every week I check my statcounter to see who's typing things into Google or Yahoo and being linked to my RT Cave blog. Assuming the queries were not answered, I provide in this spot each week my humble responses.And, hey, if the query is comical, it deserves a comical response. If it's serious, I treat it as serious. That in mind, here are this weeks queries:

1. cold temperatures cause problems in copd: It's true. Cool, dry air tends to irritate already inflamed airways inducing an exacerbation of COPD. To prevent this problem you can wear a scarf over your mouth if you need to go out in the cool air. This happens with asthma too, and usually doesn't occur until the temperature is under 50 degrees.

2. how to fake wheeze: Well, believe it or not people do fake asthma. Do do so you just make a forced exhalation. What you hear, though, is not a bronchospasm wheeze, but a throat wheeze. A good doctor, nurse or therapist can always pick up on a fake wheeze.

3. a day in the life of a respiratory therapist: Hang out here and you'll learn a lot about what it's like to be an RT. You can also check out some of the other blogs I've linked to on the right. If you want to learn more you can here.

4. do i need to use ventolin if i'm using symbicort: In the United States it is recommended you never use Symbicort more than twice a day. However, I've learned that in Canada there is another program which allows Symbicort to also be used as a rescue inhaler. It's called the Smart Program. You can read about it by clicking here. As far as I know this has not been approved by the FDA for use in the United States. It is perfectly safe to use Ventolin while using Symbicort.

5. where is rhonchi in the lungs: Rhonchi is secretions that sit in the bronchioles (large air passages) in the lungs. Rhonchi is a low pitched continuous sound you hear as air travels through the secretions. Coming soon to the RT Cave will be a lungsound lexicon, so stay tuned.

6. beer asthma: Hmmm, this sounds interesting. Well, actually, if you drink beer it can dry out you lungs and act as an asthma trigger. Seriously.

7. okay to give xopenex and atrovent at the same time for copd: Yes. Xopenex and Atrovent are quite commonly prescribed to be given together. They can also be mixed in the same nebulizer treatment.

8. primitine mist: As far as I know this is no longer on the market. I wrote about it here.

9. swine flu vaccine get it or not: I highly recommend getting it especially if you have a lung disease. If you have a child under 18 I would recommend discussing with your physician getting the single use syringe which does not have mercury. I wrote about this here.


If you have further questions for me please contact me.

4 comments:

Yo mama! said...

Primitime Mist is still on the shelves in Chicago. I was in Wal*greens a few weeks ago looking for ibuprofin and noticed a couple trying to get help to purchase this product which is under lock and key (wonder why). Anyway it took every fiber to steady myself (and all my RRT education and asthmatic issues) to not spew education at them about this horrible product.

People have died from this product because they keep using it without understanding when they are truly in trouble. 1995 saw a model die from trying to "manage" her asthma at home http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krissy_Taylor

Sugar Creek Beads said...

Why in the world would someone fake asthma or wheezing when a real asthmatic tries everything they can not to wheeze?

Rick Frea said...

Attention seeking? You'd be amazed.

Anonymous said...

My friend says she fakes bronchospasm not a wheeze is this even possible...