Steam therapy for asthma?

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Question:

Steam is usually of help to the asthmatic because it thins the mucus. However, you do need to stick your tongue out for good effect. Big problem with vaporizers is that they easily get infected unless strict measures are adhered to. some doctors feel taking fluids by mouth is just as effective. I don’t like running a voporizer at night because of infection from the device, ruins the wall paper, encourages mold. > Does anyone have any information/experience with treating mild persistent > asthma with steam therapy? IE clean water in a Kaz personal steamer, not > aroma-therapy. I know clean steam is great for nasal allergies, loosening > mucus and reducing inflammation, however, will it help or hurt my asthmatic > condition? > Currently I am treating my asthma with an inhaled steroid, Flovent, and > Accolate. They seem to to a pretty good job, however, I am still > experiencing symptoms. Unfortunately, I cannot use short/long-acting > beta2-agonists, Seravent, due to tachycardic side effects. > Thanks

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Response:

<snip> It seems to depend somewhat on your reaction to very humid air. Steam therapy would put me into severe exacerbation, since humid air is a major trigger for me.

Response:

Steam inhalation helps some asthmatics and makes others worse. Basically what it does is losen mucous (there is no anti-inflamitory effect for steam).

Response:

Does anyone have any information/experience with treating mild persistent asthma with steam therapy? IE clean water in a Kaz personal steamer, not aroma-therapy. I know clean steam is great for nasal allergies, loosening mucus and reducing inflammation, however, will it help or hurt my asthmatic condition? Currently I am treating my asthma with an inhaled steroid, Flovent, and Accolate. They seem to to a pretty good job, however, I am still experiencing symptoms. Unfortunately, I cannot use short/long-acting beta2-agonists, Seravent, due to tachycardic side effects. Thanks

Response:

> Does anyone have any information/experience with treating mild persistent > asthma with steam therapy? IE clean water in a Kaz personal steamer, not > aroma-therapy. I know clean steam is great for nasal allergies, loosening > mucus and reducing inflammation, however, will it help or hurt my asthmatic > condition? I find the warm humid air mentioned by Chris Owens helps me as well. But heat pads on my chest can help too, so maybe it’s the heat. Its use was suggested by a doctor who was quite ‘into’ alternative approaches BTW. (This was when I was living in the Orkney Islands at the top of Scotland and spent a lot of my time cold) Steam with menthol drops in can be useful. Menthol has been _proved_ to have an anti-inflammatory effect when inhaled with steam, but too much can be an irritant. We already know it has a slightly bronchodilating effect. Not as good as Salbutamol in an attack though! I know a vet who swears by regular inhalation of steam and menthol as his asthma therapy and I guess he’s not an idiot. If you try it I’d be interested to kow if it helps. Fiona

Response:

This past fall I became suspicious that my hot air heating system was drying the air of my house and causing my allergy problem. I first put a large pot of water on my wife’s stove and set the heat for low simmer. It worked; that is it solved my allergy problem. So I advanced to two commercial hot mist vaporizors, one for downstainrs and one for up. They worked. I haven’t gone to using vaporizers build into my heating system because of cost, maintenance, etc., but did consider it. During the summer when the relative humidity is high, I can store my vaporizers. Good luck, Al

Response:

Depends on your body. In general, I find humid air makes it harder to breathe. However, in the midst of an attack, WARM humid air can sometimes help. Easiest thing is to try it and see. Chris Owens

Mr. Asthma