Mr. Asthma

Question:

 I have, or rather my father had, a deadly reaction to perfume worn by a nurse in a hospital.  I am concerned that those who experience the effects of asthma know that a hospital is potentially the most dangerous place you might find yourself.  After the nurse there were a series of moves in the hospital that anyone who actually knows even the least amount about asthma would have known to do otherwise.  Any technical information you know of that I can research? thanks, take care.  B.

Response:

I have a severe asthmatic reaction to a chemical common in fragrances. Just someone walking by me with a fragrance on with the chemical in it and I have a drop of 30-50% in my peak flow readings instantly (Red Zone I would think)  But I quickly move away and my breathing returns to normal within minutes usually without medication. However, lower level exposures actually cause more problems.  Just what is in ambient air in a public area will cause gradual drops in peak flow.  I do not realize how much I have been exposed until I get hoarse.  My peak flows have usually dropped 25%.  I may stay in this (Yellow zone I would think) for days even with the use of an inhaler. Most of the time I end up having to go to the doctor and take other medication before it clears.  Often I end up with a respiratory infection before it is over.  A few times I have had to take prednisone before it would clear. I would suspect that the longer term "yellow" zone actually causes much more damage to my lungs than the "red" zone that resolves very quickly. So to think a "yellow" zone is less harmful than a "red" one is probably not correct.  The severe reactions are an immediate threat to life.  A longer term lower level reaction probably causes more damage and always has the potential of worsening. Betty Bridges P.S.  Thanks to all that participated in the survey I’m doing on fragrance use.  Anyone interested in participating. please e-mail me.

Response: