When it's difficult to breathe..

Everyone's been in some situation where they found it difficult to breathe. The sight of something excessively beautiful. Hearing unexpected news. The sight of the love of your life, to name a few.

Have you however, ever found yourself finding it difficult to breathe for entirely different reasons? Let me tell you a little story.

About two years ago I was spending a weekend with my mother way way out of Colombo. We were just passing a "handiya" when I got this irresistible craving for a kottu. After many "I do't know what they put in it putha, & it's not good for you putha" my ever so indulgent mother bought me a kottu. When we got home, I remember that it was tasty but that's all I registered because I finished it up in the blink of eye (Ok, maybe a little longer than a blink of en eye)

Half an hour later my mother asked me "putha, are you wheezing?". Only then I realised that I really was making an unconscious effort to breathe. A few minutes later I found my chest tight, taking shallow breaths that led to coughing. Shortness of breath in turn led to panic. I knew what was in store for me. Asthma attack. This time puffs from my trusty inhaler didn't work. Lying in bed propped up on pillows didn't calm me. My loving mother stroking my head & back didn't work. I had to be rushed to the hospital, was nebulized & injected bronchodilators.

What I just described might have happened to you as well, if you're suffering from Asthma. The things & substances that can trigger an asthma attack are many & varied. In my case above, guess what it was. The doctor guessed it to be a flavour enhancer in the kottu I ate, such as Ajinomoto, containing MSG (Monosodium Glutamate).

All my life I have been suffering from breathing difficulties,respiratory problems & asthma.  So I know how it feels like. Because there is no proper cure & only a control exists it is vital that we find out what causes asthma attacks & take measures to prevent it from happening.The Following video I found explains asthma attacks concisely.



The following video covers COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Desease) as well & details the kinds of medicine given for both Asthma & COPD. It's done by some pharmaceutical company that I swear I'm no part of. :)

Apart from these I've lately found out that practising breathing exercises helps. If you feel like you're about to get an asthma attack, try breathing from your tummy. Using your stomach muscles.  When you breathe in put (expand) your stomach out (check mechanics of breathing) & when you breathe out pull in (constrict) your stomach. Try to lengthen the duration of each breathing cycle & concentrate on your stomach movements.




To all like me, hope this helps.. :) Take care of yourselves..