When I first began working as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I never imagined how often I’d come across patients whose asthma just didn’t respond the way we’d expect. You follow all the protocols—prescribe the inhalers, check for allergens, even run those routine spirometry tests. But some folks? They’d still wheeze, cough, and feel tight-chested no…
If you’re like me, navigating the world with asthma can feel like you’re constantly tiptoeing around triggers — dust, cold air, smoke, pollen, even stress. But here’s something many people overlook: what you eat can either fan the flames of inflammation or help calm the storm. Yep, I’m talking about foods that calm asthma inflammation….
Can asthma get worse in menopause? It’s a question I hear surprisingly often, especially from women who’ve lived with asthma for years without major issues—until midlife hits. As a pulmonary nurse practitioner who’s worked with hundreds of asthma patients over the years, I can tell you that menopause can throw quite a curveball at your…
If you’re dealing with asthma for the first time, let me just say: you’re not alone, and you’re not crazy for feeling a little overwhelmed. When I first started working as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I met so many patients who had the same wide-eyed expression the moment they were diagnosed. That sudden fear of…
Can emotional stress worsen asthma? That’s a question I’ve heard countless times from my patients—and it’s one I take seriously as a pulmonary nurse practitioner. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply our emotional well-being is tied to our physical health. Stress doesn’t just mess with your mood or sleep; it can hit your…
If you’ve ever wondered, can asthma cause heart rhythm issues?, you’re not alone—and as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve seen this question come up more often than you’d think. It’s one of those lesser-discussed intersections between the lungs and the heart that catches patients off guard. They come in thinking their palpitations are strictly cardiac,…
Can asthma cause chest vibrations? It’s a question I’ve actually been asked a surprising number of times in clinic, and if I’m being honest, it’s not always straightforward. As a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve seen countless patients walk in feeling uneasy about weird, unsettling sensations in their chest. Some describe it as a flutter, others…
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years working as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, it’s that managing asthma with minimal medication is not only possible—it’s often a game-changer for patients who feel overwhelmed by their prescriptions. I’ve seen so many folks who are tired of taking multiple inhalers or steroids every single day, and…
Can asthma cause vocal cord issues? You’d be surprised how often I get asked this in my clinic, and honestly, it’s a fantastic question. As a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how easy it is to confuse the wheezing and throat tightness of asthma with something much trickier — vocal cord dysfunction. If you’ve…