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…
Ever since the early waves of the pandemic, I’ve seen a noticeable uptick in patients struggling with a strange new pattern: lingering respiratory issues weeks—sometimes months—after recovering from COVID-19. What’s been especially concerning is how many of these folks also have a history of asthma. As a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve had dozens of these…
When I first started working as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I thought I had a pretty good handle on asthma. It was something I saw in both kids and adults, and most of the time, it was manageable. Fast forward a few years, and what really caught me off guard was how many of my…
Let’s be honest—when people hear “asthma,” they think wheezing, inhalers, and pollen floating through spring air. But food? That’s not the first thing that comes to mind. As a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve sat with countless patients who come in confused, frustrated, and wondering why their breathing flares up after a meal or why they…
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…
Is asthma always linked to allergies? That’s a question I get asked almost weekly in clinic — and honestly, it’s a great one. As a pulmonary nurse practitioner who’s spent years helping patients manage their breathing, I’ve seen just how confusing the connection between asthma and allergies can be. Some people wheeze and cough every…