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…
As a pulmonary nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how asthma can impact people’s lives. Whether it’s the constant worry about a sudden flare-up or the challenges of managing symptoms on a daily basis, asthma is more than just a condition – it’s a way of life for millions of people around the world. In this…
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….
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…
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…
Can rheumatoid arthritis cause shortness of breath? If you’ve ever worked in rheumatology—or lived with RA yourself—you’ve probably heard this question more than once. As a nurse practitioner in the field, I’ve had countless patients bring this up, usually after a flare-up or a bout of unexplained fatigue. It’s not something we always associate with…
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…