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The Mail Bag are allergies in the family, I was feeling pretty guilty about having the pet. Anyway, I feel less guilty now and more educated on the matter. Thanks. Sophie Gardner Dallas, TX
I have read a lot of information lately about people with asthma and allergies having pets, and the articles seemed to be completely contradicting each other. In some places I read that if you have asthma and allergies you should absolutely not have a pet. In fact, some advised giving the pet away. Then I read something awhile back that said having a pet in the house actually made it less likely you would have allergies. So, I was very happy to see the article in last month’s Asthma Magazine that discussed this issue. I think I understand it better now. My husband is allergic to dogs, but we do have one. He gets by all right as long as he doesn’t have too much close contact with him. But we also have a two-year-old daughter, and since there
We want to hear from you! Share your ideas about asthma management or your opinion about an article you have read in Asthma Magazine. Excerpts from selected letters to Asthma Magazine will be reprinted in the following issue, unless anonymity is requested by the sender. We reserve the right to edit based on length. Please send letters to Asthma Magazine, PO Box 473, Hingham, MA 02043.
I was very distressed to find out recently that my son who is in high school had begun smoking. Neither my husband nor I have ever smoked, so this came as quite a shock. I would be upset about this anyway, but it was even more difficult for me to understand because he has asthma. He must remember the sleepless nights when he labored to breathe, or the midnight trips to the ER to get medication to help him get control over his asthma attacks. I wondered how could he be doing something purposely that would make his asthma worse. When I read your November/December issue and found an article addressing this very topic, I was surprised and gratified. Finding out that 28% of high school kids describe themselves as “current smokers” shed a little light on why my son was taking it up; that’s a good number of kids, and I imagine he feels this will help him fit in. But the thing I found most helpful in the article was the advice about how to talk to him about it. The doctor interviewed had good suggestions about what kids care about and what arguments on the smoking issue are more likely to have an impact on them (e.g., long-term health consequences are too far off for them to care about, but the high cost of cigarettes over period of time is a more persuasive argument). I have called to order some information from some of the organizations you listed as resources. I feel like I have a plan. Thanks. Katie Gilmore Tucson, AZ
doi:10.1016/j.asthmamag.2004.01.001
ASTHMA MAGAZINE
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I have read a lot of information lately about people with asthma and allergies having pets, and the articles seemed to be completely contradicting each other. In some places I read that if you have asthma and allergies you should absolutely not have a pet. In fact, some advised giving the pet away. Then I read something awhile back that said having a pet in the house actually made it less likely you would have allergies. So, I was very happy to see the article in last month’s Asthma Magazine that discussed this issue. I think I understand it better now. My husband is allergic to dogs, but we do have one. He gets by all right as long as he doesn’t have too much close contact with him. But we also have a two-year-old daughter, and since there
We want to hear from you! Share your ideas about asthma management or your opinion about an article you have read in Asthma Magazine. Excerpts from selected letters to Asthma Magazine will be reprinted in the following issue, unless anonymity is requested by the sender. We reserve the right to edit based on length. Please send letters to Asthma Magazine, PO Box 473, Hingham, MA 02043.
I was very distressed to find out recently that my son who is in high school had begun smoking. Neither my husband nor I have ever smoked, so this came as quite a shock. I would be upset about this anyway, but it was even more difficult for me to understand because he has asthma. He must remember the sleepless nights when he labored to breathe, or the midnight trips to the ER to get medication to help him get control over his asthma attacks. I wondered how could he be doing something purposely that would make his asthma worse. When I read your November/December issue and found an article addressing this very topic, I was surprised and gratified. Finding out that 28% of high school kids describe themselves as “current smokers” shed a little light on why my son was taking it up; that’s a good number of kids, and I imagine he feels this will help him fit in. But the thing I found most helpful in the article was the advice about how to talk to him about it. The doctor interviewed had good suggestions about what kids care about and what arguments on the smoking issue are more likely to have an impact on them (e.g., long-term health consequences are too far off for them to care about, but the high cost of cigarettes over period of time is a more persuasive argument). I have called to order some information from some of the organizations you listed as resources. I feel like I have a plan. Thanks. Katie Gilmore Tucson, AZ
doi:10.1016/j.asthmamag.2004.01.001
ASTHMA MAGAZINE
to subscribe call 1.800.654.2452
|
5