Should I go visit a doctor?

[Dakine 26]

Try hanging wet clothes in your bedroom to raise the humidy. If it works get a humidyfier.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I have been contemplating of going to a doctor or is it natural cause. I know its kind of silly to ask this on message board, but just wanting to know if others have felt the same with severe climate change or not.

I never had breathing problem before coming to US. At first when I came here back in last week of November, I couldn't sleep for the first week at all because I would wake up with dry throat, absolutely dry, I never experienced something like that in my life. My breaths were real heavy for the first couple of weeks.

Sleeping is all right now, but there are times when I struggle for breathing. I am not sure if its the cold weather (not cold right now, but been that way for the past 3 months) or is there something wrong with me.

I am just trying to understand from people who came from tropical weather to high altitude cold weather. Did they feel the same? Back in India my home had stairs and I would climb up and down 100 times a day without trying to catch my breath ever, but out here I climb the stair once and I am dying to fill my lung with air.

99% of me think it has to do with weather change and also altitude, I have always lived at sea level but its different here, much higher altitude. Just that my mom had died of lung cancer and I have that small fear that it might have something to do with genes.

Thanks for any help with this silly question.

Hi Mani,

For sure, go see the doctor. But if the doctor gives you a clean bill of health...

The weather can be unbelievably dry during the colder months. In fact, the inside of my nose feels like it's on fire because it's so dry. I'd recommend buying those saline nasal sprays and irrigate your sinuses throughout the day. Also, it's a worthy investment to get a humidifier also and run it at night in your bedroom. Hope you can find relief soon.

[Welshcookie 17]

Have things improved at all? (I see this thread was started some weeks ago). Me and my son had a terrible time when we first moved here due to the air conditioning which was new to us, it was a miserable time. We got a humidifier and I took some allergy tablets which gave relief.

[-B&T- 1]

I remember I had some problems too when during my first couple of weeks here in AZ because of the weather its very hot and dry and I would wake up with dry throat or sneezing so we bought a humidifier and it helped me a lot and I always have benadryl or claritin capsules for allergies.I have asthma but I'm surprised that it didn't bother me at all for a long time now.I suggest you buy a humidifier it can really make a difference.You don't have to suffer go see a doctor if your condition is not improving.

[NickD 203]

Wife thought I would have problems in Bogota, altitude is 10,000 feet above sea level, didn't notice any difference. But Venezuela is always warm and moist, Wisconsin has some cold winters. If your dwelling place has air leaks, the indoor humidity can drop to nothing, and a lot depends on your heating source. Her skin tends to dry up and gets itchy, so I did install a furnace humidifier for her and set that to the maximum permitted to the ambient temperature. Yet another factor is your water hardness, have a softener for very low hardness, furnance is of the external combustion type and the RH and temperature within the confines of our home is nearly constant year around.

Another problem we have here are dust mites, I installed a micron furnance filter, and keep the furnance blower running 24/7 always at a very low speed and clean it frequently. While my son and daughter-in-law also suffer from dry skin, well the heck with them, they were both born here, my granddaughter has those same genes. So I installed the same system in their home with a water softerner, modified their furnance with a micron filter, blower running constantly, that was more complicated, all solid state controls, and installed a water softener and a furnace humididifier. She is doing much better, also have to keep her nails cut short because she tends to scratch hersefl further irritating her rash. Janurary, February, and March are the worse months of the year.

Yet another problem can be outdoor pollution in your area, that is something I am very sensitive to, no telling what type of toxins are present especially in an industrial area or areas with heavy traffic. Practically all of these toxins are heavier than air and settle in low places, my home is on top of a high hill.

I really liked my six acres in the country living in a virgin forest area and my neighbors were all family farmers, but when the corporations took over, every kind of nasty herbicide and pesticide was used, my kids suddenly were diagnosed with asthma. I can tell you from personal experience the treatment for asthma is the worse thing they could have done to my kids, it complicated their problems and made them worse. The problem was not asthma, it was irritants, the real cure for us was to get the hell out of there and that I did, my kids problems went away. So don't get caught in this trap.

My home was low on my property, but did have a high hill, learned very quickly since I had a motorhome, only had to drive it to the top of that hill and we slept there, that made all the difference in the world.

Where do you live? Making these changes to our home greatly helped my wife, I already know we have clean air, and since we live in the city, installed carbon water filters as well to get rid of that nasty chlorine they put in our water, that really dries out your skin, plus your lungs and throat as well if your house is pretty well sealed up.

[tallcoolone 102]

I am not a Doctor, But I do play one on TV

I would take OTC pills for Allergy first

If the symptoms persist, then go see a Dr.

[NickD 203]

I am not a Doctor, But I do play one on TV

I would take OTC pills for Allergy first

If the symptoms persist, then go see a Dr.

How can you prescribe allergy pills when she has dryness of the mouth where taking allergy pills will exacerbate this condition?

[trinket 30]

Have things improved at all? (I see this thread was started some weeks ago). Me and my son had a terrible time when we first moved here due to the air conditioning which was new to us, it was a miserable time. We got a humidifier and I took some allergy tablets which gave relief.

Thanks a bunch guys. Its been a month since I first posted this topic and yes things have improved tremendously. I did get one of those vicks humidifier after posting this thread, but I am not using it anymore as the weather have changed a lot and I don't need it anymore. I never took any medication, and since things have improved as the weather has changed, so I am relieved that I wasn't asthmatic or anything.

Me and Joe go for biking or walking almost every evening and I don't feel like running out of air anymore.

It has been severe weather change for me, the coldest I ever been was 60 F back in India. And I thought that was bitter cold , now 60 F is nice spring.

Just the body needed some adjustment time and I am good to go now.

Thanks again everybody

[brnidokiegurl 0]

if your area has alot of constant wind (as okla) all kinds of tree, grass, weed junk is flying around a dr is your best bet to help you adjust