Breathing is Highly Overrated
I haven't written about my lung sturm und drang lately because it's just been so beside the point, but with the hot, hot, and humid weather it's been a little overwhelming.
I've noticed that when I'm away from NJ for more than a week, my breathing is much better - and when I come home it gets worse. I never had asthma until I'd moved to the NY area, and - like many in this area - I noticed a definite diminishment of lung capacity after the air was clogged with post 911 smoke and chemicals. We live about 15 miles from the WTC - whether that's been a factor in my breathing is hard to tell for sure.
At any rate, the breathing has been bad over the past few weeks - worse than usual - almost as bad as it was in the Winter. With the very, very hot weather lately it's been worse, but today it seems the skies have opened up and along with hurricane strength winds the Newark area also experienced a cold front (HOORAY!) and it's just lovely now.
We're having our house painted - getting ready for potential buyers - and those fumes are dreadful. I plan on spending a LOT of time out of the house in the next few weeks, knitting at the library and writing from the park on my mac. And, hopefully, breathing well.
We'll see how the week in Minnesota this August affects my breathing - not being able to get a deep breath just sucks.
I've noticed that when I'm away from NJ for more than a week, my breathing is much better - and when I come home it gets worse. I never had asthma until I'd moved to the NY area, and - like many in this area - I noticed a definite diminishment of lung capacity after the air was clogged with post 911 smoke and chemicals. We live about 15 miles from the WTC - whether that's been a factor in my breathing is hard to tell for sure.
At any rate, the breathing has been bad over the past few weeks - worse than usual - almost as bad as it was in the Winter. With the very, very hot weather lately it's been worse, but today it seems the skies have opened up and along with hurricane strength winds the Newark area also experienced a cold front (HOORAY!) and it's just lovely now.
We're having our house painted - getting ready for potential buyers - and those fumes are dreadful. I plan on spending a LOT of time out of the house in the next few weeks, knitting at the library and writing from the park on my mac. And, hopefully, breathing well.
We'll see how the week in Minnesota this August affects my breathing - not being able to get a deep breath just sucks.
posted by Annie at
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
9 Comments:
Annie, oh, amen! I'm only 20 minutes from you, so when those winds came, I was actually happy. It's been way too hot. I hope you feel better.
I have really terrible asthma, too. Pesticides and fertilizers basically knock me on my back in a dark room with a cloth on my head because of the migraines I get. What helps me is an air purifier and air conditioning.
I'm in the same boat Annie - I found that I finally had to give in and go on steroids this year. Although I don't like taking them (long term consequences aren't nice), I had to sacrifice that for the short term ability to breathe. I'm heading to the country for a weekend - we'll see how much better it is than being in the middle of Toronto in a heatwave!
I hear you on the breathing. I live in Utah, where the weather has been over 100 (107 on Sunday) every day this week. I'm one of those people that has a hard time breathing when it is dry, so, the combination of the dry heat has made breathing almost optional for me. There is really no relief in site for us,either. There's a storm blowing in, but it'll stay in the high 90's during it. Ugh.
I adore the dress you posted the other day. It's not something I would ever make for me (I'm a rather "full-figured" woman, but I can see my daughter in that dress.
Breathe easy!
AWh man.. my hubby is having trouble this week too.. doing his breathing treatments and the lot.. fortunatley the two year old is doing fine and hasn't needed them.. hang in there.. and make sure you are doing whatever you need to do.. breathing is generally a good thing..
Denise
knitchat.com
Allergies are definitely regional. I had sinus infections all the time when I lived in San Diego, but I'm fine here in Colorado. Unfortunately, my husband has really bad allergies here, and he's never had any problems before. It's so weird.
When you paint you should use the paints they use in hospitals, low VOC and fume paints. Both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore sell them, I've been using them for the past 8 years, my husband has very bad allergies and I was concerned about our young son's breathing as well. You can't even smell them when you walk into the house.
I feel your lung pain - the humidity and heat kill my breathing, my asthma kicks right up and I know I will end up being on steriods this summer - AGAIN. It's not as bad as it could be - that's what I keep telling myself, but it doesn't really work when you keep coughing just to get a breath. Feel better.
Recent air analysis of Houston revealed that there is a measurable level of beef protein in the air. (??!!)
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