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So after sifting through dusty boxes in his basement, he makes yet another rushed trip to the emergency room. His asthma is so bad this time that he needs to be admitted to the hospital. He's put on systemic corticosteroids.
Finally after a couple weeks in prison he's released on good behavior, and he once again quits taking his asthma medicine. He's short of breath for two weeks before he finally decides to seek help.
He's readmitted to the hospital and put back on inhaled corticosteroids. The cycle continues.
The following are the risks of untreated asthma:
1. Severe Asthma: Asthma that is not diagnosed and treated agressively with asthma controller medicines can increase the risk for lung scarring. This is permanent damage to your lungs that can make you always feel short of breath. It also makes it so your asthma might not be reversible when you use your rescue medicine (Ventolin or Xopenex). This type of asthma is called severe, persistent asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or what I like to call hard luck asthma.
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Steroid side effects: If Joe needs systemic corticosteroids long term to control his asthma, serious side effects can occur that can make it even harder to manage his asthma, such as: • Fluid retention: Swelling in your legs •Increased blood pressure • Mood swings: Can effect how you manage your asthma • Weight gain: Chemicals released from fat can trigger asthma, plus obesity makes it even harder for you to get the exercise you need to manage your asthma, and keep your heart and lungs strong • High blood sugar: You'll now have diabetes that needs to be controlled • Infections: Can you imagine if you also developed pneumonia? • Thin skin: It easily bruises and is slow to heal. 3. Anxiety/ stress/ depression: These can make it even more difficult for Joe to manage his disease, although