Flash Back Friday - triggers
Flashback is just from this week. I had another asthma attack, this one on Wednesday night.
Problem is, I can't for the life of me figure out what set it off.
I remember sneezing quite a bit, and my family laughing and saying, "are you done yet?"but instead of answering, I just sneezed some more. Then I started coughing, and coughing, and coughing. I could feel my chest tightening up, then started coughing up mucus. Fun times!
So, as I was sitting on the couch in my big furry bathrobe, I had to try to think back to what I had just done. I changed clothes in my room, washed my face, then went in and retrieved a book from my nightstand.
That was it. I had to analyze each action. Anything in the bathroom that would have set it off? How about the nightstand? Was it too dusty? I remember the curtain catching on my bathrobe as I passed. Hhmm, it was the 'winter curtains' I had in the store room. I had changed my bed set to put the winter colored bed set and curtains up. Could it be that the curtains that were stored downstairs were too dusty? I usually wash them before I put them back up, but they were stored in between a couple of comforters, so they should have been protected.
Was there something else I missed? What could have set it off?
Sometimes the most frustrating thing about asthma is trying to figure out what sets off an asthma attack. I've had one while I was shopping for a baby present in a national retail store (where I've shopped for years without any problems). I had one at the hardware store this summer (where we shop frequently, because something is always in need of repair in our historic home).
So why do I have an asthma attack there one day, but not another? It's hard to determine cause and effect. And it can be unnerving, because asthma attacks can be swift and hard hitting.
This week was one of those, where I was coughing so hard I almost threw up. 'Calm'. I told myself, try to deep breath. 'Settle down.' Anxiety can make asthma attacks worse. You can't breath, so you panic, then the panic makes the asthma worse.
Everything turned out okay, but I'm still puzzled as to what caused it. Oh well, that's life with asthma.
Is Candy the Culprit?
I got fed the line and so did you when you were a child. “Candy will cause cavities.” Well maybe it is still a good line. I do believe candy is a very grave health concern in our society, but those concerns lie more with the body health and the blood sugar balancing system (insulin) rather than the tooth health of each of us.
The threat to teeth is the frequency of exposure and one of your worst enemies is carbohydrate paste stuck between the teeth from meals and snacks (what I call cracker mouth). If it were just the carbohydrate there would be less worry. That paste, however, absorbs sugar from any source, including good fresh fruit and holds it between the teeth….for hours. The bacteria between the teeth are having a hay day with all that sugar just hanging around. And since we are a grain based eating society, this problem exists for everyone!
Now consider this. If a person disrupts the bacteria from between the teeth once a day (every 24 hours) they never have a chance to accumulate to a level that will damage the teeth. I would much rather get the flossing done daily and focus on having healthy meals than struggling with the candy battle. As the kids get older I will have less and less control of their eating. A well-ingrained habit of flossing every day may do more in the long run to help them have healthy teeth.
Eating like a cave-man would protect my teeth, but I would rather floss.
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