Health Expert Rick Frea shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/52325/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/52325/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/52325/index http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/160560/asthma-al-head Mon, 13 May 2013 07:36:00 -0400 Rick Frea In a series of articles written throughout the 1850s, Dr. Henry Hyde Salter, himself an asthmatic, wrote a series of articles about asthma that were published in the book "On Asthma: It's Pathology and Treatment." In this book he wrote that "Asthma essentially a nervous disease."   He offered the following proof:   Many patients feel fine as soon as they enter the doctor's office Mental emotion can bring on a paroxysmof... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/160560/asthma-al-head http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/155480/hunting-camp-place-asthmatic Thu, 11 Apr 2013 01:05:00 -0400 Rick Frea Well, I've decided that after 30 years of trying to be a normal guy and attending hunting camp every year I'm going to quit going.  I hate to say it, but it's time to make this wise decision.    I started going when I was ten in 1980.  And I think it was that year my asthma got so bad in the night my dad had to leave camp and drive me all the way home.  It was a 45 minute drive that year.  As I look back I think... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/155480/hunting-camp-place-asthmatic http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/159021/joe-goofus Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:16:00 -0500 Rick Frea I thought it was funny (well, not really) when I visited my mother's house a few weeks ago and realized I forgot my rescue inhaler (So that makes me a goofus asthmatic right?)   My mother said, "You can use mine."   I said, "Awesome."   Then I squirted it and it tasted like rotten eggs.  Plus the puffer worked poorly.  I checked the date on the inhaler and saw it expired in 2010.  The medicine worked -- sort of, but... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/159021/joe-goofus http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156615/31-jobs-asthmatics Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:34:00 -0500 Rick Frea Ideally you should be able to participate in any profession if your asthma is under control. Realistically, however, you'll want to avoid possible asthma triggers, such as dust, chemicals or smoke.     So, that in mind, each of the following jobs has the potential to expose you to asthma triggers, and you may wish to consider choosing another profession. Lumberjack (outdoor allergens, sawdust) Construction (dust) Building destruction/... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156615/31-jobs-asthmatics http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/158786/asthmatic-epidemic Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:01:00 -0500 Rick Frea The influenza virus has struck early and hard this year, spreading quickly across the globe.  If you have asthma, or take care of an asthmatic, you must be doubly concerned, because the flu can hit asthmatics hard.     By looking at this CDC map, you can see for yourself the virus is widespread in most states.  According to CNN, the CDC has even declared it a serious epidemic.     I have... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/158786/asthmatic-epidemic http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156614/tips-asthma-school Fri, 11 Jan 2013 01:22:00 -0500 Rick Frea So you have a child with asthma and want to make sure he or she gets the best care possible once school starts.  As a former child asthmatic who endured asthma attacks in school, I have compiled the following tips just for you.  Work with your child's asthma doctor to obtain the best asthma control possible Meet your child's teacher before school starts.  Make sure your child's teacher understands asthma and how to... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156614/tips-asthma-school http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/158154/exercising-asthma Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:33:00 -0500 Rick Frea As an asthma blogger myself I have become friends with many other asthma bloggers.  One thing I've learned we all have in common is, along with making gallant efforts to control our asthma, we all exercise.   It's true.  And many of these asthma bloggers are your prototypical hardluck asthmatics, people you'd think would stray away from exercise.  Yet even these folks stress the importance of exercising, especially if you... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/158154/exercising-asthma http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156613/newly-asthmatics Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:06:00 -0500 Rick Frea So you've recently been diagnosed with asthma.  Now what?  The following are some tips to help you through the next several months.  These are things you should do (or should not do).     Educate.  Educate. Educate:  This is essential for all asthmatics.  The more you know, the better off you'll be.  You're off to a good start simply by reading this and hanging out here.   Know you are not... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156613/newly-asthmatics http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156610/furtive-asthmatic Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:14:00 -0500 Rick Frea If I'm feeling short of breath when there's people around, I pretend to be fine.  I remember many times in high school, way back in the 1980s to date myself, concentrating on my breathing, watching the hands of the clock, as the teacher lectured.  I didnt' want to interrupt the class.   No, that's not true.  The real reason had nothing to do with interrupting the class, it had to do with me.  I didn't want... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156610/furtive-asthmatic http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156611/doctor-anxiety Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:21:00 -0500 Rick Frea I used to deny it, but I don't any more:  I have doctor anxiety, alson known as white coat fever.  It's funny if you think of it, considering I work with doctors, and many are my friends.  Yet when I'm the patient I get nervous.    It's also funny considering I've had asthma my entire life, and have dealt with many doctors over the years, and I see my doctor on a regular basis. Yes, the anxiety hits. ... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/52325/156611/doctor-anxiety