John Bottrell

Health Professional

John Bottrell is a registered Respiratory Therapist. He wrote for HealthCentral as a health professional for Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Latest Articles by John Bottrell

Asthma

How Are the Lungs Affected by Stress?

“You’re just like everybody else… Pressure” So sang Billy Joel in his 1982 hit. Joel also has asthma. Perhaps he didn’t know pressure (stress) can affect the lungs, or he might have added this little tid bit to his song. “His asthma hit… He felt like ...

Asthma

"Wet Noodle" Approach for Asthma Attacks: How It Works

See the accompanying comic strip Some people have asthma for so long that it’s just a normal part of life, another thing to deal with. They can be having the worst asthma attack and no one but those with a trained “asthma eye” will ever know. They st...

Asthma

Do Corticosteroids for Asthma Stunt a Child's Growth?

So, your son or daughter has been diagnosed with asthma, and his or her doctor has prescribed systemic glucocorticosteroids (GC) like prednisone, and long-term inhaled GCs like Flovent or Pulmicort. Your concern is: Will this stunt my child’s growth? ...

Asthma

Medical Problems that Occur When Asthma Is Untreated

It’s said a gallant asthmatics can live a normal, active life. Yet what happens to the goofus asthmatic who doesn’t treat his asthma? The truth is, many goofus asthmatics are lucky and are able to escape without asthma trouble, yet far too often they ...

Asthma

How to Keep Strong Smells from Triggering Your Asthma

Do strong smells bother your asthma? If so you are not alone, and you are not weird, and it’s not all in your head. In fact, a study from the University of West Georgia found that as many as 30 percent of Americans have a sensitivity to strong smells...