As a writer, I find it important to share what I learn with others so that they also may gain knowledge needed to have more secure footing when they battle their own illness or chronic disease.

Taking my responsibility for learning as much as I can about my own COPD/Asthma is something I choose to do so to make myself more aware of what is happening now, what may happen at any moment and what may lay ahead as I travel my path of life with the companionship of COPD/Asthma.

With all that, ‘Reflections of COPD/Asthma’ will cover a variety of topics to help remind people, both those affected by the disease and those family and friends that surround them, of the ideas, research, diagnoses, game-plans and all that goes with keeping the battles at a distance.

Today we begin a four-part series dealing with the ‘Keys to Breathing Risks’ – with Part #1 being those signs or moments when you may be discovering COPD/Asthma could be your problem.

While many of us who already have COPD/Asthma are familiar with these keys, there is always the need to remind ourselves and other of them, and this is especially true if you know someone besides yourself who may be a risk of being diagnosed with COPD/Asthma.

We have three key moments in a person’s life travels where they may realize that breathing was becoming a problem and probably should get it checked out.

Situation number one – Having spells where you get short of breath.

You should talk with your healthcare provider about any signs of being or having episodes of shortness of breath, and that means consistent signs of shortness of breath no matter what the activity you may be doing.

While being short of breath may well be a sign of several other possible health issues, it is also a major key in early diagnoses of asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Situation number two – Having a chronic or annoying cough.

You should talk with your healthcare provider about any constant, chronic or annoying cough.

Again, a chronic cough is very annoying and may also be a sign of your lungs having a problem with releasing the remains of the breath you may have just taken.  And that my friend is a sign of a possibility you may be gaining on a chronic lung issue or breathing issue.

Situation number three – You are finding yourself having trouble keeping up your stamina or ability to do what has been normal activities including yard work, house work, cooking, playing sports or just walking.

If you can connect getting a case of being short of breath and/or chronic coughing while trying to do any normal activities, then you should see your healthcare provider and get it checked out.

All three of these ‘Keys to Breathing Risk’ may not necessarily find you with a diagnosis of COPD or severe Asthma, the odds are that if you have any signs of them you probably are most likely having some type of health issue that could be or may become much more serious.

Always remember that without having access to consistent and productive breathing – your daily activities and functions may well suffer.

If you doubt that statement, then look around and ask someone you may know that is having a serious issue with their breathing and see what they may think of the signs you may see in your own breathing productivity.

Trust me, getting diagnosed and diagnosed properly is a lot easier if you do it earlier than later because catching any type of lung/breathing disease early is always more proactive than waiting.

From a personal experience – this writer for many, many years was treated for just his asthma and we missed an earlier diagnosis of COPD before it reached a stage of major concern and major change of normal routine.

QUESTION OF REFLECTION – – This week we ask you to reflect on the time when you were first diagnosed with having a major lung and/or breathing issue and share with how you felt and did you feel you caught it early enough or were you irritated because you waiting too long to get the proper diagnoses?

If you would like to reflect your response to others, please leave them under the comment section of wheezingaway.com.  Thanx.

As always, CrossDove Writer reminds you that if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

ALWAYS REMEMBER > A person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer)

To follow more postings written by Mr. William, feel free to check out either wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.

(Information gathered from various news/health websites, COPD Foundation’s “Big Fat Reference Guide on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” and the book “Live Your Life with COPD”)

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