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Gluten & Asthma Symptoms


JillianLindsay

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JillianLindsay Enthusiast

When I was being tested for celiac disease I was told that having asthma makes it a little more likely that I have it because both celiac disease and asthma are immune-mediated disorders/diseases.

I've been gluten-free for 5 1/2 weeks now and was doing fantastic until Saturday afternoon when (accidentally, of course) I got glutened. Last night I played soccer and my asthma was really acting up. I took all my puffers and meds as per usual and had a really good warm up, yet I was wheezy and had trouble breathing for a lot of the game.

My ashtma usually acts up in the first 10 minutes and then calms down and doesn't bother me until maybe the very end of the game.

Does anyone else notice their asthma symptoms worsen after being glutened? Or could it be something else? I notice I am still a bit short of breath this morning which hasn't been happening since I went gluten-free, yet before my Dx I was having a lot of shortness of breath.

Thanks :)

Jillian


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Jestgar Rising Star

Well, I can say that my asthma got better after going gluten-free.

JillianLindsay Enthusiast

Thanks Jestgar :) Yes, mine did too! It's awful today though and the thick, humid air is definitely not helping!

Does anyone else notice difficulty breathing and/or worsening asthma symptoms after being glutened? Just wondering if this is a common thing...

Thanks,

Jillian

Well, I can say that my asthma got better after going gluten-free.
  • 3 weeks later...
tiredofbeingsickandtired Apprentice

The scariest asthma attacks I've had since going gluted free are the ones I have within minutes of consuming gluten. Dairy aggravates my asthma almost as bad, one or two slices of gluten free pizza seem to be ok.. but anymore than that and my chest is full of crud and my asthma is back. I had hopes of going back on dairy, but I have this feeling that I may never be able to tolerate it.

I took a bite of something that was contaminated with gluten a couple of weeks ago and immediately knew it because of the asthma.

Heidi S. Rookie

I have seen a correlation with my asthma bothering me more anytime I get gluten-ed.

ang1e0251 Contributor

I have a customer with asthma who said going dairy free has helped him a lot.

buffettbride Enthusiast

My daughter does not have asthma, but suffered from persistent sinus infections prior to her Celiac diagnosis. After diagnosis, the sinus infections cleared up (as did her Celiac symptoms). Whenever she is accidentally glutened, though, about a week later she comes down with a head cold that takes about 2 weeks to clear. Blech.

Anyway, I'm not surprised that your asthma flares up after a glutening, because it compromises your immune system and makes you more susceptible to the icky stuff in the outside world.


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Sniffy911 Newbie

Wow.....I think this post is just what I needed !!!

I was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease nearly the end / early part of August/September. Which took a year to diagnosed while having symptoms.

I left a post in the Related Disorders & Research - https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?showtopic=62248

Called History...and Can These All Be Causes ?

which would be nice if you guys could read and maybe provide me with some more info, cause i'm not gonna go into broad history here....

But when I first started having problems....I was getting sick (cold like symptoms) Coughing and such and mucous. One night I just lost my breath and fell into a panic attack and was sent to the E.R. they just simply gave me some meds and the sinus infection did clear up....I have though ever since been experiencing congestion problems....and ever since that one year ago, I live with a constant shortness of breath everyday. I do have a slight history with asthma but it has never really been bad.

Could Celiac Disease have caused this shortness of breath....and respiratory problems ? I have been gluten free now for 3 weeks probably ? I had a lung function test and the pulmonary did say there was some interruption, and i'm going in for an even more advanced one next week.

  • 1 month later...
tiredofbeingsickandtired Apprentice

its almost 2 months since my last post, dairy free has REALLY helped my asthma. I was on a high dose steroid, now I'm on the lowest dose of asthmacort. My asthma will act up if I get glutened, but dairy is a major trigger.

Jestgar Rising Star
its almost 2 months since my last post, dairy free has REALLY helped my asthma. I was on a high dose steroid, now I'm on the lowest dose of asthmacort.

Excellent news!!!

  • 4 months later...
melblondin Apprentice

I'm in the process of being tested for Celiac (bloodwork and gene testing), but I do have a confirmed wheat allergy and wheat allergy is associated with exercise induced asthma. I started having asthma attacks when I would exercise about two years ago. I cut out wheat and gluten for a little while and it got better. Then I had a piece of pizza and had the worst asthma attack of my life without exercising. I was also having attacks at nighttime for no reason at all (other than the fact that I was consuming wheat - it took me awhile to be convinced of the whole wheat allergy thing). At any rate, about two weeks ago I was having all sorts of chronic symptoms resurface, including exercise induced asthma even with using inhalers, so I decided to go gluten-free for good and since doing so I have not had an asthma attack while running :-) Soooo, yes - I think they can be related :-)

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