I don't see how using drugs for asthma can help if you don't suffer from asthma. I am asthmatic, but it is controlled by oral medication. I no longer use albuterol when I exercise. Every year I have a pulmonary function test to see how my lungs are working. In the test, you see how long you can blow into a tube. My doctor has a computer screen with candles and you try to blow them all out. I get very competitive. I do the test twice, then use albuterol and wait 10 or 15 minutes and repeat the test. I have no improvement after using the inhaler because my asthma is under control. That makes me wonder how someone without asthma would benefit from using albuterol.
Percentage of general population diagnosed with breathing disorders that require the us of an inhaler; 2-3%
Percentage of Olympic athletes diagnosed with same ailment and given the Ok to use an otherwise banned substance; 60%
While a telling statistic, I think it is skewed a bit to the detriment of anyone labeled an Olympic, or Olympic-caliber athlete. Someone at that level is probably going to have, at some point in their training, all kinds of medical and performance-related tests run on them. It would be easy, say, during a VO2max test, to look at the results and think, "hmm, oxygen intake low. breathing hard. breathing out weak. lets test for asthma," and then "hmm, he/she has *some* symptoms. let's diagnose with mild asthma and get an inhaler."
Would that person have been put on the inhaler if they weren't at a high level to start with? I'd argue they would not. I'd also argue that some athletes (and/or coaches) do stretch the symptoms and search out this diagnosis.
While a telling statistic, I think it is skewed a bit to the detriment of anyone labeled an Olympic, or Olympic-caliber athlete. Someone at that level is probably going to have, at some point in their training, all kinds of medical and performance-related tests run on them. It would be easy, say, during a VO2max test, to look at the results and think, "hmm, oxygen intake low. breathing hard. breathing out weak. lets test for asthma," and then "hmm, he/she has *some* symptoms. let's diagnose with mild asthma and get an inhaler."
Would that person have been put on the inhaler if they weren't at a high level to start with? I'd argue they would not. I'd also argue that some athletes (and/or coaches) do stretch the symptoms and search out this diagnosis.
That was my spin on it while talking it over with a friend just recently. I don't think it's quite as sinister as it looks.
This is for those of us lucky enough to have asthma. If you have an underbite, you are at a high risk of having sleep apnea(SP). I had an ER adventure last week. So I went to my faithful pulmonologist(SP). he told me about the sleep apnea and set up some tests. He asked me if I had a sleep partner who complained about my snoring. I told him I have no sleep partner. Just then his phone rang and it was his wife. They are Indian. I thought that was really weird. It was almost like she was listening and had a suggestion for me. I have this image in my mind of her sitting with a list of sleep partners waiting to match them up when her husband asks his patients.
I also got another IgE blood test. I know one friend who had something actually indicated from this test. Has anyone else every had allergies indicated from this test. Also has anyone gone to the allergist, Dr. Morris, in La Cross, WI. The ER nurses all tell me to go to him. They drive up with their kids in a huge van every so often because he is supposedly so good. I have had all kinds of allergy tests and all are negative. Yet I produce huge numbers of eosinophils(sp).
