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Author: Andy
Date: 2001-01-29 00:50
Hello Everybody,
I have not told you any of this before but I will tell you. I have a moderate condition of Asthma and is quite annoying especially when playing sport. When you just have had an Asthma attack and then play the Clarinet you'll notice something very bad. You see that you are taking breaths every few beats. This is extremely annoying and makes it discouraging to play. Something I think that is unusual though is my lung capacity, When I use my inhaler(spray which relaxes your lungs) I can get 25 secs on the Clarinet with one breath. Thats amazing for me, I think. Well, I wanted people to know that coping with Asthma is hard but keep playing the Clarinet. Don't get discouraged. Playing strengthens your lungs. Please leave comments even if you do, don't, or know someone who has asthma.
-Andy
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Author: Amanda Rose
Date: 2001-01-29 01:54
I have rather mild asthma. Occasionally if I play really hard for really long I'll give myself an attack from playing. But I have a trumpet player friend with severe asthma whose doctor wanted him to play an instrument because it strengthens your lungs. So I don't know.
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Author: The Big J
Date: 2001-01-29 02:55
Hi. I have asthma too. It really does suck, my doctor says I have 2/3's the lung capacity of a normal person. It's pretty severe, but I cope. Keeping on playing sports and the clarinet.
-Jeanie
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2001-01-29 04:07
I have asthma, also, and play the clarinet professionally. Playing has built up my lungs so that, despite the fact that I've apparently had asthma since I was a teenager, (if not before,) I wasn't actually diagnosed with it until I was 32.
Keep playing; it could really help you.
Chris
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Author: Lee
Date: 2001-01-29 04:11
HI
In addition to lung capacity I think playing the clarinet has helped me with asthma
and belive me, the attacks that I used to have were very servere even to the point of
ending up in the emergency room at the hospital.But since I started to play the
clarinet four years ago I have not had any attacks at all. Also in addition to playing
sports, I have a much higher indurence level without getting out of breath.
So Andy I hope that you are able to grow out of the asthma attacks and the agony that comes with with as much succes as me,and anybody else out there who has it but are able to cope with it.
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2001-01-29 05:25
I was told that I have asthma, but I am not convinced... perhaps I just don't know what it is. I occasionaly get into some pollen or dust and start having retched coughing fits and trouble breathing. I go take a shower and wash my hair, if I can, that seems to cure it.
I have found the clarinet just makes me feel really really good sometimes, physically. It particularly seems to make my lungs feel better. I've never had a breathing fit while playing, dancing and mucking around in the garden yes.
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Author: scarpia 97@aol.com
Date: 2001-01-29 17:41
I have mild asthma but it doesn't affect me. The only time I prevent it from happening is when the rag weed season hits. Generally I take some nose sprays before it hits so i won't have anything. My teacher had a russian student at one time. He had asthma and i guess the doctor recomended for him to play the clarinet and low and behold he went to study the clarinet. Of course russia doesn't have necessarily the best medical treatments, but playing a wind instrument i guess to a certain degree helps. A horn student at my school has asthma and it can act up at times. If it is bad, carry some abuteral (however you spell it) to help allieveate it. I know she does. My asthma goes unnoticed for me so i don't really carry it around. Good luck with the playing
pat
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Author: Meri
Date: 2001-01-29 18:46
My teacher has asthma; his favorite joke between us is how "I'm half his size, but he has asthma, so we're even."
Meri
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Author: Tim
Date: 2001-01-29 22:20
I, too, can relate. I've had asthma since I was born and live on inhalers. Even with that and all the hospitalizations, I've played the clarinet for 20 years and still do. Playing the clarinet and like instruments can indeed help the lungs to a certain extent, everyone's different. Just be careful and never over do it. Health first.
Tim
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Author: Ron Draddy
Date: 2001-01-30 21:15
I have been playing the clarinet with asthma for a couple of years. If I'm playing in a closed space with lots of cats then my lungs will clog up in no time. I have almost completely cut out milk products which has helped immensely. As a general rule make your practice space as clean as possible. Get rid of any carpeting and mop your space clean; this will also help.
I have a little story that will demonstrate how much "pshchology" is involved in asthma. While I was watching a movie/documentary, Gray Gardens, about Jacqueline Bovier's sister who lives in a huge East Hampton house. The house was filled with garbage/junk and was inhabited by dozens of cats that would eat their meals on this lady's bed. This house was an asthmatics worst nightmare. After watching the show, I found myself having an extremly hard time breathing.
I almost reached for my inhaler but I calmed myself down and I was fine after ten minutes.
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Author: Eilidh
Date: 2001-02-01 08:46
My asthma has so improved since I started playing clarinet that it has now virtually gone.I certainly don't get bothered by it anymore,except when I get a cold.
There's a lot of posters around my schools music department saying that it is proven that playing a wind insrument is better for asthma than an inhaler is.So keep playing!!!
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Author: Carlos Martin
Date: 2001-02-01 10:27
I only feel asthma when in contact with house dust. Anyway, I always keep a Ventolin inhaler with me, in part because of 4 or 5 occasions I´ve had a bad experience, and in part because (yes I admit it) the fear of not keeping it near can lead to an asthma crisis.
Clarinet: Now is my third month in every-day practice, and never had any problem except when forcing too much blowing time, as any healthy person would. I´ve often measured my heart rithm, which was sometimes even under my average because of hyperventilation.
I recognize I try to swim a couple of times every week to support my lung capacity, but anyway I´m sure that clarinet playing would in no case lead to disnea.
So concentrate in good sound projection and don´t blow time enough to join the Guinness.
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