Can Asthma Symptoms Include Pain Below My Shoulder Blades?
Q. Dear Dr. Tom, I’m a 26-year-old Asian female. As a child, I suffered from chronic asthma that was usually set off by exercise, humidity or dust. After two years of using an inhaler, my asthma symptoms disappeared by the time I was 13. Then when I turned 24, I stupidly began to smoke. On average I probably smoked about 3-5 cigarettes a day. About three months ago, I finally quit. Now about a month ago I’ve been having similar symptoms as my previous asthma – shortness of breath and constriction in my throat. My doctor has prescribed to me Advair as well as albuterol as an emergency inhaler. While the medication definitely does help with my breathing, I am concerned that I still feel sharp, stabbing pains near my ribs and just below my shoulder blades. Is this due to my recent return of my asthma, or has my two years of smoking caused other problems? Neela A. Dear Neela, These pains are not from just two years of smoking. They are probably from your chest muscles, that may have become
