As a physician who specializes in allergy and immunology, and as one who suffers from allergies and asthma, I have experienced both sides of the physician-patient relationship. Do you remember when you were given your first inhaler from a doctor? I do, and I also remember receiving no instructions on how to use it. Needless to say, it took me about a week to get it right, and in the meantime I wasted a lot of good medicine.

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As an asthmatic, allergist, and a father of two, I am particularly sensitive to children who suffer from asthma. Having grown up with this condition, I have so many memories of the "bad old days" filled with nebulizer treatments, difficulty running outside, and numerous missed school days. These memories were fresh in my mind this past week, as I saw several children with asthma in my medical practice.

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If you suffer from asthma you probably know that cigarette smoke can trigger cough, wheeze, and other asthma symptoms. I remember the days when airline flights had a smoking and non-smoking section, and needless to say, sitting near the smoking section didn't help my asthma very much. As an adult in California, I was also pleased to see the 1995 law banning smoking in restaurants.

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Winter is in full swing, and for many allergy sufferers this season offers a welcome break from allergy symptoms. These symptoms tend to disappear until the spring arrives, particularly in areas of the country that freeze. In these areas the pollen levels may fall dramatically during the winter months.

Unfortunately, this means more time spent indoors with increased rates of viral upper respiratory infections, sinus infections, and more significant viral infections like the flu. For those of us with asthma the viral season represents a very difficult period, as all of these infections can trigger significant asthma symptoms.

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