E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
This May 25, 2004 photo provided by The Washington Post shows then-Post reporter Anthony Shadid, in Washington. Shadid died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, apparently of an asthma attack, while on assignment for the New York Times in Syria, the paper said. He was 43.
Journalist Anthony Shadid’s sudden death has many wondering how an apparently healthy 43-year-old man could be struck dead by an asthma attack.
No one knows the exact circumstances surrounding Shadid’s collapse, but the New York Times has reported that Shadid, who was on assignment for the paper in Syria, began to show asthma symptoms as he was preparing to leave the country on Thursday and that those symptoms intensified and culminated in a fatal attack.
Times photographer Tyler Hicks, who was with Shadid when the reporter started to have trouble breathing, described the suddenness of the attack.
"I stood next to him and asked if he was OK, and then he collapsed," Hicks told the Times. "He was not conscious and his breathing was very faint and shallow."
Within minutes Shadid had stopped breathing.
Tragic asthma deaths like Shadid’s are more common than they should be, said Dr. James Sublett, a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and a managing partner for Family Allergy and Asthma in Louisville, Ky. “The latest numbers are four to five thousand deaths per year,” Sublett said.
In life-threatening situations, something -- often an intense allergic response -- kicks off a severe attack in which the muscles that wrap around airways begin to spasm.
"When that occurs, they can tighten down and stop air from moving in and out," Sublett said.
The scary thing is that it can all happen very quickly, especially if a person’s asthma is not well-controlled. If there is already inflammation in the airways, add triggers like heavy exposure to allergens, stress and physical exertion, and a severe attack can happen.
Hicks speculated that an initial bout of asthma a week earlier was set off by Shadid’s allergy to their guides’ horses. And that apparently was exacerbated as the two walked behind the horses towards the Syrian border the day Shadid died.
It’s possible, Sublett said, that Shadid was exposed to a fatal cocktail of allergens. The journalist might have been allergic to more than just horses. Many people are allergic to mold, and while one doesn’t think of mold as being an outdoor problem, there is a particular type of mold that thrives in the desert. Dust kicked up by the horses might have made things even worse. Reports of soldiers’ having asthma attacks triggered by dust are starting to come out of Afghanistan, Sublett said.
If anything positive could come out of Shadid’s tragic death, it might be heightened awareness of the dangers of asthma, Sublett said.
People often don’t realize that even mild asthma can turn deadly, Sublett said. And because of that, many patients don’t take their condition seriously enough. They don’t understand that uncontrolled asthma is a ticking time bomb, he said. Severe attacks are far less likely when asthma is controlled.
In the 32 years he’s been practicing, Sublett has seen 3 deaths that he considers to have been entirely preventable. The patients weren’t good about taking their medications on a regular basis and their asthma never got well controlled.
Even when asthma is under control, there’s always the possibility of a flare-up and a severe attack. That’s why Sublett tells his patients that they need to be prepared for the worst -- especially if they are going to be away from medical care.
"Students who are traveling abroad, for example, need to talk to their doctor before leaving and have a plan," he said. "If they’re going to have limited access to medical care they need to take extra medication with them. They need to have steroids and extra inhalers. And they should have an EpiPen and a backup EpiPen."
The EpiPen, a shot that sends a jolt of epinephrine into the body, can abort an attack, Sublett said. But meds aren’t enough. "They need to make sure their friends know about their asthma and are ready to use the EpiPen," Sublett said.
Related:
Leave a Comment:
Maybe this job was too much for him. Grateful he wanted to do it, but perhaps unwise considering his health issue.
Sorry, but, it sounds suspicious to me.
Not necessarily. This happened to a friend's mother a couple of years ago. She had known asthma but didn't think much of it. Then one day she had a sudden attack and passed away right there in her livingroom within minutes -- her son and husband were even there trying to help her. It is awful and tragic and we don't like to think about how easily life can end -- but it can. Doesn't make it suspicious.
I have asthma and its not suspicious at all. Mine is well controlled but its still scary to me when I read this article.
You can expect this to increase because our corrupt FDA has now withdrawn the ONLY over the counter inhaler that helps asthmatics. The criminals here are large pharmaceutical companies who care nothing about your health and ONLY about their greedy pockets.....my prayers go out to this mans family and friends.
Primatene WILL be back. They are working on a CFC free version. It says so on their website.
"Armstrong Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is actively finalizing its internal development of anew, CFC-Free replacement for Primatene® Mist that will continue to useepinephrine as its active ingredient but will use a more environmentally friendlypropellant (known as HFA, or hydrofluoroalkane"
I'm pretty sure that Mr. Shadid could afford prescription inhalers, so I don't get how you can blame big pharm for his death. I'm really trying to follow your convoluted logic, but I'm afraid that I simply cannot make the connection.
The crux is this. The HFC versions are extremely poor at delivering the medication. It has been a common complaint that my physicanss have stated they hear from the allergy and asthma patients. This comes from Primary Care, Allergy & Asthma and Pulmonary Medicine. The CFC was effective at delivering the medication and was generic. Since these medications went to HFC, they are not as effective at delivering the medication and they are now magically no longer generic. These mean they cost a lot more to the patient. As a responsible asthmatic, I have several emergency inhalers in strategic locations, within my home, in my car, in my purse, backpack on my work desk. If you have a child, you need to have them in school and on them at all times. You cannot afford them now. People are not carrying them like they used to due to price and they just are not effective.
The other side of treating asthma is the steroids. They do terrible things to people. I for one am allergic to steroids and cannot tolerate taking them so I am an uncontrolled asthmatic. When I go out in public, stores like Victoria's Secret, Yankee Candle, Bath & Body Works do trigger asthma attacks. As do the front sections of certain high end stores and people who wear strong perfumes.
You never know what caused the death of Mr Shadid. Who would have expected something to trigger an allergy other than horse dander and unless you spend time around horses, it may never have crossed his mind. Its not like you can run to CVS and get some allegra in the deep desert.
@m-612920:
Primatene Mist was withdrawn from the market temporarily. It is being reformulated and will be back on the market later in 2012 or in early 2013. Even so, Primatene is NOT a substitute for prescription albuterol or an inhaled corticosteroid. Any doctor or pharmacist will tell you that if you find yourself relying on Primatene, it is an indication that your asthma is not well-controlled.
kayless,
good points...don't yell at me, but I find "steroid allergies" to be highly suspect. They are natural substances produced in the body, and in fact, are one of the treatments for severe allergic responses. I don't see how a steroid allergy is possible
Regardless of how good or bad the medication is that is available to the person, if they don't use it as they should, it's not going to do them any good at all.
This happens all the time with drug abusers. They have medication for a certain problem, and in abusing it they end up killing themselves.
This situation is exactly the opposite. The person knew he had a medical problem, but didn't care for it properly.
You guys are Missing the point completely. Its not an over the counter or RX war all the inhalers got a revamp(including the RX ones) because they said the propellant was bad for the environment.Now with the new propellant 75% or more of the Asthma patients reporting that they must use three puffs to get about 25% of the results they used to get off 1 puff of the old ones.Not to mention they are very expensive.
FACT: the average 18 wheeler driving 1 mile down the road produces more toxins in the air the the average asthma patient was producing in a year from the inhaler.
If you think the pharma companies had nothing to do with producing a less effective much more expensive inhaler that (at least temporarily) can't be purchased over the counter you are at least a little blind.
@Suze the Muze before you slam someone and call them convoluted you should know the facts.
Ever heard of: "Make it look like an accident"?
Just like in The Mechanic.
Spooks use heart attacks.
I am an asthmatic and must take two medications to control it. Still, I carry inhalation therapy for sudden attacks. This man should have never been in Syria where all kinds of allergens are being kicked up by all the ruckus of people and bombs and equipment and animals moving about. War zones are the worse places for asthmatics.
After the 1993 floods in the midwest, many allergens that had been long buried were brought to the surface by the action of roiling waters. The number of asthma attacks rose considerably. I myself had a serious one.
So sorry for this family's loss. Sorry even more that it could have been prevented.
It's true that these things can happen, but I also think it is suspicious.
No, it's entirely plausible. I have asthma which I take Advair for, but since it is so expensive ($220 for a 30 day supply, geez that's a small car payment! And Smith Kline has finnagled through lobbying to extend their patent an extra number of years, Jerks!) So I only take it once a day instead of twice to eke it out. Sometimes my chest gets tight and a bit wheezy when I'm in a home with dogs but usually I'm ok. BUT a couple of years ago, we went to one of those dinner shows that's ampitheatre style (Dollywood's USA show)... we sat pretty far up in the rows, nowhere near the action on the floor, and within 30 minutes my chest was tightening down badly. There were horses in the show, and covered wagons, "Cowboys and Indians" riding, etc. I hadn't thought of my allergy to horses in 20 years because I'm not usually around them, but it was bad. The wheezing got worse, and we left early and raced to our cabin to get my rescue inhaler. It was a bit scary. In retrospect I probably should have headed for the nearest medical facility because I know now that the lungs can quickly shut down entirely. Horses are definitely a huge trigger if you are allergic.
Asthma attacks can get worse very quickly. In addition to having preventive and rescue inhalers, some people also require a nebulizer machine along with the use of albuterol. I have asthma, my son has it and so do my niece and nephew. Every November/December and March/April, I can count on getting an attack where I have to resort to my nebulizer. After two treatments, if my chest still feels tight, I go immediately to the emergency room.
I don't know Mr. Shadid's asthma history - Did he always have asthma? Did he have his inhalers with him? Did he know that asthma attacks rarely get better without treatment? Did he think he could "tough it out", as men, oftentimes, think they can? I can imagine that being around the dust, horses and god-knows-what allergens floating around that area had a direct impact on his sudden death. An Epi-pen can help, but you need to get away from the allergens first, then follow a rigorous regimen of preventive medicine, like corticosteroids taken orally - maybe antibiotics, too, otherwise you're just delaying the inevitable.
As a veteran of emergency room visits - usually done in the wee hours of the morning (midnight - 3am) - I also have to watch opening the windows, as well. Air-conditioning, as soon as it is tolerable, is also a key factor to keeping attacks at bay. This means turning it on, sometimes, even in the winter when the weather is warm - like it has been in the midwest this winter!
I am sorry about Mr. Shadid's death and my heart goes out to his family. Asthma is not something to be taken likely and you should always seek help immediately, as soon as your chest starts to tighten. Rest in peace, Sir.
I am highly allergic to horses and have had a quick asthmatic reaction to them. I do not find this suspicious.
Ditto. I am HIGHLY allergic to horses and that would have done it in for me if I would have been exposed to them all week without any meds to maintain the attacks....Tragic story...
There wasn't any mention of a rescue inhaler, which every asthmatic should carry everywhere.
I agree! As an asthmatic, I always carry a fast acting inhaler. I travel a lot and I was afraid when I went to Egypt last year and rode a camel that I would have a bad reaction but thankfully I didn't, nor did I have to use the inhaler at all. You never know what will set off asthma and one must always carry their inhaler. This is so sad, more than likely preventable and treatable had he had his meds on him.
I am deathly allergic to dogs, after being around them all my life. Happen about 10 yrs ago and even with meds, not going into someone's home that has a dog, not in their car, etc. I still will have about 10 attacks where I'm rushed by squad to the ER. Unless someone is highly alleric, others have no idea what it is like for you airwaves to totally close shut. There's only a couple minutes time frame. It is very, very scarey. I'm conscious about touching people, grocery kart handles must be wiped with alcohol, etc. It limits my world as everyone has a dog.
I had the same experience twice. Once on the Island of Lombok in Indonesia . I am allergic to horses also. I needed to get from one end of a beach to the other so I took a horse cart. Within 1 minute I could not breath. I jumped off the cart and fortunately I had an inhaler with me. I think that it saved me. The second time I was in Egypt. They had to inject me with 1000cc Epinephrine and I was in the hospital for 3 days.
Years ago, whdn I was working as a respiratory therapy tech, we had two cases that came into the ER with what was then called "status asthmaticus" (sp?). It was a sudden, violent attack of asthma that made the air-passages pretty much rigid. Even CPR was useless, as the care providers could not get air into their lungs. Both of them died- one was a 21-yr-old young woman. It was depressing to all of us to be so helpless in the face of an attack that came on so suddenly and severely. Because of what I witnessed then, this account rings true- and tragic- to me.
lez,
that really shouldn't happen. Even in status, you can intubate the patient and mechanically deliver oxygen to the lungs. CPR is usually not needed as it is a primary respiratory problem instead of a cardiac issue (although prolonged hypoxia can cause cardiac arrest)
I wonder if something else was going on...
So sorry for this man and his family. He most likely did not think his asthma was potentially life threatening. After all, this wasnt his first assignment under these conditions.
This is very sad, how scary for him. Nothing you can do when your own body suffocates you.. yikes. I'm very sorry for him and his family. My little girl also suffers from Asthma, so this is a little bit of an eye-opener.
I've had asthma since I was a baby, I've also had a couple of near fatal attacks and I know what it's like when one just comes on. Scary! Asthma is a very frightening malady and I believe that what helped saved my life was learning how to cope when I didn't have medicine and nobody was around.
My condolences to the gentleman's family and may he rest in peace.
Nothing suspicious about it. My brother died at the age of 48 from the same thing. It was extremely sudden and he was gone before help arrived. He and his family were not aware that an epi-pen could have saved him...his doctor's never mentioned that.
So very sorry for your loss. Wasn't necessary. I never had an Epi-pen until I was 35. Literally saved my life last year.
And think, the best thing to have someone with asthma carry is now off the market over fears of global warming. Now anyone with asthma has to rely on PAYING MORE for inhalers that could stop an attack, because the federal Govt has banned Primateen Mist from being sold to assist BIG PHARMACY in FORCING people to use their products when a cheaper and better product was available EVERYWHERE.
I am so glad I bought dozens of them before they were yanked off the shelves, as there is NO WAY I can afford $100 each for my 3 kids with Asthma when Primateen worked the best for them.
And the funny thing? The amount of CFC's were MINIMAL. Heck steel mills put more of those CFC's into the air than a lowly inhaler sold over the counter.
Go to the doctor and get your kids some albuterol; it's available as generic tablets for like four bucks at Walmart, and they have Ventolin inhalers for nine dollars. 3 kids times $9 is $27, not $100. Primatene was pure epenephrine; it makes your heart race and provides only about 20-30 minutes of relief, even though you're only supposed to take it every 3 hours. It's really not very good, honestly. If your kids are that asthmatic, they need to be under a doctor's care if you can possibly swing it financially, otherwise they might suffer potentially life-threatening consequences.
Also, keep an eye on the expiration date of those "dozens" of Primatene inhalers. Expired inhalers are useless. Worse than useless.
DRK-1183578 Doctors know that a segment of their patients went out and horded these inhalers before they went off the market. They were also blindsided by the cost. I told my docs that they were going for sale as brand name. None them were told by the drug sales rep that they would go on sale as a brand name product.
The doctors are also not educated on what medications are going generic. I went in with a list of the new generic drugs for allergy and asthma. The doc was wondering they were not getting pushed anymore, now he knows. Their equivalent is now generic and big pharmacy cannot sell the brand name to the physicians and they know it. All the doctors hear about are the drugs that are new, expensive and that the company's have a monopoly on.
drs "educate" themselves about what drugs go generic, but you can't expect a single human being to remember the specific date for EVERY medication.
Come on now, be reasonable...
MSN & MSNBC need to get their editors together on stories. MSN has a story about asthma that is just this side of making light of it. It's extremely dangerous and an extreme attack can be very sudden, I saw it happen to my husband.
Slate magazine--to which MSN sometimes links--has an article making light of asthma. Slate Magazine started out owned by The Republic, and is now owned by the Washington Post. MSN does not control all the sites that it links to.
I did deeply dislike the Slate "Explainer" article--it was factually accurate, but highly misleading in its interpretation of those facts.
To those who are suspicious -- asthma can be a deadly disease, and especially for successful, busy people who tend to brush off the cautions they get from doctors. The Chancellor of New York City schools died of an asthma attack about 15-20 years ago, and the NYC Police Commissioner was hauled off in an ambulance with an asthma atttack a few months later.
Stunned that all posts are related to asthma. (Which I have had for 50 years and has many times tried to claim my life.) What's missing is the sadness over the passing of an amazing journalist who gave his career to helping folks like "us" understand what was happening "over there."
Every condolence to his family and colleagues.
1. The article is about the potential dangers of asthma. 2. The article uses Mr. Shadid's death as an example. 3. Go find the original article about Mr. Shadid and see the condolences. 4. READ the posts for this article and you will see many expressions of sympathy. I feel for you, but the soapbox is unnecessary.
I had Asthma well into adulthood! Now it has completely disappeared! Go figure! I'm not BSing either!So I can understand this Guy all of a sudden getting hit with it!
Asthma is a Killer and it can strike without warning!I really feel bad about this man!It's a really to bad!My condolences to this man family!
My father died from an asthma attack while already hospitalized. I have had 2 attacks that came on with no warning, one that landed me in the ER. My inhaler and I are attached at the hip, especially since my insurance is garbage and I can't get the drugs I need to control my asthma, not having an extra $450 per month to spend on luxuries like my health. There's nothing suspicious about Shadid's death, it's sadly all too common.
I know Asthma can kill, but given the fact that nation is in a very nasty civil war, I would, were I a family member, request a full post-mortem to include a complete toxicology report.. I simply do not trust the current regime there and would not put it past Assad's cronies to try to induce a poison which mimics the disease. Maybe he was not poisoned, but getting it ruled out would give better closure for the family. Hopes and prayers to his loved ones.
An autopsy is certainly a very good idea, as it would be for any unattended death, but truly, asthma is a killer its own self. I am so sorry for Mr. Shadid, who appears to have been a gifted journalist and a fine person, but if his death makes someone with asthma take it seriously, go to the doctor and get it treated, that will be a final fine piece of journalism.
Many years ago, there was a president of Israel named Menachem Begin. His wife died of asthma. I read about her death the morning I had a really bad asthma attack, and because of poor Mrs. Begin, I went to the ER. Several years later, when I had a respiratory arrest, I realized how wise that ER trip had been; I was really close to a respiratory arrest then, but had not known at that time that asthma can be fatal if not treated. There are so many medications now that can help keep asthma in good control -- but first of all people have to know that this is a really serious illness that needs medical treatment.
Truly, honestly -- if you or your child has this illness, seek medical treatment. It may save your life. It saved mine.
My brother-in-law died from an asthma attack 8 years ago. He was walking to his car in the parking lot after he got off from work and dropped not to far from his car. It wasn't suspicious, or a conspiracy or anything sinister. He simply died from an asthma attack because he didn't have his inhaler on him and he had a job that was irritating to his condition. He was a cook. He was only 34 years old. Now, I don't know this mans medical history, or why he didn't have his medications, or why he was anywhere near an animal he knew he was allergic to. As an asthmatic myself, you know when things aren't right. You know hours before an attack happens. He shouldn't have done a lot of things he was doing, but in the end he didn't take the proper precautions to prevent this. No job is worth dying over. My condolences to his family.
There is a history of asthma in our family and saw family members suffer, people whose lives were shortened by their asthma.
I have had two very severe asthma attacks with two different experiences. On one occasion I woke up early in the morning unable to breathe and was rushed to ER where I received premium care and quickly recovered.
The second occasion the attack occurred after 2 am. Rushed to a small hospital which was the closest hospital to where we were living with a virtually empty ER I received one asthma treatment and was left alone while the nurse and doctor went to take care of someone else. A little while later the nurse returned and gave me a second treatment. During that second treatment my heart began pounding very hard and very fast. A janitor noticed by distress and ran to get the nurse. When the nurse arrived I told him what I was experiencing and he told me to stop hyperventilating and left. A little while later, my heart began pounding even harder. I motioned to the janitor who had returned to dump trash. He ran and got the doctor. The doctor had to treat my racing heart. I found out later that if that janitor hadn't rushed for the doctor I could have had a heart attack. I never forgot that experience.
I know that asthma kills; I also know that inadequate/inappropriate care can kill.
It's important that you get a doctor who specializes in respiratory illness. The bad thing is that you get whoever is on call when you go to the ER. I remember I went to a doctor when I had GHP, about 20 years ago, who must have been a recent graduate of medical school (I would hope!). My chest was tight and I had a really hard time breathing. After examining me she said, "What am I going to do with you?" Not something that someone is respiratory distress wants to hear. I then had to tell her that maybe a nebulizer would help. They hooked up the nebulizer, plugged it in and it didn't work. I had to tell her and the nurse that they should probably turn the switch on. After the treatment (2 of them) didn't work, I then had to suggest that maybe a shot of epinephrine would help, as again, she was at a loss as to what to do. Thankfully, the shots (2 of them) worked and I could breathe again. Found out I had pneumonia, which exacerbated the asthma. What a mess! Hopefully, she got out of the medical practice, but I never went back to her again.