Asthma has always been a very sore spot with me. I wanted SF from the time I watched "The Green Berets" with John Wayne as a kid. When I went to sign up at the local Recruiter's office I signed a contract for at least a Ranger spot (if my mind serves me). I did however choose to not tell the Reqruiter that I had Asthma. He found out anyway (still a mystery to me) and gave me the "standard" two options. I chose the smarter of the two and became a Cop instead.
I would of been much more comfortable being a "career" soldier than a career Law Dog.
Years later I am reading "Blackhawk Down" and find out that Keni Thomas had Asthma and the Army turned the other cheek. Not only during basic but all the way through Ranger Training and Somalia. I guess it just wasn't meant to be and I have to accept that even though it angers me from time to time.
I had a "severe" attack a number of years ago and ended up going into A-Phib. Had to be Cardio-converted under a max dose of Verced. I wasn't asleep like the doctor thought, and, well, you all know the rest of that story. The cause was too much Ventolin and not enough "gray matter" at the time. I have not made that same mistake again. Asthma and the meds to treat it are a double edged sword. Prednisone, Depo-Medrol and Kenalog were also popular back then, but with these meds came mood swings and weight gains (Cushings Type).
Oh, and by the way, the inhaler back then was called Alupent I believe(?).
I have yet to try any diving, so I am not sure if the pressure differences and/or the breathing underwater would cause me to have an attack. All I know is that my Asthma is more prone to happen around very cold air (winter) and
Cigarrette smoke. Also, in my case Cats are a my biggest worry/threat to my ability to breath. I usually take three puffs of Ventolin 15 minutes before I go jogging and I am good to go for 3-5 miles at a steady jog. I will also take it at work every four hours so I am not caught off guard as of recent my Asthma has seem to become more and more "exercise" induced rather than an allergy antagonist induced.
Back about a two decades ago, Asthma went through a very "lethal" period in time for people who had it. The drug of choice was Alupent(?) and it was being abused because people would have an attack and the normal two puffs (max dose) would not do the trick so more was better. It went from being OTC to script and back again under the name of Primatene I believe. Asthma meds, especially the "Beta-selective adrenergic agonists" can be a double edged sword as I found out. But I don't know of any Asthmatic who enjoys Cyanosis much.