Jaqueline Murdoch’s Asthma Story 

Background

Jaqueline Murdoch, a 75-year-old retired IT project manager from Stratford, Ontario, has led a life marked by resilience and health consciousness. A mother of three, Jaqueline has dedicated her post-retirement years to educating others on bone health with Osteoporosis Canada and working as a personal trainer. Health-conscious and vigilant, she has maintained a lifelong commitment to fitness and nutrition—a value instilled by her mother who suffered from emphysema and bronchitis. With a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, Jaqueline approaches health with analytical rigor, constantly reading, researching, and updating her knowledge to stay informed.

Growing up in a household where second-hand smoke exposure was common, Jaqueline has always wondered how this early environment might have impacted her respiratory health. Her father, a lifelong smoker, passed away from a heart attack at 66, while one of her younger siblings tragically died due to lung complications at a very young age. Jaqueline’s experience with lung conditions in her family left a lasting impression, and in 2012, she herself was diagnosed with asthma.

Jaqueline’s health practices are shaped by a legacy of resilience and caution within her family. Her father-in-law, a former smoker who spent his later years on oxygen therapy, left a lasting impact by leaving a letter to his grandchildren urging them never to smoke—a wish the family has honored to this day. Jaqueline credits her mother’s influence for her lifelong dedication to exercise and nutrition, a dedication she now passes down by inspiring others to prioritize their health.

Asthma Diagnosis and Management

Jaqueline’s journey with asthma began with an unrelenting chronic cough. Seeking answers, she visited her doctor, underwent spirometry, and was eventually diagnosed with asthma. Managing asthma has been a daily challenge, but Jaqueline has been very proactive. She has trialed various asthma medications, takes antihistamines to manage her allergies, and continues to monitor her triggers. She remains vigilant about air quality and notices immediate respiratory relief in less urbanized areas. As she often says, “We are very aware that we need to drink clean water, but people are only now seeing we also need to breathe clean air too.”

Jaqueline is particularly passionate about improving air quality in schools. She advocates for government intervention to ensure that classrooms are safe and well-ventilated spaces for children. “”It’s shocking to me that they haven’t ensured every school is safe. We need to start demanding action from our governments.”

Jaqueline leads a highly active life, teaching fitness classes and working as a personal trainer. “I want to be as close to normal as possible,” she says, explaining her determination to not let asthma control her life. Her approach to managing asthma extends beyond medication to include a careful diet, regular exercise, and diligent avoidance of environmental triggers.

Vaccinations

Jaqueline’s commitment to health extends strongly to vaccination. Her earliest memories around preventable diseases include having a classmate with polio, which left a profound impression on her regarding the importance of immunizations. She has received all available COVID-19 vaccines (10 doses), flu shots each year, shingles vaccines in 2010 and 2018, and multiple pneumococcal vaccines, which she proactively requested from her doctor. Jaqueline attributes her recovery from a recent bout of RSV or flu to her RSV and flu vaccinations. “Because I was vaccinated, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.”

Jaqueline recalls her mother’s severe battle with shingles, an experience that left a lasting impression. When her husband’s sister later contracted shingles, she told Jaqueline, “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. The pain is so ferocious.” This stark warning reinforced Jaqueline’s determination to avoid the disease. “When the vaccine became available, I was one of the first to line up,” she says. “And when the new one came out, I got it again with no regrets.”

Living with asthma, Jaqueline takes extra precautions to reduce the risk of severe illness. She describes herself as a “NOVID”—someone who has never had COVID-19—attributing her success to rigorous adherence to masking, social distancing, and staying up to date with vaccinations. “Science never promised these vaccines would prevent illness outright,” she says. “But they lower your probability of serious illness. I’m all about weighing the odds—I want to live as long and at the same time as healthy as possible!” She has encouraged neighbors to stay informed about vaccines and is deeply opposed to misinformation, frequently reminding others to “look at the science.”

If you have questions on managing your asthma and allergies during wildfire season, please contact our free HelpLine at 1-866-787-4050 or info@asthma.ca. Our team of asthma and allergy experts will happily assist you with your asthma control and help put your mind at ease.