Asthma is a lung disease that involves blockage of airflow. During
an asthma attack, the bronchi in the lungs will get smaller and make it hard to get the air out
of the lungs. Normal symptoms of an asthma attack are coughing, tightness in the chest
area, and difficulty in breathing. the number of people suffering from asthma has risen by
almost 30%. People with asthma maybe not getting enough B vitamins, magnesium, selenium,
vitamin C, or manganese. Exposure to chemicals often is a problem for people with asthma
and they should avoid things like urethane, polyurethane, rubber epoxy resins, car fumes,
cigarette smoke and other forms of pollution. Dust mites in carpets, furniture, and your
bed can also be a problem which a good vacuum can help get rid of. It is
very helpful for asthma
sufferers to reduce their stress. Emotions like worry and fear can cause asthma attacks.
It is also good to avoid eating foods with sulfites.
The spasms that characterize the acute attack
are not the cause of the disorder, but a result of chronic
inflammation and hypersensitivity of the airways to certain stimuli.
An attack may be triggered if a vulnerable person is exposed to
an allergen or irritants Common asthma causing allergens include:
animal hair/dander, chemicals, drugs, dust mites, environmental
pollutants, feathers, food additives such as sulfites, fumes, mold,
and tobacco smoke, but any kind of allergen can precipitate an
asthma attack in a susceptible individual Other things that can
cause asthma attacks include: adrenal disorders,
anxiety,
changes in temperature, exercise, extremes of dryness or humidity,
fear, laughing, low blood sugar, and stress.
A respiratory infection like bronchitis can also be a factor.
Whatever the specific triggering mechanism, it causes the bronchial tubes to
swell and become plugged with mucus This inflammation further
irritates the airways, resulting in even greater sensitivity, the
attacks become more frequent and the inflammation more severe.
Asthma specialists speculate that rising levels of environmental
pollution lead to a higher incidence of asthma. Asthma epidemics
related to atmospheric contamination situations in which dust and
chemical particulate matter are abundant, especially in enclosed
environments are well known. Occupational exposure to problem substances, chemicals such urethane and polyurethane, used in the
adhesives and plastics industry; rubber epoxy resins from paint;
welders' cloth cleaners; fumes in auto body shops; dry cleaning
chemicals; and others may also be a major risk factor.
A
predisposition to asthma may be hereditary. In the last 10 years, the
number of Americans with asthma has increased by over 30%. Today,
asthma affects over 10 million people (3 million children and 7
million adults), or 4% of the USA population. Children under 16 and adults over
65 are more likely than other people
to suffer from asthma. Among children, the incidence of
hospitalization for asthma has increased fivefold in the last 30 years; the rate for adults has doubled. Asthma can be
difficult to diagnose conclusively. Its symptoms may resemble those
of other diseases, including emphysema,
bronchitis,
and lower respiratory infections. To distinguish asthma from other
conditions, a physician may recommend blood tests, chest x-rays, and
spirometry (a procedure that measures air taken into and out of the
lungs).
With prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, serious
danger from asthma should be preventable. Cardiac asthma is a
condition that causes the same symptoms as other types of asthma,
but is caused by heart failure. Intrinsic asthma, a less common form
of the disease, generally appears during adulthood, is often
associated with other respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or
sinusitis,
and tends to appear during upper respiratory viral infections.
People who suffer from intrinsic asthma are normally vulnerable to
changes in weather, exercise, emotional stress, and other factors
related to their inner feelings that can make the asthma worse.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Flax seed |
10 |
source of essential fatty acids that are required for the
body's production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Omega fatty acids and GLA are also
useful and all of these can be found in some products that combine all these together in a
omega blend. |
B
vitamins |
10 |
B vitamins are important in that they help to
reduce inflammation and are also needed by the nervous system. B6 will boost the immune
system. Supplements with natural vitamin B can help with
asthma. Vitamin B also helps with digestion, depression and allergy problems. |
Ginkgo
biloba |
9 |
herb
which has active ingredient ginkgolide B which has been shown to be
helpful |
vitamin
A |
9 |
helpful
for tissue repair and to strengthen the immune system |
vitamin E |
9 |
very good anti-oxidant
for healing |
vitamin
C |
8 |
helps
with immune function and healing in the body |
Magnesium |
8 |
helps reduces body stress and is needed to balance out calcium, a good
natural multi-vitamin and mineral supplement will have both.
Magnesium also may help increase lung capacity. |
Calcium |
9 |
this mineral helps people with asthma and allergies helping with
the stress caused by the body's reaction. (See also magnesium) |
Carotenoids |
9 |
these are free radical scavengers that help
stimulate the immune system and asthma sufferers normally need immune system help.
Supplements made from fruits and vegetables are a good source of
carotenoids. |
Pantothenic
acid |
9 |
is an anti
stress vitamin to aid with asthma |
Pyridoxine |
9 |
vitamin B6 aids
with asthma and allergies |
vitamin
B12 |
9 |
reduces lung
inflammation |
Bioflavonoids |
8 |
protects the body from allergens and helps to moderate inflammatory
responses by the body of the person with asthma. Supplements made from fruits and
vegetables are a good source of bioflavonoids. |
Frankincense
resin |
8 |
helps to calm the body and is
good for the respiratory system |
Myrrh resin |
8 |
promotes healing and it works
well with frankincense and aloe vera |
Selenium |
8 |
helps rid the body of free radicals related to air pollution. The mineral selenium can
normally be found in a good natural supplement. |
Methionine |
8 |
antioxidant for healing and
reducing free radicals |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|