Asthma Archives

Trendy Supplements For Asthma Don’t Work

In a recently published article in the May issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Hortensia Moreno-Macias reports that her review of published studies indicates that there is no clear evidence of a relationship between the use of antioxidant supplements and other dietary supplements and a decrease in allergies or asthma.

Oxidative stress stimulates the inflammatory responses that can lead to allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, supplements for asthma and food allergies. The conventional wisdom holds that antioxidants would relieve this oxidative stress. However, a review of the published studies does not show this to be the case. So much for conventional wisdom!

In short, while there was no compelling evidence that the use of fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin E, and other antioxidant supplements for asthma had a positive impact on allergies or asthma they found out that it didn’t harm either. The researcher recommends that in certain situations where antioxidants might not be available in the diet that supplements for asthma might be appropriate.

So, if you feel your diet is not complete and you want to take an antioxidant go ahead, just don’t expect it to help your allergies or asthma any more than eating a well-balanced diet.

Wishing you the best of health
Mike

Discover How to Explain Asthma to Your Child

You suspected something was wrong. You looked at the 10 Signs you May Have Asthma and made an appointment with the doctor for your child. Now, you just left the doctor’s office knowing for sure why your young son has been coughing and wheezing all this time. It is not an infection. It is asthma. Now you must explain asthma to your child.

Before you can explain asthma to your child, you must do your homework. First, you must learn everything you can about asthma;

what it is,
what causes it,
what are your child’s triggers,
what to avoid
and how to treat it.

Your world just got a bit more complicated.

What do you need to cover when you explain asthma to your child? Explain asthma to your 8-year-old son in terms he can understand. Explain that he now has to take medicine, and use inhalers and peak flow meters. Let him know these are helpers to keep him healthy. Assure him that he will get comfortable with a mask put over his mouth for breathing treatments. Hard stuff for an adult to deal with much less an 8-year-old.

This is how some of our customers have handled explaining asthma to a child.

Be honest. Let them know that asthma is serious but with some work, they will be able to still have lots of fun. There will just be some new rules to follow. When they ask what asthma is keep it simple. “Asthma makes it hard for you to breath sometimes” The best example if you have to explain asthma to a child is an experience from their own life. Remind them of a time they had difficulty breathing. Get into more detail when they can understand it.

Teach them their triggers and asthma symptoms. Let them know they will need to be more careful and pay attention to their surroundings. Your child needs to understand the signs of an asthma attack and what to do if they have a hard time breathing. “Find mom or dad, your teacher or another adult if you don’t feel good”.

Keep them involved. Make a game out of filling out the peak flow meter charts. If one of their triggers is pollen, teach them what pollen is and where it comes from. If weather changes trigger your child’s asthma, watch the Weather Channel and learn about cold fronts. Great time to teach them about keeping a daily journal.

Asthma is a lifelong condition but it does not necessarily mean they can’t do the things they like to. They and you just need to be careful.

Wishing you the best of health

Mike Krause

The Allergy Store

Chronic Cough? May Be Allergies

Coughing is a natural function of a healthy body. It is your body’s way of clearing secretions and particles that you might have inhaled. By removing the lungs and respiratory system, the cough is intended to help your boy fight off infection by evil invaders. But a chronic cough is not natural.

But what if you get a cough and it doesn’t go away? A cough is generally considered “chronic” after 8 weeks of coughing with no relief. The most common causes of a chronic cough are post-nasal drip and allergic asthma. Less common causes can be acid reflux, chronic bronchitis, and the use of ACE inhibitors.

If you have a cough that doesn’t seem to go away, track your symptoms and you will be more prepared to discuss it with your doctor. For instance, does the cough come on at night? Is it only when you lie down at night, and doesn’t it occur if you sit in bed?

These things can help your doctor determine if the cause is allergic asthma (such as from dust mites) or acid reflux. Also, note the foods you are consuming. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. My brother is one of the approximately 20% of people who develop a chronic cough as a result of ACE inhibitors prescribed to control high blood pressure. His doctor changed his medication, and the cough disappeared!

If a cold lingers, the post-nasal drip can lead to a chronic cough. The constant secretions can irritate the throat and cause a cough. However, this can also mask a cough due to asthma, as it can be triggered by a respiratory infection such as a cold. Cough due to asthma may or may not be in conjunction with wheezing.

If you have allergic asthma or environmental allergies and your cough reappears, it might be a good time to check for changes in your home environment. Aside from the obvious, such as adding a new pet, did you change pillows, blankets, or comforters?

Many people believe their bedding can’t harbor allergens if it is new. Please don’t be among the uninformed. Any pillow, duvet, or mattress that you buy new can already contain allergens. That is why it is important to cover your mattress, box spring, pillow, etc., with dust-mite-proof covers from day one.

So, if your cough lingers, begin paying attention and taking notes. If you need to see your doctor, your careful notes will help them make good use of their diagnostic time.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl