Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory respiratory illness characterized by shortness of breath, cough and wheezing. It is actually more difficult for the child to breath out, then breath in. The airways are constricted and swollen with an increase in mucus, which plugs up the smaller passages. Generally a child who has asthma will have a chronic underlying condition with acute episodes of respiratory attack. When a child experiences an attack they will cough, wheeze, have an increased heart rate, tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. There is often a family history of asthma, hay fever and eczema.

A child may exhibit early signs before an attack comes on such as a difference in breathing pattern, nervousness, runny nose, an itchy throat, fatigue and paleness. Watch your child carefully in order that you treat her quickly if you notice any of these signs.

Although the exact cause of asthma is not yet known many factors seem to influence the onset of asthma:

• Allergies to: dust, pollen, mold and many foods.
• Irritants: Airborne substances such smoke, chemicals, perfumes, cleaning products, cold air and saw dust can irritate the airways.
• Emotional Factors: Stressful situations, anxiety, nervousness, insecurity or fear.
• Digestive Disturbances:
  Maldigestion and overeating may lead to an asthma attack by irritating the nervous tissue in the stomach. Other factors may include an imbalance in digestive micro flora, hydrochloric acid, or poor elimination of waste leading to an increase in toxins in the body and overgrowth of fungus in the bowel.

Conventional Treatment
Steroids are currently the conventional treatment of choice, which work by decreasing swelling and inflammation of the airways. They are taken orally or inhaled. All steroids have the potential to cause significant side effects please talk this over with your doctor.

Leukotriene inhibitors are a relatively new class of anti-inflammatory drug that may be prescribed for asthma. They are used more for chronic asthma. Possible side effects include abdominal pain, allergic reactions, dizziness, fatigue, fever, and flu like symptoms, weakness, rash and headaches.

Nutrition and Recommendations
Avoid giving your child dairy foods, which tend to increase mucus.

Eat a healthy diet of whole foods, lean proteins, vegetable, grains and fruits. Avoid excessive saturated fats and animal fats.

Eat plenty of brightly colored foods, which help in inhibiting allergic reactions and have anti-inflammatory properties. These are foods such as winter squashes, blueberries, raspberries, purple grapes and peppers.

Beware of whole-wheat products, nuts, citrus fruits, seafood and food containing additives or preservatives. Tartrazine and sulfites are two common additives that are particularly prone to causing asthma attacks. Vitamin B12 may help to blunt a reaction to sulfites.

Encourage your child, once she is stable, to drink plenty of water following an asthma attack. This helps to thin secretions so they are easily coughed out.

Regular exercise improves lung function. Swimming is particularly good because of the humidity, helping the air passages from drying out. If swimming in chlorine, watch for high levels of chlorine, which may trigger an allergic response.

Do not let pets sleep on your child’s bed.

Purifying your home’s air using a hepa filter and air ionizer.

Key Nutrients
Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to some types of asthmatic conditions. Given in oral or injectable form this vitamin may help to prevent an asthma attack. Please speak to a naturopath further about this.

Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory effects and if taken before exercise may help prevent the onset of an attack. One dose four times a day.

Magnesium has a bronchodialating effect resulting in a smooth muscle relaxation, improving asthmatic breathing. Try one dose twice a day. If loose stool develops, reduce the dosage.

Essential fatty acids help to regulate the inflammatory response. Good sources of this are gamma-linolenic, primose oil or eicosapentaenoic acid.
One to three times a day for two to three months.