Archive for the ‘Asthma’ Category

PostHeaderIcon Folic Acid and Vitamin D Help Allergies and Asthma



Two new studies help to show the power of nutrition to assist allergies and asthma. In one study people with higher levels of folic acid in their blood had had fewer IgE antibodies, fewer reported allergies, less wheezing and lower likelihood of asthma. In another study researchers found that lower blood levels of vitamin D in children were linked to allergy and asthma severity.

There is a national epidemic of asthma in children, in part due to obesity and in part due to the overuse of antibiotics that has caused an overgrowth of Candida, in turn causing excessive production of airway inflammatory signals coming from the Candida.

Nutrients are certainly important and low levels of key nutrients may allow such problems to manifest. Magnesium has long been known to be lacking in individuals with allergies and asthma. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids, especially quercetin, are of immense help.

In the new folic acid study researchers look at medical records of 8,000 people ages 2 to 85, comparing folic acid blood levels to levels of IgE antibodies, a key immune system marker that elevates to an allergen. People with higher blood levels of folate had fewer IgE antibodies, fewer reported allergies, less wheezing and lower likelihood of asthma. The researchers believed that folic acid was acting to help reduce inflammation.

“Our findings are a clear indication that folic acid may indeed help regulate immune response to allergens, and may reduce allergy and asthma symptoms,” says lead investigator Elizabeth Matsui, M.D. M.H.S., pediatric allergist at Hopkins Children’s.

In the new vitamin D study the researchers found that “children with lower vitamin D levels were significantly more likely to have been hospitalized for asthma in the previous year, tended to have airways with increased hyperreactivity and were likely to have used more inhaled corticosteroids, all signifying higher asthma severity. These children were also significantly more likely to have several markers of allergy, including dust-mite sensitivity.”

It appears that nutrient deficiencies of common nutrients set the stage for excessive inflammatory reactions, which include allergy and asthma. Parents should obviously improve the quality of the diet of any child with such a problem.

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PostHeaderIcon Asthma Prevention – Natural Cures For Asthma



There are currently more than 5 million people in the UK living with asthma and 400,000 of those are Scottish. Research by the Global Initiative for Asthma (Gina) published last month revealed that one in nine Scots children finds it difficult to breathe, higher even than any other part of the UK.

These are some of the findings of a report on the global burden of asthma by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), which discusses the need to reassess current asthma management in the UK. The report revealed that Scotland is worst affected with more than 18% of people experiencing symptoms. Although the statistics are shocking, experts at the National Asthma Campaign say that these results are not new and support the Campaign’s own findings.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition. This is caused by reversible narrowing of the air passages of the lungs due to varying spasms, swelling of the mucus membranes, and excessive secretion of thick sticky mucus.

When someone suffering from asthma inhales, everything is normal – but only partial breathing out occurs because the lining of the lung wall has become too tight. Asthma sufferers may experience severe wheezing and breathlessness. They usually need an inhaler to relax the lung wall.

There are two types of asthma – intrinsic (inside) and extrinsic (outside). Extrinsic asthma is mostly confined to children, particularly boys. The children usually develop a hypersensitivity to house dust, mites, animal dander and pollen. In most cases, the condition dissipates as they get older. Of adult asthma sufferers, only about 10% to 20 % suffer from extrinsic asthma. The majority suffers from intrinsic asthma. Their symptoms are triggered by emotional states, cigarette smoke, a respiratory infection or a general pre-disposition to allergic reactions.

Natural Cures For Asthma

They have an interesting approach to asthma in the Far East. They believe the lung lining has become too relaxed – so rather than further relaxing it with inhalers, they tighten it with herbs. Medical experts over there believe that asthma is due to the kidneys working too hard and over-consuming fluid. The kidney energy feeds the lung energy and if it is depleted the lung energy becomes exhausted resulting in lung disorders. Ginger tea is one of their favorite remedies because it tightens the bronchial tubes.

Western doctors usually prescribe a bronchial dilatory inhaler. In cases of severe attacks, they will prescribe steroidal inhalers. These have a number of side effects. I have had fantastic results with asthmatics by changing their diet and giving them two supplements – magnesium and bromelain. If you are an asthmatic, you must avoid all mucous forming foods, such as dairy products, chocolate, nuts, shellfish, cakes and sugar.

Magnesium – The Asthma Mineral



Magnesium is used by alternative practitioners to treat a number of conditions including stress, psoriasis and asthma. It has also been used to regulate heart rhythms and is vital to our endocrine and nervous systems. Magnesium is referred to as nature’s tranquilliser, due to the calming effect it has on our nervous system. One of the most important pieces of information that we have about this mineral is that most asthmatics are deficient in it. Autopsies carried out on heart attack victims also reveal low levels of magnesium. You can find magnesium easily in foods such as dark green vegetables, dried apricots and nuts. You to be taking magnesium in a food form as found in nature with StarGate Nutrition nutrient material.

Vitamin E

Pregnant women could prevent their children developing asthma and other allergies by eating food which is rich in vitamin E, new research has suggested. Researchers at Aberdeen University in particular Professor Anthony Seaton discovered that children whose mothers had a higher intake of the vitamin in their diet were less sensitive to common allergens like pollen and dust mites. Vitamin E can be found in food sources such as vegetable oils, leafy green vegetables and nuts. You need to be taking natural sources of this vitamin as found in food structured StarGate Nutrition Vitamin.

Bromalain

The is a naturally occurring enzyme that is found in pineapple that breaks down protein. Scientists have found the it has very good anti inflammatory effects it may also clear up mucus in the body that may exacerbate the asthma.

The Buteyko Method

Buteyko, a breath reconditioning system for asthma, was pioneered in the 1950’s by a Russian professor, Konstantin Buteyko. He discovered the connection between dysfunctional breathing and more than 200 diseases. Forty years of research produced the Buteyko method which aims to recondition and normalize breathing to create the specific mixture of gases the body requires.

Wendy Haddock, a Buteyko practitioner, and a physiotherapist with 25 years’ experience trained in the method after seeing how much benefit her mother got after applying the system. Dr Spence, a Glasgow GP, told the QED science programme that Buteyko had had a major impact on his practice.”The simple fact is that 34 patients, prior to Buteyko, were costing £15,000 for their asthma medication,” he said. “After Buteyko, they were costing £5,000. That’s a reduction of two-thirds in their drugs bill. If this was extended to the rest of the country, very significant savings could be made.”



StarGate Nutrition nutrient material has been designed to be 16 times more effective, 5 times more utilised and 6 times more retained than the vast majority (99%) of nutrient material on the nutrition market. They have studied our material through independent laboratories using a number of biological studies to see its effectiveness over a number of development years. Their technology is based and confirmed by over 77 scientific papers and by a number of medical and nutrition Professors and prestigious institutions.They use 100% natural and totally allergen free.

PostHeaderIcon What Is Asthma Exercise And Its Effects?



In the old days, doctors would warned asthmatic patients should not exercise because getting out of breath could bring an attack. However, asthma exercise should be considered only under a doctor’s advice.

Seventy per cent of asthmatics suffer to some degree from exercise induced asthma. Breathing rapidly through your mouth from exercise exertion can trigger asthma. However with proper management asthma exercise can be part of any asthmatic’s life.

Some suggestions for making asthma exercise comfortable:

1)Always do a 5-10 minutes warm up before starting any exercise, this way the body will gradually warm up instead of the sudden rush of adrenaline and shortness of breath.

2)Work out slowly keeping your heart rate low, below 140 beats a minute. You will be at risk of an asthma attack should you choose to do a vigorous exercise that will get you heart rate to 170 beats a minute. Keep in mind that exercise induced asthma (EIA) does not occur during the exercise but only after about 10-15 minutes.

3)Swimming is generally a great asthma exercise.

4)Do not skip the “cool down” after each vigorous exercise. This helps with moderating the air gradually cooling your body and reducing the risk of an asthma attack.

5)Avoid strenuous exercise as much as possible.

6)At times it helps to use an inhaled medication before beginning an exercise. This helps to keep your airways open and you to have a good workout.

Be careful.

Be extremely careful when exercising in warm climates or when the pollen levels are high. In winter it is advised to limit outdoor exercise or if you must exercise try breathing through a scarf or mask.

Cold, dry air increases the risk of an asthma attack. If you really want to exercise, follow your doctor’s advice accordingly.

Asthma is a lung disease that is usually chronic and can turn fatal if not properly managed. During an asthma attack the air passages become narrow and/or blocked by mucus.

Asthma attacks can be triggered by allergens such as pollen, molds, animal dander, medications, chemicals in certain foods and dust. Take note of unique symptoms that your doctor had highlighted to you.

Tobacco smoke, exhaust fumes, household cleaners act as irritants for asthma sufferers. Sometimes even sudden changes in temperature, humidity or strong winds can trigger asthma.

Asthma exercise should be performed with extreme caution and with a scheduled practice. Keeping medication handy is something asthma patients learn really quickly as, if an attack is not treated immediately in can turn fatal.

The bright side is asthma can be kept under control with the right medication and there is no reason why one who suffers from this illness to have to give up exercise or anything else for that matter.

There are findings that people who exercise regularly have an increased feeling of well-being, reduced stress, less anxiety.

Therefore, I strongly urged you to start your journey in asthma management, if you are serious of getting back your asthma free life again.