Asthma natural treatment with herbs, vitamins, and
supplements, role of diet and food by Ray Sahelian,
M.D. Information on alternative therapy Asthma is a chronic infammatory disease of the airways that afects 15 million people in the United States. An estimated 5 million children have this airway disease, which makes it the most common chronic disease of childhood. You will nd more information a!out the causes and symptoms and commonly used medications later, !ut for now " want to discuss some natural remedies the medical profession has yet to address. Natural treatment for asthma research studies #here is little dou!t that diet and lifestyle, alon$ with her!al and nutritional methods can have an infuence on asthma symptoms and severity. %owever, research is still too early to make any rm recommendations. "n the meantime, " want to share with you some of the preliminary research " have come across. #his information is not meant to replace your doctor&s advice, however, you could inform your doctor a!out these natural asthma treatment options and he or she could learn more a!out them to see if they would !e helpful to you. Diet and food 'hildren who eat three or more !ur$ers a week are at a hi$her risk of asthma and whee(in$, !ut a healthy diet rich in fruit and sh seems to stave of the risk. A meat)heavy diet itself has no !earin$ on the prevalence of asthma. Yet, fre*uent !ur$er eatin$ could !e a si$nal for other lifestyle factors which raise the risk. 'ould it !e the white !read, fries, and sodas associated with eatin$ !ur$ers+ ,at more cold water sh with hi$h content of sh oils. ,atin$ oily sh like salmon, hali!ut, sardines -packed in mustard or tomato sauce, not oil., or tuna re$ularly may reduce the risk of asthma symptoms. 'hildren who eat lots of amounts of whole $rain products and sh seem to have a reduced risk of developin$ asthma. #he rise in the prevalence of asthma in western societies may !e related to chan$ed dietary ha!its. Studies of children have shown that asthma is less likely with increasin$ intake of fruits, ve$eta!les, whole $rain products, and sh. #eens who don&t eat enou$h fruit and ve$eta!les and ome$a)/ fatty acids are more likely to sufer from !ronchitis, whee(in$ and asthma. 0others who have a hi$her intake of sh and sh oils in pre$nancy are likely to have children with a lower incidence of asthma symptoms. ,at more fresh fruits and ve$eta!les. %ave a wide variety of produce, prefera!ly or$anic. 1eople who eat plenty of tomatoes, carrots, leafy $reens and other ve$eta!les appear less likely to have asthma. #hou$h it&s uncertain whether the foods are the reason, the ndin$s su$$est that some or many ve$eta!les may protect a$ainst adulthood asthma. A num!er of studies have su$$ested that antio2idants or certain other nutrients in plant foods may help prevent or ameliorate asthma and other aller$ic conditions. 'arrots, tomato 3uice, spinach and other ve$eta!les contain nutrients called carotenoids and favonoids. A key in$redient in the aroma from citrus fruits such as oran$es and lemons appears to protect rats from the symptoms of asthma. #he citrus in$redient is called limonene, and it likely protects !y 4!urnin$4 inhaled o(one, which can increase infammation in the lun$s. 5ther scents ) such as those emitted from pine trees, $eraniums and roses ) contain similar in$redients to limonene, which may help e2plain why asthma is much more common in ur!an areas that lack ve$etation. S*uee(in$ an oran$e peel releases li*uid that contains a hi$h concentration of limonene. 6educe hydro$enated and trans fats which are often found in pastries, cookies, cakes, etc. 6educe ome$a)7 oils such as corn, sa8ower, and sunfower. Su!stitute a little !it of fa2 or olive oil. %ave hot soup and tea )) warm li*uids lessen severity 5!ese adults with asthma are at risk for havin$ more severe, persistent disease relative to their leaner counterparts, therefore wei$ht loss could help. 9hile e2ercise can tri$$er symptoms in some people, there is also evidence that physically active asthmatics tend to have !etter overall control than their sedentary counterparts. ,uropean 6espiratory :ournal, online :une ;, <=1=. Supplements that may be helpful> "f you don&t like sh, consider takin$ sh oil capsules. ?ish oil supplements may, in some people, help reduce the severity of asthma, includin$ e2ercise)induced asthma. @itamin ' or ascor!ic acid, make sure you have at least 1== m$ to 5== m$ a day. @itamin A is su$$ested at a dose of B== to <=== iu a day dependin$ on your sun e2posure. ?lavonoids may !e helpful, includin$ Cenistein and Duercetin. #hese are availa!le as supplements. ?lavonoids are found in ve$eta!les, fruits, and her!s. #hey have anti) infammatory activity. See study on $enistein !elow. Eoswellia is an Ayurvedic her! that has !een found to !e helpful for asthma. "t can also !e com!ined with curcumin and licorice. Eutter!ur e2tract could !e helpful in many people. 'urcumin and turmeric are of !enet. ?orskolin has !een evaluated in some clinical trials. Cink$o !ilo!a her! may help. Sylimarin may protect a$ainst histamine)induced !ronchoconstriction. Sylimarin is found in milk thistle. 0a$nesium mineral may help some individuals. Alpha Fipoic Acid has !een found to !e helpful in one mouse study. 1ycno$enol is a $ood option to try, it has natural anti) infammatory properties. Yo$a is helpful A$ain, the research in this area is still scant, and " will update this pa$e as more information !ecomes availa!le. "f you plan to take supplements for asthma, discuss with your doctor, and learn as much a!out each one !efore you take them. Antio2idants may help you !reathe easier Antio2idant supplements could ease asthma symptoms :ournal of Aller$y and 'linical "mmunolo$y <==/. "ndian scientists who conducted an e2tensive chemical analysis of !lood samples say that !een$ up levels of antio2idants may help thwart symptoms of the lun$ disease. 1revious research has shown that a distur!ance in the !alance !etween the !ody&s o2idant production))the formation of molecules such as free radicals that can dama$e tissue !ut are a normal !yproduct of !ody processes))and natural antio2idant defenses is involved in asthmatics& infammation response. Antio2idants are a class of chemicals that neutrali(e o2idants, and include vitamins ' and , and certain su!stances found in fruits and ve$eta!les. "n the present study, researchers measured the levels of antio2idants and o2idants in the !lood of /G men and women with asthma and compared them to levels in !lood samples from </ healthy people. Ar. Ahmad Hadeem of the University of Aelhi and collea$ues write that asthmatic patients showed 4alterations in a wide array of o2idants and antio2idants, with !alance shiftin$ toward increased o2idative stress in asthma.4 #he ndin$s su$$est, the authors conclude, that !oostin$ the antio2idant defenses of asthma patients could !e 4!enecial.4 Eoswellia, licorice, and turmeric Hatural anti)infammatory products and leukotriene inhi!itors as complementary therapy for !ronchial asthma. 'lin Eiochem. <=1=. Aepartment of Eiochemistry, ?aculty of 1harmacy, University of Eeni Sueif, Eeni Sueif, ,$ypt. #o assess the eIcacy of a com!ination of Eoswellia serrata, licorice root -Clycyrrhi(a $la!ra. and #umeric root -'urcuma lon$a. as natural leukotriene inhi!itor, antiinfammatory and antio2idant products respectively in controllin$ !ronchial asthma. #he study comprised 7/ patients with !ronchial asthma that are further su!divided into two $roups .Croup 1 receivin$ oral capsule -com!ined her!. in a soft)$elatin capsule / times daily for Bweeks and $roup < receivin$ place!o. 1lasma leukotriene '-B., nitric o2ide -H5. and malondialdehyde levels were measured and pulmonary function was also assessed in all patients enrolled in the study. #here was a statistically si$nicant decrease in the plasma levels of leukotriene '-B., malondialdehyde, and H5 in tar$et therapy $roup when compared with place!o $roup. #he used e2tract contained Eoswellia serrata, 'urcuma lon$a and Clycyrrhi(a has a pronounced efect in the mana$ement of !ronchial asthma. ?ish oils, ome$a)/ fatty acids ?ish oil and infammatory disease> is asthma the ne2t tar$et for n)/ fatty acid supplements+ Hutr 6ev. <==B. ,atin$ sh or takin$ n)/ fatty acid supplements can decrease the risk and severity of cardiovascular disease. 6ecent research su$$ests that asthma, another hi$hly prevalent, chronic infammatory disease, may also respond to sh oil supplements. sh oils, vitamin ', (inc 5me$a)/ fatty acids, vitamin ' and Jn supplementation in asthmatic children> a randomi(ed self)controlled study. Acta 1aediatr. <==K. Aepartment of 1aediatric, ?aculty of 0edicine, #anta University, #anta, ,$ypt. #he aim of this study is to evaluate the role of ome$a)/ fatty acids, vitamin ' and Jn in children with moderately persistent asthma. 6andomly assi$ned, place!o)self) controlled 7= children with moderate persistent asthma completed the study, were su!3ected to alternatin$ phases of supplementation with ome$a)/ fatty acids, vitamin ' and Jinc either sin$ly or in com!ination separated with washout phases. Aiet supplementation with ome$a)/ fatty acids, Jinc and vitamin ' si$nicantly improved asthma control test, pulmonary function tests and pulmonary infammatory markers in children with moderately persistent !ronchial asthma either sin$ly or in com!ination. 'linical eIcacy of n)/ fatty acid supplementation in patients with asthma. : Am Aiet Assoc. <==5. #he risin$ prevalence of asthma is an alarmin$ health concern. #he mor!idity and mortality associated with asthma not only disrupts the *uality of life, !ut it also escalates health care costs. Asthma is a chronic infammatory disease of the respiratory tract. An e2a$$erated production of the arachidonic acid)derived eicosanoids, leukotrienes, has !een implicated as the chemical tri$$er for asthma infammation. n)/ fatty acid supplementation has !een shown to suppress the synthesis of the n)7 series of leukotrienes !y competin$ and inhi!itin$ the meta!olism of arachidonic acid. #he results from epidemiolo$ical studies su$$ested that sh consumption was !enecially associated with lun$ function and prevalence of asthma. #he data $enerated from clinical trials, however, indicated that n)/ fatty acid supplementation did not consistently improve severity of asthma symptoms, lun$ functions, airway responsiveness, and medication use in asthmatic patients. Feadin$ or$ani(ations have not included nutrition as part of the mana$ement $uidelines for asthma. 0eanwhile, re$ular sh consumption at least three times per week should !e hi$hly encoura$ed as part of a well)!alanced diet and to meet the ade*uate intake levels esta!lished for n)/ fatty acids in asthma patients. 6atio of ome$a)7 to ome$a)/ fatty acids and childhood asthma. 'urtin University of #echnolo$y, 1erth, 9estern Australia, Australia. Asthma. <==B. 9e found evidence for a modulatory efect of the dietary n) 7>n)/ fatty acid ratio on the presence of asthma in children. 5ur results provide evidence that promotion of a diet with increased n)/ fatty acids and reduced n)7 fatty acids to protect children a$ainst symptoms of asthma is warranted. cause of asthma. Cink$o !ilo!a "n vitro efects of asta2anthin com!ined with $ink$olide E on # lymphocyte activation in peripheral !lood mononuclear cells from asthma su!3ects. : 1harmacol Sci. <==B. #his study was undertaken to identify novel approaches to pharmacolo$ical treatment of asthma. %ere we hypothesi(e that the platelet)activatin$ factor receptor anta$onist $ink$olide E -CE. in com!ination with the antio2idant carotenoid asta2anthin suppresses # cell activation compara!ly to two commonly)used antihistamines> cetiri(ine dihydrochloride and a(elastine. 5ur results su$$est that asta2anthin and CE may have application as novel anti asthma formulations. 0elatonin to improve sleep pro!lems 0elatonin "mproves Sleep in Asthma> A 6andomi(ed, Aou!le) !lind, 1lace!o)controlled Study. Am : 6espir 'rit 'are 0ed. <==B #his was a randomi(ed, dou!le)!lind, place!o)controlled study. #wenty)two consecutive asthmatic women were randomi(ed to receive melatonin / m$ or place!o for four weeks. Sleep *uality and daytime somnolence were assessed !y the 1itts!ur$h Sleep Duality "nde2 and the ,pworth Sleepiness Scale, respectively. 1ulmonary function was assessed !y spirometry. Use of relief medication, asthma symptoms and mornin$ and evenin$ peak e2piratory fow rate -1,?6. were recorded daily. 0elatonin treatment si$nicantly improved su!3ective sleep *uality, as compared to place!o. Ho si$nicant diference in asthma symptoms, use of relief medication and daily 1,?6 was found !etween $roups. 9e conclude that melatonin can improve sleep in patients with asthma. @itamin A Ar. ,. 6and Sutherland at Hational :ewish %ealth in Aenver studied 5B nonsmokin$ asthmatics -mean a$e, /G years.. #heir mean serum vitamin A level was <G n$LmF, and <B were receivin$ inhaled corticosteroids. %i$her vitamin A levels were associated with $reater lun$ function. ?or each n$LmF increase in vitamin A, ?,@1 rose !y <1 mF on avera$e. #he relationship !etween ?,@1 and vitamin A was stron$er in patients who were not receivin$ inhaled corticosteroids. 1atients with vitamin A concentrations !elow /= n$LmF had si$nicantly $reater airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine challen$e than patients with ade*uate vitamin A concentrations. Hormali(in$ vitamin A levels in patients with asthma may improve multiple parameters of asthma severity and treatment response, accordin$ to Ar. ,. 6and Sutherland. Am : 6espiratory 'ritical 'are 0ed <=1=. Additional supplements that may play a role in asthma Eora$e 5il is availa!le as a supplement Fo!elia her! Fyprinol is a mussel e2tract 1erilla seed oil 1ycno$enol is a polyphenol #SU0U6A SA"E5MU)#5 )) 'om!ination of 1= diferent her!s. Asthma triggers include Avoid or reduce e2posure to aller$ens or asthma tri$$ers listed !elow> Additives to alcoholic !evera$es or foods N meta!isultes, 0SC, tarta(ine -yellow dye O5., yeast, sulte additives in wine. Aller$ens from animal dander, cockroaches, dust mites or mold spores, pollen -trees, $rass, weeds., indoor and outdoor pollutants. 1eople with asthma caused !y aller$ies to a pet may have to choose !etween their furry friend or !etter health. 6emovin$ the pet from the home is more efective than even optimal dru$ therapy in reducin$ whee(in$ and airway constriction. A tailored approach, involvin$ cockroach e2termination and usin$ air cleaners to reduce dust, smoke and levels of other indoor aller$ens may conse*uently reduce asthma symptoms in inner)city children. @acuum cleaners with 4hi$h)eIciency particulate)air4 lters or %,1A lters are no !etter than !asic vacuum cleaners at reducin$ an individual&s e2posure to dust mites in the home. Aust mites, which infest even the cleanest homes and thrive in !eddin$ and carpets, disrupt the protective function of the skin, leavin$ it vulnera!le to other aller$ens and irritants in the environment. %ouse dust mites and their droppin$s have lon$ !een linked to attacks of asthma and ec(ema. 0ites and their feces contain an en(yme which destroys the protective function of the skin, leavin$ it vulnera!le to other irritants. ?or children at hi$her)than)avera$e risk of asthma, havin$ a do$ around the house may increase the chances of developin$ the lun$ disease. 1ediatric Aller$y and "mmunolo$y, online 0arch 1K, <=1=. ?oods such as e$$s, milk, nuts, soy, wheat and peanut. #oddlers who consume lar$e amounts of mar$arine and foods fried in ve$eta!le oil may !e twice as likely to develop asthma as their peers who eat less of these foods. ?un$i indoors and outdoors ) Air!orne fun$i are increasin$ly !ein$ seen as a risk factor. %i$h levels of such fun$i are found in inner city homes with cats, cockroaches, and dampness pro!lems. #he most common species found outdoors and indoors was 'ladosporium, followed !y 1enicillium and Asper$illus. #he stron$est predictor of hi$h indoor fun$i levels, compared with outdoor levels, was havin$ a cat live in the home within the last si2 months. ,vidence of cockroaches in the child&s !edroom was linked with hi$h levels of Asper$illus, whereas dampness in the !edroom was tied to hi$h levels of 'ladosporium. "n a study of workers at one leaky, mold)contaminated oIce !uildin$, U.S. $overnment researchers found that the rate of adult)onset asthma amon$ employees was more than three times the norm for the $eneral population. #wo)thirds of these cases were dia$nosed after the employees had started workin$ in the !uildin$. 'han$es in humidity or !arometric pressure. Aiseases such as C,6A, sinusitis, rhinitis, viral infections, hyperthyroidism. Aru$s)) aspirin, HSA"As, !eta !lockers, sultes, and estro$en. ,stro$en)only hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of developin$ asthma after the menopause. #he ndin$s, from a ma3or study involvin$ almost 5G,=== women in ?rance over 1< years, add to a $rowin$ !ody of evidence su$$estin$ a link !etween some female hormones and this lun$ condition. #hora2, online ?e!ruary G, <=1=. "rritants and air pollution )) to!acco smoke, wood)!urnin$, perfumes, cleanin$ a$ents, car!on dio2ide, pollutants such as sulfur dio2ide, nitro$en dio2ide, o(one. 'hildren who live near a !usy road may !e at increased risk of whee(in$, a symptom of asthma. ,2posure to air pollution may increase the risk of death amon$ people with severe asthma. Almost 1== million people in <1 U.S. states !reathe unhealthy levels of tiny particles spewed !y coal)!urnin$ power plants, cars and factories. ,ven in rural areas, e2posure to o(one appears to have a harmful impact in kids with asthma. 5(one is formed from !yproducts of fossil fuel com!ustion in the presence of sunli$ht. "n the outer atmosphere, o(one helps prevent harmful ultraviolet radiation from reachin$ ,arth&s surface. Eut on the $round, o(one, a ma3or constituent of smo$, irritates the airways and makes the eyes !urn. Ereathin$ in traIc)related pollutants is harmful for kids and adults. #here is a link !etween asthma that develops in adulthood and increased e2posure to traIc)related pollutants. 'hronic e2posure to outdoor air pollutants reduces lun$ function as measured !y forced e2piratory volume in 1 second -?,@1.. Some of the pollutants in air, particulate matter P1= um in diameter, include nitro$en dio2ide, sulfur dio2ide, and o(one. Air pollution, which tends to infame the airways in people with asthma, reduces the efectiveness of the rescue inhalers people count on for *uick relief of their respiratory symptoms. As daily levels of o(one and pollutants from vehicle e2haust clim!, so do children&s emer$ency)room visits for asthma attacks. 1esticides can tri$$er or worsen asthma in farmers. #he followin$ pesticides are associated with the aller$ic variety of asthma> 'oumaphos, ,1#', lindane, parathion, heptachlor, and <,B,5)#1 are most stron$ly linked to aller$ic asthma. ?or non)aller$ic asthma, AA#, malathion, and phorate have the stron$est efect. 1hysical tri$$ers )) e2ercise, hyperventilation, cold air. 1hysiolo$ical factors ) stress, psycholo$ical factors. Stress of nals may worsen the symptoms of asthma. 1eople who re$ularly feel stressed out !y their 3o!s may have a hi$her risk of developin$ asthma than those with a more)rela2ed work atmosphere. Aller$y, online April <;, <=1=. ,nvironmental control measures include removin$ carpets from the patientQs !edroom and livin$ areas, weekly washin$ of !eddin$ and clothin$ in hot water, specially desi$ned mattress and pillow covers, removin$ stufed animals, keepin$ pets outdoors. Duilts made of synthetic !ers like polyester mi$ht tri$$er whee(in$ in some children with asthma. "nner)city families can help relieve children&s asthma symptoms !y makin$ simple chan$es in their homes. Such steps include usin$ pillow covers that are impermea!le to dust mites, and air puriers to $et rid of to!acco smoke, mold and cat or do$ aller$ens. "ndoor e2posure to nitro$en dio2ide -H5<. from $as)fueled stoves, even at levels well !elow the ,nvironmental 1rotection A$ency outdoor standard, may cause respiratory symptoms in asthmatic children livin$ in multi)family housin$ units. 'hronic e2posure to indoor nitro$en dio2ide is a pu!lic health concern, in part, !ecause more than half the households in the US have a source of H5<, usually a $as) fueled cookin$ appliance. %ousework may raise the risk for asthma if e2posed to hi$h amounts of common cleanin$ sprays and air fresheners. 1erhaps natural cleaners would not raise the risk as much. 6educe your e2posure to air fresheners, furniture cleaners and $lass)cleaners. ,2posure to fumes emitted !y cleanin$ products in the home could cause asthma in children. Avoid indoor swimmin$ pools due to the hi$h chlorine vapors which can dama$e lun$ tissue and a$$ravate asthma. Swimmin$ in outdoor chlorinated pools appears to increase the odds a child will develop asthma. 'hildren who start swimmin$ !efore the a$e of < may !e at increased risk of a common infant lun$ infection, and possi!ly asthma and respiratory aller$ies later in life. ,2posure to chlorinated pools may afect children&s respiratory health )) particularly if they have a family history of asthma or respiratory aller$ies like hay fever. ,uropean 6espiratory :ournal, online :anuary 1B, <=1=. Avoid acetaminophen -#ylenol.. #he common painkiller acetaminophen )) !etter known as #ylenol in the U.S. )) may !e causin$ a worldwide increase in asthma. Accordin$ to one study, acetaminophen could !e responsi!le for as many as four in 1= cases of whee(in$ and severe asthma in teens. 9hile no one knows if the dru$ causes asthma !y itself, another report )) pu!lished alon$ with the rst study )) shows for the rst time that many toddlers took acetaminophen !efore they developed asthma symptoms such as whee(in$. American :ournal of 6espiratory and 'ritical 'are 0edicine <=1=. Eleachin$ a$ents widely used in hair salons put hair stylists at risk of asthma and infammation of the eyes, nose and throat. Hurses are more likely to develop asthma, and so are cleaners. ,2posure to certain cleanin$ chemicals, !ioaerosols, mites, a$ricultural products, and late2 in the workplace raise the risk of developin$ asthma. Asthma medicines and medications Asthma may !e classied as mild, moderate, or persistent. 1atients with persistent asthma re*uire medications that provide lon$)term control of their disease and medications that provide *uick relief of symptoms. 0edications for lon$) term control of asthma include inhaled corticosteroids, cromolyn, nedocromil, leukotriene modiers and lon$)actin$ !ronchodilators. "nhaled corticosteroids remain the most efective anti)infammatory medications in the treatment of asthma. Duick)relief medications include short)actin$ !eta< a$onists, anticholiner$ics and systemic corticosteroids. Some 7= percent of people who use steroids lon$ term for asthma and other diseases will develop a mood disorder, such as depression or manic depression. Asthma "nhaler 0edicines 'hildren with mild)to)moderate persistent asthma, treatment with futicasone -?lovent., an inhaled steroid, is consistently more efective than treatment with montelukast -Sin$ulair., an oral anti)asthma dru$ from the leukotriene receptor anta$onist -F#6A. class of a$ents. 9arnin$ <=1= #he $overnment is takin$ steps to cur! use of some lon$) actin$ asthma dru$s used !y millions, issuin$ safety restrictions to lower a life)threatenin$ risk that asthma could worsen suddenly. #he ?ood and Aru$ Administration&s warnin$s cover the dru$s Advair, Sym!icort, ?oradil and Serevent. #he ?AA said they should !e used only !y asthmatics who can&t control their lun$ disease with other medications N and even then only for the shortest time possi!le. Hor should FAEA)containin$ dru$s ever !e used without simultaneous use of a diferent asthma)controllin$ medication, such as an inhaled corticosteroid N a move that specically tar$ets two of the dru$s, ?oradil and Serevent. "nhaled anticholiner$ics may increase the risk of community) ac*uired pneumonia. ,ur 6espir : <=1=. Airway infammation Airway infammation is the primary pro!lem in asthma. An initial event in asthma appears to !e the release of infammatory mediators -e.$., histamine, tryptase, leukotrienes and prosta$landins. tri$$ered !y e2posure to aller$ens, irritants, cold air or e2ercise. #he mediators are released from !ronchial mast cells, alveolar macropha$es, # lymphocytes and epithelial cells. Some mediators directly cause acute !ronchoconstriction, termed the 4early)phase asthmatic response.4 #he infammatory mediators also direct the activation of eosinophils and neutrophils, and their mi$ration to the airways, where they cause in3ury. #his so) called 4late)phase asthmatic response4 results in epithelial dama$e, airway edema, mucus hypersecretion and hyperresponsiveness of !ronchial smooth muscle. An2iety, 1anic "ndividuals with asthma appear to have an increased risk of developin$ panic disorder, and the presence of panic disorder predicts su!se*uent asthma activity. ause #here are several causes of asthma, the most common is aller$ic> Aue to aller$y -e2trinsicL atopic. ) #his type of asthma usually starts in childhood and is often preceded !y ec(ema. Eut most of the youn$ adults developin$ asthma also fall in this cate$ory. Cenetic factors play a si$nicant role. "n this type of asthma the aller$en leads to production of e2cessive -"$,. immuno$lo!ulins. Aue to an infection ) #his is not hereditary or aller$ic asthma, !ut may !e caused !y, or at least associated with upper respiratory tract or !ronchial infection which is usually viral. Aue to dama$e to lun$s from smokin$ or inhalin$ smoke. 1sycholo$ical factors -like an2iety, emotional stress etc. are often considered to !e the sole cause of some asthma attacks, !ut it is still not certain whether it can !e the sole cause or is only a precipitatin$ factor. 5ccupational asthma ) #his type can occur in certain industries in which there is e2posure to metallic dusts -esp. platinum salts., !iolo$ical deter$ents, toluene diisocyanate, polyurethane, four and dust from $rains etc. 1rescription and non prescription medications ) 6e$ular use of the painkiller acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, is associated with hi$her rates of asthma and chronic o!structive pulmonary disease -'51A. and reduced lun$ function. Animal e2periments have su$$ested that acetaminophen mi$ht lower antio2idant activity in the lun$s, and causes harm to the liver. 9hy is acetaminophen still availa!le for sale without a prescription+ Ereastfeedin$ Stickin$ to a strict diet of mom&s milk durin$ the rst B months of life may reduce a child&s risk of developin$ asthma !y their ei$hth !irthday. #he :ournal of Aller$y and 'linical "mmunolo$y, April 15, <=1=. 6esearch shows that !reastfeedin$ does reduce the later risk for asthma.