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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.

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