Asthma:
A growing epidemic
The Consumer Federation of America in 1997 reported the asthma
rate has tripled in the last 20 years. It was once a very
rare disease.
The Center for Disease Control stated there has been a 42%
increase in asthma (29% for men, 82% for women) It is believed
the higher rate for women could be due to women’s longer exposure
times to household chemicals. I personally read in many recent
articles that stay at home moms have an increased rate of cancer
due to the chemicals they use to clean house, do dishes, laundry,
etc.
The National Center for Health Statistics reported the average
child visited the doctor 23 times in the first four years of
life, with the most common complaint being one of respiratory
ailment.
Environmental Health Threats to Children from the Environmental
Protection Agency reported asthma death in children and young
people increased by a dramatic 118% between 1980 and 1993.
What IS asthma?
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, if you
have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed
(swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and
they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or
find irritating such as the fumes from many common household
products.
When the airways react, they get narrower, and less air flows
through to your lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing
(a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, chest tightness,
and trouble breathing.
The lungs and the capillaries in the lungs constrict or tighten
up. One reason they do this is to minimize the loss of water
during respiration. So, could water, which re- hydrates the body
help the body breathe better. Something to think about isn’t
it?
Stay Hydrated To Avoid Asthma
Dehydration plays a significant role in asthma. Based on a
study, one researcher believes a lack of water vapor in the lungs
can cause the airways to constrict and the lungs to produce
mucus. These are the two factors that cause an asthma attack.
People with asthma should drink at least 10 eight-ounce glasses
of water every day. Caffeine is also bad for asthmatics because
caffeine robs the body of needed water.
As mentioned previously, the occurrence of asthma in children has
increased over the last decade. Many experts and studies suggest
that this is partially due to children‘s increased exposure to
environmental toxins and their decreased ability to detoxify
their body. It also suggests that because a normal child
consumes much more water per pound of body weight than an adult
does, they are getting a bigger dose of any chemicals in
their water‚ and their developing bodies are more sensitive to
the harsh effects. Another reason we need to take steps to drink
clean water..
And if that wasn’t enough, many drugs leave the body in a state
of chronic dehydration. With that condition, organ malfunction,
kidney stones and unhealthy blood can be created. In a book by
Dr. Batmanghelidj Your Body’s Many Cries For Water: the Dr.
claims that most diseases are caused by dehydration. He states
our brain is more than 80 percent water. So it only makes sense
if we lose water, we can lose consciousness and death can follow.
He also states a lack of water can cause high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol.
Common Asthma Triggers
An asthma attack can be triggered by different things, It varies
among different people but basically anything that irritates or
affects your lungs and airways can trigger an asthma attack. The
following list points out some of the more common triggers.
- Chlorine: Studies show that chlorine can dry out the
lungs.
- Dehydration: Dry lungs can lead to difficulty in
breathing. (See above)
- Allergens: Mold, pollen, dust, and some foods
(Basically anything that triggers other allergies) can affect
asthma.
- Exercise: Use caution and common sense when
exercising. Be aware of your body and any signals that might
indicate an attack. Slow down. Don’t stop exercising just be
more aware.
- Smoke: Avoid areas where there is smoke. If you must
be near someone smoking, try and place yourself near an open
window or where there is a source of fresh air.
-
Stress
: Stress weakens the immune system; therefore,
asthma can be triggered by anything that causes you
stress.
Allergies and asthma are both an indication the body’s immune
system needs to be stronger. Noxious fumes from cleaners,
laundry products and air fresheners affect the health of the
lungs and immune system. Besides changing household cleaners to
non toxic products, purifying the air in the home is also a good
idea.
It once again comes down to what we are doing to and for our
body. We take the body for granted and then give the
responsibility to someone else, mostly the medical profession and
pharmaceutical companies to “cure” our ailments.
The effectiveness of Vitamin C against asthmatic conditions was first done in the 1930’s. Please visit our page about Vitamin C and learn how it can help in disease prevention for asthma and a variety of other ailments.
I know of many families that have “done away” with the asthmatic
symptoms just with the few previous suggestions. Think about
it.
Click to view a video segment aired on Oprah about a family that thought there child had asthma and what they did about it.
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