Javeed Akhter, M.D., Section Head of Pediatric Pulmonology at Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill., offers the following answer:
 Image: STEVE KAGAN, M.D. MAST CELL. These large cells, filled with potent inflammation-inducing chemicals called leukotrienes, line the respiratory tract and play a central role in allergy-induced asthma. |
Asthma is an eminently controllable illness. Indeed, for most sufferers, control is so effective that it amounts to a virtual cure. But asthma is not curable in the same way as, say, a bacterial pneumonia; it never entirely goes away. Also, no one cure would ever suffice. It is becoming increasingly clear that there many types of asthma--and they differ greatly in their presentation and genesis. For example, asthma that presents as a chronic cough, the "cough variant of asthma," appears to be very different from the life-threatening variety, which results in extreme respiratory failure and sometimes death.
Nevertheless, the sine qua non of asthma--as we understand it today--is the increased sensitivity of the airways to many different agents. These agents include respiratory viruses (common cold virus), pollutants (ozone and cigarette smoke), airborne allergens (animal dander, pollens and molds) and exercise, especially in a cold and dry environment. These agents, called triggers, induce an inflammatory reaction in the airways that, in turn, results in the common symptoms of cough, wheezing, increased mucus production and shortness of breath. Successful control of asthma entails controlling the inflammation in the airways and reversing the symptoms before they get out of hand.
The greatest advances in controlling asthma may be the change in physicians' attitudes toward using preventive medications, as well as attempts to make home rescue plans more aggressive and self-sufficient. The availability of selective and potent medications has made such changes possible. By avoiding known triggers in the environment, such as cigarette smoke, dust mites, roach antigens and dander from warm-blooded pets like cats and dogs, patients can help minimize airway inflammation. Also, newer, tighter and more energy-efficient homes, forced-air heating and wall-to-wall carpeting all contribute to higher levels of indoor triggers.
Another effective strategy for preventing inflammation is the use of certain medications either daily during a season (for most individuals with asthma, it is the fall season), during multiple seasons or year-round. One class of these medications stabilizes the mast cell, (large cells filled with potent inflammation-inducing chemicals called leukotrienes), which line the respiratory tract and play a central role in allergy-induced asthma. These mast cell-stabilizing inhalants include Cromolyn and Nedocromyl. Cromolyn is of particular interest as it is derived from the plant Ammi Visnaga, long used by American Indians as an herbal remedy for colic.
An exciting new class of oral medications, called leukotriene modifiers, neutralize the actions of leukotrienes. This class of medication is the first new class to become available for asthma management in the past 20 years and holds great promise. It includes Zafirlukast, Pranlukast and Zileuton. The most effective preventive medications for asthma belong to the family of corticosteroids. These inhaled medications are delivered either via pressurized canisters or dry powder dispensers and include Beclamethasone, Triamcinolone, Flunisolide, Budesonide and Fluticasone. Their widespread use is the single most important reason for the improved control of asthma in recent decades. Because these medications are applied directly to the surface of the airways through inhalation--and so do not affect other parts of the body as they might if taken orally--their side effects are minimized.
See what we're tweeting about
4 Comments
Add Commentmy mother is suffering from asthama since childhood now she is 46 years old & she is taking budecort 200 inhaler & asthalin inhaler 3 times a day & deriphylin tablet 2 times a day & some times she takes wysolone 10 mg when it is severe attack we have consulted many doctors but they have adviced the same procedure.she is dibatic & BP patient.plz advice me because she getting weaker day by day.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt never ceases to amaze me that every treatment for asthma involves pumping more chemicals into your body (and more money into pharmaceutical companies bank accounts). As the spouse of someone who has had severe asthma his whole life I certainly understand the importance of asthma medication, however I also, through extensive research and writing understand if you want to completely eliminate asthma symptoms and give yourself the chance of curing (yes curing!) asthma you need to look at other approaches.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy husband was having difficulties breathing multiple times daily. We started doing massive research into how people cured themselves (http://tinyurl.com/czpztbo) and through that research, acupuncture and diet his asthma symptoms have vanished.
Asthma is a disease of inflammation. If you want to control the asthma you need to control the inflammation. The Western diet is FULL of food that causes inflammation and therefore can exacerbate and cause asthmatic symptoms.
I would highly suggest ANYONE who has asthma to chat with a naturopath or anyone educated in holistic nutrition. My husband went from severe asthma to almost no symptoms in two weeks via the following:
• No sugar
• No wheat
• No dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt etc)
• No soy
• No beans
• No refined or processed foods
• No alcohol
• No tomatoes
• No eggplant
• No potatoes
• No peppers
• No peanuts or peanut butter
• No fried foods
• No pasta
• No coffee
• Drinking room temperature water with meals
• No cooking in any oil except for coconut oil (vegetable broth and water are also good and less expensive options)
• Eating wild blue fish (tuna, salmon, anchovies, etc) multiple times per week
• Washing all sheets, blankets and pillows once a week
• Drinking a minimum of 2 liters (64 ounces of water) a day and more if possible
• Eating spelt bread in limited amounts (To note, his acupuncturist believes it is better for him not to eat bread, but spelt bread is the best option for him if he is going to eat it.)
• Eating only organic meat
• Limiting his salt intake
• Drinking green tea
• Sporadic intake of vitamin C (typically 2000 milligrams at a time), magnesium (400 milligrams at a time) and spirulina.
• Working with an acupuncturist with significant educational training in nutrition who was also able to recommend supplements and dietary changes
• Taking specific supplements to aid with his digestion and overall well being as recommended by his acupuncturist.
His health has completely transformed because of this. I wish you all luck on your journey!
It never ceases to amaze me that every treatment for asthma involves pumping more chemicals into your body (and more money into pharmaceutical companies bank accounts). As the spouse of someone who has had severe asthma his whole life I certainly understand the importance of asthma medication, however I also, through extensive research and writing understand if you want to completely eliminate asthma symptoms and give yourself the chance of curing (yes curing!) asthma you need to look at other approaches.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy husband was having difficulties breathing multiple times daily. We started doing massive research into how people cured themselves (http://tinyurl.com/czpztbo) and through that research, acupuncture and diet his asthma symptoms have vanished.
Asthma is a disease of inflammation. If you want to control the asthma you need to control the inflammation. The Western diet is FULL of food that causes inflammation and therefore can exacerbate and cause asthmatic symptoms.
I would highly suggest ANYONE who has asthma to chat with a naturopath or anyone educated in holistic nutrition. My husband went from severe asthma to almost no symptoms in two weeks via the following:
• No sugar
• No wheat
• No dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt etc)
• No soy
• No beans
• No refined or processed foods
• No alcohol
• No tomatoes
• No eggplant
• No potatoes
• No peppers
• No peanuts or peanut butter
• No fried foods
• No pasta
• No coffee
• Drinking room temperature water with meals
• No cooking in any oil except for coconut oil (vegetable broth and water are also good and less expensive options)
• Eating wild blue fish (tuna, salmon, anchovies, etc) multiple times per week
• Washing all sheets, blankets and pillows once a week
• Drinking a minimum of 2 liters (64 ounces of water) a day and more if possible
• Eating spelt bread in limited amounts (To note, his acupuncturist believes it is better for him not to eat bread, but spelt bread is the best option for him if he is going to eat it.)
• Eating only organic meat
• Limiting his salt intake
• Drinking green tea
• Sporadic intake of vitamin C (typically 2000 milligrams at a time), magnesium (400 milligrams at a time) and spirulina.
• Working with an acupuncturist with significant educational training in nutrition who was also able to recommend supplements and dietary changes
• Taking specific supplements to aid with his digestion and overall well being as recommended by his acupuncturist.
His health has completely transformed because of this. I wish you all luck on your journey!
Thankfully there are far more effective ways to manage asthma than dependence on drugs as suggested by this article. I suffered from asthma for forty years and took medication daily to help control asthma symptoms. I have been asthma and drug free since doing a Buteyko breathing course in the UK in 2000. I run a clinic in Auckland New Zealand helping others do the same.On the course you learn how to adapt your breathing pattern to overcome the symptoms of asthma. The exercises are easy to learn but require six weeks of dedication to get sustained results. The programme helps reset your automatic breathing pattern to breathe through your nose at all times, to breathe diaphragmatically and above all to breathe less air. You will also learn to reduce or avoid foods and drinks that might exacerbate your symptoms. These include refined carbs and dairy products. If you or someone you know has asthma do the research; all seven published trials are available online. Then locate a Buteyko practitioner in your area.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this