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How to Treat and Prevent Asthma Attacks with Nutritional Medicine
Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., M.S.

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Signs and Symptoms

Wheezing, coughing, and dyspnea are the major symptoms associated with asthma and are of variable duration and severity.

These symptoms are frequently precipitated by upper respiratory tract infections (viral and bacterial), exercise, exposure to irritants (allergic, chemical and physical), psychological problems or climate. A deterioration in airflow may precede overt symptoms.

A diagnosis of asthma should be considered when wheezing and coughing accompanies respiratory difficulty, especially when associated with upper respiratory tract infection in the pediatric population.

Advanced Clinical Lab Testing for Asthma

Some of the following laboratory testing can provide information necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. In addition, the tests listed may also give insight to functional metabolism and functional nutrient status in the body.

  • Intestinal Bacterial and/or Parasitic Stool Analysis: Gastrointestinal pathogens play a role in efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as the production on toxic metabolic products. A stool evaluation for these microbial agents can provide useful information regarding causes for nutrient deficiencies contributing to the disease process in asthma.

  • Allergy and Food Sensitivity Response Assessment: Allergic responses to foods, inhalants, environmental chemicals, and other substances can cause a variety of responses that induce or aggravate asthma.

  • Fatty Acids: There is evidence that increased omega-6 fatty acids and decreased levels of omega-3 fatty acids are involved in the etiology of asthma.

  • Organic Acids: Organic acids analysis is a useful method for measurement of biochemical intermediates in urine. Vitamin B12 has applications in preventing bronchospasm. Organic acids assay provides an excellent functional assessment of B12. A subset of organic acids, the dysbiosis markers, may provide useful information regarding gastrointestinal pathogens that can contribute to immune compromise.

  • Magnesium Level: There is considerable attention in the scientific community regarding the significance of magnesium in various chronic disease conditions, including asthma.

    Treatment Options

    1) Conventional

    Common Medications Include: anti-inflammatory agents, corticosteroids, sodium cromoglycate, NedocromilBronchodilators, sustained release theophylline, Ketotifen, anticholinergics

    2) Nutritional Therapy

  • Vitamin B6: It was found that people who regularly take theophylline-containing medications could be at a greater risk of developing a vitamin B6 deficiency. In fact, several studies have documented that patients taking theophylline medications do have depressed levels of vitamin B6. Thus, people taking theophylline medications might consider taking additional vitamin B6.

  • Vitamin B12: Studies report improvements in asthma patients receiving vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is also effective in reducing the incidence of bronchial asthma attacks in individuals who are sensitive to sulfites.

  • Magnesium: Asthma patients have been found to have significantly lower magnesium levels than normal controls. Low cellular concentrations of magnesium in asthmatic patients are associated with increased airway hyper-responsiveness. Studies report that inhaled magnesium provides a mild bronchoprotective effect for asthmatic patients.

  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): Administration of 1,800mg/day of EPA to asthmatics produced improvements in symptom score, therapeutic score, asthma score, and peak flow.

  • L-Glutamine: Glutamine can reduce intestinal inflammation that leads to increased permeability, with a subsequent enhanced potential for antigen load in the gut. Glutamine is capable of improving intestinal integrity by protecting and rebuilding the mucosal lining of the intestine.

    3) Herbal Medicine

  • Cordyceps: Cordyceps has traditionally been used for its improvement in respiration and in individuals with decreased lung function, such as in asthma and bronchitis, by increasing oxygenation.

  • Tylophora: Tylophora has been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine for problems with the lungs and breathing. Tylophora is used in the nutritional support of bronchial asthma and symptoms of allergies. Numerous studies report the beneficial effects of tylophora in the treatment and management of bronchial asthma.

    4) Diet & Lifestyle

    • Drink plenty of quality water.

    • Avoid food additives, coloring and preservatives (aspartame, dyes, MSG).

    • Avoid refined, pre-packaged and boxed foods, when possible.

    • Be cautious of excess salt intake.

    • Avoid alcohol, soft drinks and chronic use of caffeine and sugar-containing beverages.

    • Reduce dietary arachidonic acid, which can lead to inflammatory mediators (leukotrienes) and precipitate asthmatic attack; diet should be low in meat, eggs, shellfish, vegetable oils (omega-6), and dietary fat. Reduce excess carbohydrate load, especially refined carbohydrates (may increase insulin secretion and inflammation).

    • You may want to begin a “vegan” diet—elimination of all animal products, including dairy.

    • Patient education, including initiation of home peak flow monitoring and aiding in establishing a self-management program.

    • Proper diet and exercise program.

    • Address allergy issues and potential immune-triggering events.

    • Make sure that the home is free of any mold or mildew problems.

    • Limit the use of carpet, whenever possible.

    • Take steps to purify whole house air.

    • Use hypoallergenic bedding and wash bedding frequently.

      References

      1. Kolbe J, Fergusson W, Garrett J. Rapid onset asthma: a severe but uncommon manifestation. Thorax. Apr1998;53(4):241-7.

      2. Tarlo SM, Broder I, Corey P, et al. The role of symptomatic colds in asthma exacerbations: Influence of outdoor allergens and air pollutants. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Jul2001;108(1):52-8.

      3. Lutchen KR, Jensen A, Atileh H, et al. Airway constriction pattern is a central component of asthma severity: the role of deep inspirations. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. Jul2001;164(2):207-15.

      4. Black PN, Sharpe S. Dietary fat and asthma: is there a connection? Eur Respir J. Jan1997;10(1):6-12.

      5. Gontijo-Amaral C, Ribeiro MA, Gontijo LS, Condino-Neto A, Ribeiro JD. Oral magnesium supplementation in asthmatic children: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jun 21;

      6. Ciarallo L, Sauer AH, Shannon MW.Intravenous magnesium therapy for moderate to severe pediatric asthma: results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

      J Pediatr. 1996 Dec;129(6):809-14.

      7. Gavrish TV.Dysbioses of the oral cavity and intestines and immune reactivity in of adolescent bronchial asthma patients] Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol. 2001 Nov-Dec;(6):74-7.



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