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Asthma prevention tips for avoiding asthma symptoms.
Only through understanding the cause of asthma can
we hope to cure.
by: Karon
Beattie
You are probably familiar with
what can trigger or worsen your asthma, sinus or allergies. I have described
many of these agents below, and perhaps some of
the information will be useful to help you avoid them in your environment.
Many of these agents are harmful to our health in other ways.
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Modern medicine,
as it stands at the moment, has either stopped looking for the causes of asthma
or it has false impressions of the causes. Through dealing
with "trigger
factors" we can only hope to treat the symptoms of the problem. Only through
understanding the cause of the disease (Read the Naturally Free From Asthma
Report), can we hope to cure.
Some reported, well-known and not so well-known triggers for
asthma or bronchospasm include:
Allergens (particles that cause allergies) such as dust mites,
cockroaches, pollen, molds and animal dander (which are tiny scales or particles
that fall
off hair,
feathers or skin) from any pets
Aspirin
Peanuts
Particulates (air-born pollution)
Cold air or hot stuffy environments,
or sudden changes in temperature Tobacco smoke and wood smoke
Perfume, paint,
hair spray, or any strong odors or fumes
Common cold, influenza, and other
respiratory illnesses
Food chemicals that may trigger asthma include: Sulphites
(sulphur dioxide and sodium metabisulphite)
Food colours (tartrazine) Monosodium
glutamate (MSG) Alcoholic drinks (Sulfite additives have been associated
with triggering asthmatic
responses. They are
present in significant levels in most wines, but other ingredients
in wine can also trigger an asthmatic response.)
Obesity The dramatic increase
in the number of asthmatics may be linked to an increase in levels of obesity,
scientists have said. Researchers
have found that
the fatter the adult, the greater the likelihood of asthma.
Your
Occupation
Plastics
Exercise (Exercise, especially in cold air, is a frequent asthma
trigger)
Overeating, or laughing excessively
Some controversial triggers under discussion
include:
Organophosphates
The widespread use
of organophosphate insecticides to address pest infestations in lower socio-economic
areas, may contribute to the very disproportionate
high rates of asthma in disadvantaged black and minority communities
in the US.
Toluene
72% of asthma patients in a study
showed adverse reactions to perfumes; i.e., pulmonary function tests dropping
anywhere between 18% and
58% below baseline
(from "Affects of Odors in Asthma," Chang Shim, MD
and M. Henry Williams, MD, American Journal of Medicine, January,
1986 Vol. 80)
Toluene-laced fragrance industry chemical products
have become increasingly pervasive in the last ten years - used
not only
in perfumes, but
also in furniture wax,
tires, plastic garbage bags, inks, hair gel, hairspray, and kitty
litter. A Danish toxicological journal, "Ugeskr Laegar",
Vol. 153, ISS 13, 1991, p. 939-40, found perfume in kitty litter
to be a cause
of asthma
in humans.
The only safe assumption about scented products is
that they contain numerous toxic chemicals which constantly vaporize
into
the air
and attach themselves
to the hair, clothing, carpets and and surroundings of anyone
who wears them. These chemicals go directly into the bloodstream
when
applied to
our skin
and are also absorbed into the skin from our clothing. We also
inhale the chemical
fumes, which then go straight to our brains where they can do
major harm. These chemicals are skin irritants, suffocants, eye
and respiratory
tract
irritants,
and neurotoxins.
Household cleaning products and synthetic fragrances
One
theory for the rise in asthma cases says that it isn't being caused by more
pollutants
-
it's caused
by the world being too clean. According to this theory, children
raised without enough exposure to dirt, dust, and disease may
not build up a
resistance
to some allergens -- causing problems later in life. My personal
belief is that
it is
the fragrance and other toxic ingredients in our household cleaning
products, air fresheners, dishwasher powder etc that is contributing
to the rise.
Other articles you may find interesting:
Asthma
- Indoor Mold
Asthma
- Mouse and Urine Faeces
Covering
Bedding Cuts Kids' Need for Asthma Drugs
Occupational
Asthma - Causes And Prevention
Ways
to Help Control the Worst Asthma, Sinus and Allergy Triggers
Read
Karon Beattie's Biography
*The articles published on this site undergo our review process. We found the
information in this article to be very useful and informative. |
