New research has shown that children with asthma are better off using their steroid and bronchodilator inhalers as needed instead of daily. The as-needed use of both inhalers is just as effective for mild asthma as the traditional protocol, according to Futurity.
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In the U.S., about 6.2 million children under age 18 have asthma. Among white children, about 7.4% have asthma and among African American children, that statistic is almost double, at 13.4%. Inflammation makes the airways swell, triggering wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing. For most, asthma begins when they are children and continues through adulthood.
Typically, those with asthma use two inhalers — a steroid and a bronchodilator — on a daily basis, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. The steroid inhaler lowers inflammation, and the bronchodilator relaxes the airway to make breathing easier. Asthma is a chronic condition and symptoms could be rare or occur daily.
Asthma is the leading chronic disease in children and the top reason children miss school days. Ten Americans die from asthma every day and many of those deaths may have been avoidable.
Children ages 5 to 14 are the most affected. Oddly, more boys than girls are diagnosed, but more women than men have asthma. Children younger than 4 years were less likely to have asthma, but when they had an attack, they were more likely to require emergency care.
Prescribing inhalers is meant to manage symptoms, avoid asthma attacks and allow children to engage in normal everyday activities.
Asthma is amenable to homeopathic treatment, but it should always be with a homeopathic professional and not self-treatment. Homeopathic practitioners often focus on treatment of the whole person and not just a single symptom or disease, so expect to spend about an hour for your first visit so the practitioner can gather enough information.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine concluded that those whose diet was higher in omega-3 fat had a lower risk of severe asthma symptoms when exposed to air pollution, yet a metabolic by-product of omega-6, leukotrienes, increased inflammation in the lungs.
One way to balance your omega-3 and omega-6 fat intake is to reduce or eliminate processed foods, which are typically made with vegetable oils high in omega-6, while increasing your intake of fatty fish such as wild-caught Alaskan salmon, herring or mackerel, which are less likely to be contaminated. Steer clear of farmed fish and large fish such as marlin, swordfish and tuna.
Air pollution also plays a role in the increase of asthma. Air quality affects your respiratory system and overall health. The World Health Organization estimates 92 percent of the world breathe polluted air. Nearly 7 million premature deaths are attributed to air pollution each year, and a study of children from Baltimore has now found evidence linking diet and exposure to air pollution to asthma symptoms.