Childhood Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by tight airways -- a result of airways being too responsive. Our airways are meant to respond to harmful substances in the air. Our airways shrink when we're in a smoky atmosphere, protecting our delicate lung tissues from the noxious ingredients in the smoke. They should go back to normal in fresh air but it doesn't always work that way with asthmatics.
That's the official point of view, from a medical industry that claims not to know how to cure asthma. The people who do cure the problem say that asthma is your body's attempt to compensate for bad breathing methods. So you should learn to breathe properly. Or you could try eating properly for the healthy food asthma nutrients.
Here are some warning signs
- Sleeping baby breathes faster than 40/minute.
- Baby goes off its food.
- Breathing in tightens skin round ribs.
- Chest looks too big.
- Your baby's face becomes pale or very red.
- Lack of breath makes him/her cry less for shorter times.
- Struggles to breath through mouth and flared nostrils.
- Grunts like a pig during breast feeding.
Asthma and pregnancy
Is there any way in which a pregnant mother could increase the chance of asthma in her children? Could you really have asthma because your mother smoked during pregnancy? (I'm not letting fathers off the hook either.) You're breathing for both of you when you are pregnant. Your baby gets all its Oxygen from your bloodstream so if you don't breathe properly your baby will be deficient. Yes, you really can learn to breathe properly.
Of course, the money-grubbing quacks are always present with us. They say that they can't cure asthma and then have the nerve to expect us to buy their medication loaded with side effects. UPDATE: GPs keep the free cure secret because the will lose their licence if they tell you about it. Homeopatic asthma treatment is the gentlest of all.
The medical industry offers this official point of view (note the drug adverts included): "Remember: Using asthma medicine during pregnancy is much safer than letting your asthma get out of control. Such asthma medicines as inhaled beta-agonists (quick relief medicines like Maxair or Proventil), cromolyn (medicines that prevent triggers from causing reactions in your lungs, like Intal), and inhaled steroids (long-term controller medicines like Flovent) are safe for pregnant women when you take them as directed by your doctor. Please don't read the instructions as it might decrease our income." Some of that is untrue.
Experts tell you that exercise can trigger an asthma attack. I've noticed that digging the garden a couple of times a year triggers sore muscles. But if I was doing it every day there would be no sore muscles. Take a gentle stroll every day while you are pregnant for half an hour. Exercise is important and you should be able to be physically active without having asthma symptoms after the first few days of exercise.
Prevention of asthma in toddlers
Get ready for a shock! Having at least two pets in the house drastically reduces asthma later on. Fair enough if you don't give your toddlers a chance to learn to fight asthma in childhood by having pets they are likely to suffer every time a cat or dog comes near them. But it's natural for children to be among pets and perhaps eat a cockroach or two. Don't protect them too much or you may give them asthma.
GPs responsible for asthma in kids
I think that the GPs are more to blame than you, because they should know better. GPs cause a lot of the trouble in their endless attempts to sell you more drugs. Children are more likely to get asthma (according to research) if they are prescribed antibiotics before they are six months old.
Abusing prescription drugs is as common as, or maybe even more common than, street drug use - and GPs are often to blame. the FDA decided that not enough people had died from asthma prescription drugs to make public oppinion force them to ban these profitable drugs.
Steroid drugs prescribed by GPs can make your child prone to diseases by weakening the immune system.
Danger in the showers. When chlorine vaporizes it combines with other airborne particles and forms chloroform gas which is a known cause and contributor to asthma and other respiratory problems. The U.S. EPA states that "Due to chlorine and showering, there is an elevated level of chloroform gas in virtually every home in America...". soaking in it in a swimming pool is even worse.
Sing Your Cares Away
Maldon & South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust has started a project to improve the quality of life of local children with asthma.
"Asthma is a serious condition for many youngsters," says Sarah Southerby, the PCT's healthy living co-ordinator. "The 'Huff and Puff' project holds innovative classes using song and art as mediums for helping children to control their breathing."
The workshops include simple songs, rhythms and breathing techniques, to teach the children not to panic when they suffer shortness of breath.
