#Childhood Asthma: Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatment

[asthmabhawan-blog]

Asthma Bhawan is gaining popularity in becoming a prominent hospital in the country to help cure and prevent Asthma in children and adults. Today, give us a call on +91-9352934531 or use our website to schedule an appointment.

[soliair]

Nicotine Dependence: Symptoms and Causes

Nicotine dependence occurs when you need nicotine and can't stop using it. Nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that makes it hard to quit. Nicotine produces pleasing effects in your brain, but these effects are temporary. So you reach for another cigarette. 

The more you smoke, the more nicotine you need to feel good. When you try to stop, you experience unpleasant mental and physical changes. These are symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. 

Regardless of how long you've smoked, stopping can improve your health. It isn't easy but you can break your dependence on nicotine. Many effective treatments are available. Ask your doctor for help. 

Symptoms

For some people, using any amount of tobacco can quickly lead to nicotine dependence. Signs that you may be addicted include:

1. You can't stop smoking. You've made one or more serious, but unsuccessful, attempts to stop.  2. You have withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. Your attempts at stopping have caused physical and mood-related symptoms, such as strong cravings, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, depressed mood, frustration, anger, increased hunger, insomnia, constipation or diarrhea. 3. You keep smoking despite health problems. Even though you've developed health problems with your lungs or your heart, you haven't been able to stop. 4. You give up social activities. You may stop going to smoke-free restaurants or stop socializing with family or friends because you can't smoke in these situations. 

When to See a Doctor

-- You're not alone if you've tried to stop smoking but haven't been able to stop for good. Most smokers make many attempts to stop smoking before they achieve stable, long-term abstinence from smoking. 

-- You're more likely to stop for good if you follow a treatment plan that addresses both the physical and the behavioral aspects of nicotine dependence. Using medications and working with a counselor specially trained to help people stop smoking (a tobacco treatment specialist) will significantly boost your chances of success. 

-- Ask your health care team to help you develop a treatment plan that works for you or to advise you on where to get help to stop smoking. 

Nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that keeps you smoking. Nicotine reaches the brain within seconds of taking a puff. In the brain, nicotine increases the release of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which help regulate mood and behavior. 

Dopamine, one of these neurotransmitters, is released in the reward center of the brain and causes feelings of pleasure and improved mood. The more you smoke, the more nicotine you need to feel good. Nicotine quickly becomes part of your daily routine and intertwined with your habits and feelings. 

Common Situations That Trigger the Urge to Smoke Include: 

a. Drinking coffee or taking breaks at work b. Talking on the phone c. Drinking alcohol d. Driving your car e. Spending time with friends

To overcome your nicotine dependence, you need to become aware of your triggers and make a plan for dealing with them. 

Risk Factors

Anyone who smokes or uses other forms of tobacco is at risk of becoming dependent. Factors that influence who will use tobacco include: 

1. Age. Most people begin smoking during childhood or the teen years. The younger you are when you begin smoking, the greater the chance that you'll become addicted. 2. Genetics. The likelihood that you will start smoking and keep smoking may be partly inherited. Genetic factors may influence how receptors on the surface of your brain's nerve cells respond to high doses of nicotine delivered by cigarettes. 3. Parents and peers. Children who grow up with parents who smoke are more likely to become smokers. Children with friends who smoke are also more likely to try it. 4. Depression or other mental illness. Many studies show an association between depression and smoking. People who have depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or other forms of mental illness are more likely to be smokers. 5. Substance use. People who abuse alcohol and illegal drugs are more likely to be smokers. 

Complications

Tobacco smoke contains more than 60 known cancer-causing chemicals and thousands of other harmful substances. Even "all natural" or herbal cigarettes have harmful chemicals. 

You already know that people who smoke cigarettes are much more likely to develop and die of certain diseases than people who don't smoke. But you may not realize just how many different health problems smoking causes: 

A. Lung cancer and lung disease. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths. In addition, smoking causes lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also makes asthma worse. B. Other cancers. Smoking increases the risk of many types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, throat (pharynx), esophagus, larynx, bladder, pancreas, kidney, cervix and some types of leukemia. Overall, smoking causes 30% of all cancer deaths.  C. Heart and circulatory system problems. Smoking increases your risk of dying of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease, including heart attacks and strokes. If you have heart or blood vessel disease, such as heart failure, smoking worsens your condition.  D. Diabetes. Smoking increases insulin resistance, which can set the stage for type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, smoking can speed the progress of complications, such as kidney disease and eye problems. E. Eye problems. Smoking can increase your risk of serious eye problems such as cataracts and loss of eyesight from macular degeneration. F. Infertility and impotence. Smoking increases the risk of reduced fertility in women and the risk of impotence in men. G. Complications during pregnancy. Mothers who smoke while pregnant face a higher risk of preterm delivery and giving birth to lower birth weight babies. H. Cold, flu and other illnesses. Smokers are more prone to respiratory infections, such as colds, the flu and bronchitis. I. Tooth and gum disease. Smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing inflammation of the gum and a serious gum infection that can destroy the support system for teeth (periodontitis). J. Smoking also poses health risks to those around you. Nonsmoking spouses and partners of smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer and heart disease compared with people who don't live with a smoker. Children whose parents smoke are more prone to worsening asthma, ear infections and colds.

Prevention

The best way to prevent nicotine dependence is to not use tobacco in the first place. The best way to keep children from smoking is to not smoke yourself. Research has shown that children whose parents do not smoke or who successfully quit smoking are much less likely to take up smoking. 

Diagnosis

Your doctor may ask you questions or have you fill out a questionnaire to see how dependent you are on nicotine. Knowing your degree of dependence will help your doctor determine the right treatment plan for you. The more cigarettes you smoke each day and the sooner you smoke after awakening, the more dependent you are. 

Treatment

Like most smokers, you've probably made at least one serious attempt to stop. But it's rare to stop smoking on your first attempt — especially if you try to do it without help. You're much more likely to be able to stop smoking if you use medications and counseling, which have both been proved effective, especially in combination. 

Medications

Some quit-smoking products are known as nicotine replacement therapy because they contain varying amounts of nicotine. Some of these nicotine replacement therapies require a prescription, but others don't. There are two approved quit-smoking medications that don't contain nicotine, and both are available only by prescription. 

Any of these products can help reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms — making it more likely that you'll stop smoking for good. Using more than one may help you get better results. Although you can buy some quit-smoking products without a prescription, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor first. Together you can explore which products might be right for you, when to start taking them and possible side effects. 

Counseling

Medications help you cope by reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings, while behavioral treatments help you develop the skills you need to give up tobacco for good. The more time you spend with a counselor, the better your treatment results will be. 

During individual or group counseling, you learn techniques you can use to help you stop smoking. Many hospitals, health care plans, health care providers and employers offer treatment programs. Some medical centers provide residential treatment programs — the most intensive treatment available. 

Methods to Avoid

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have not proved to be safe nor are they more effective in helping people stop smoking than nicotine replacement medications. In fact, many people who use e-cigarettes to stop smoking find themselves using both products rather than quitting. 

It's not a good idea to substitute another type of tobacco use for smoking. Tobacco in any form is not safe. Steer clear of these products: 

- Dissolvable tobacco products - Smokeless tobacco - Nicotine lollipops and balms - Cigars and pipes - Hookahs

Coping and Support

Social support is key to achieving a stable and solid, smoke-free life. Ask your family, friends and co-workers for support and encouragement. Be direct and let them know what would help you most. 

Also Consider Trying These Resources:

1. Support groups. Often available at little or no cost, support groups offer coaching and mutual support from others attempting to quit. Nicotine Anonymous groups are available in many locations. 2. Telephone counseling. Quit lines offer convenient access to trained counselors. In the U.S., call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) to connect directly to your state's quit line. 3. Text messaging and mobile apps. A number of services are available to get reminders and tips delivered to your mobile phone. 4. Web-based programs. Sites such as BecomeAnEX provide free personalized support, interactive guides and tools, and discussion groups to help you quit. 

Preparing for Your Appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor. Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor. 

What You Can Do To Get Ready for Your Appointment:

a. Consider your smoking triggers. List the circumstances when you're most likely to reach for a cigarette. In what situations has smoking become a ritual? b. Make note of any symptoms that may be related to smoking. Include the length of time you've had each one. c. Make a list of your medications. Include any vitamins, herbs or other supplements. d. Invite a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided during an appointment. 

What to Expect From Your Doctor

Being ready to answer questions your doctor may ask reserves time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Some questions your doctor may ask include: 

1. How many cigarettes do you smoke each day? How soon after waking do you smoke? 2. Have you previously tried to stop smoking? If so, what happened? What worked? What didn't work? 3. What is motivating you to stop smoking now? 4. Do you have any physical health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes, which you suspect are related to smoking? 5. Has smoking caused any problems at work or in your relationships? 

SOLIAIR™ is a company that specializes in alternative medicine and natural drug development that is privately owned. The SOLIAIR™ Food supplements are patented and are regularly used by doctors, pharmacists and patients in the U.S and around the world! - Please contact us for an advice and a professional treatment! 

Best Regards, Solomon J. (Naturopath/Alternative Therapist)

##### 

[jerrytackettca]

Omega-3 Stops Asthma; Omega-6 Makes It Worse

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology,1 8.3% of children in the U.S. had asthma in 2016. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics2 suggest approximately 1 in every 12 people have asthma, including adults.

Boys have a slightly greater risk than girls.3 The cost of asthma in children aged 5 to 17 included 13.8 million days of school lost and a median cost of $983 per year. 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.

The economic burden of asthma, including medical cost, lost work and school days and mortality was $81.9 billion in 2013 — the latest year available for these statistics — for children and adults combined.4 The annual per person cost was $3,728.

Your life depends on the air you breathe, and the quality affects your respiratory system and overall health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 92 percent of the world breathe polluted air.5

Nearly 7 million premature deaths are attributed to air pollution each year.6 A recent six-month study of children from Baltimore City has now found evidence linking diet and exposure to air pollution to asthma symptoms.7

Higher Omega-3 Fat Intake Associated With Fewer Asthma Symptoms

In this study, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine8 gathered data from 135 children, aged 5 to 12, diagnosed with asthma. Roughly one-third of the children had mild symptoms of asthma, one-third had moderate and one-third had severe symptoms.

The researchers used the definition of asthma severity based on the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines,9 which defines severity based on symptoms, inhaler use and forced expiratory volume, or how well the lungs forces air out.

The study10 gathered evidence through questionnaires, compiling data on diet, symptoms and inhaler use reported by the participants and the caregivers.11 Surveys were taken for one week at the time of enrollment, at 3 months and 6 months into the study. Participants also had blood samples drawn at those times to assess changes in inflammatory markers, and equipment was left in the home to measure air quality.

The equipment measured particulate matter (PM) of 10 micrometers (PM10) and those measuring 2.5 micrometers and smaller (PM2.5). The children lived in Baltimore City, where previous research had demonstrated air quality often exceeded acceptable standards for outdoor air pollution set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).12

Measurements in the participants home found PM2.5 measured 26.8 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg/m3). The EPA standard for outdoor air is 12 mcg/m3. The average concentration for PM10 was 39 mcg/m3. Additionally, dietary analysis revealed that each additional gram of omega-6 intake was associated with a 29% increased risk of moving into a more severe asthma category.

Pollution Triggered Increased Inflammation With High Intake of Omega-6

Every increment of 10 mcg/m3 of PM2.5 the children were exposed to also increased the risk of daytime asthma symptoms by 2%. Essentially, the researchers found higher levels of omega-6 in the diet were associated with an increased percentage of neutrophils being generated in response to pollution.13

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell linked with inflammation. Dr. Emily Brigham, pulmonologist from Johns Hopkins University, was lead author of the study. She points out that while the role of omega-6 is complicated, some metabolic by-products, such as leukotrienes,14 are known to be responsible for the inflammatory response in children suffering from asthma.15

Conversely, children who had a higher intake of omega-3 had a lower response to indoor particulate matter and seemed to be more resilient. The typical American diet is much higher in omega-6 fats than omega-3, which was also true in every child participating in the Baltimore City study.16

This study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting dietary intake has an influence on your body's response to air pollution. For example, a recent study published in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation, found:17

"A Mediterranean diet reduced cardiovascular disease mortality risk related to long-term exposure to air pollutants in a large prospective U.S. cohort. Increased consumption of foods rich in antioxidant compounds may aid in reducing the considerable disease burden associated with ambient air pollution."

Another study18 found supplementation with antioxidants helped modulate the impact of air pollution exposure on small airways in children who already had a diagnosis of moderate-to-severe asthma.

In yet another recent double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study19 involving adults, researchers assessed the effect of daily vitamin E supplementation for 14 days on the inflammatory features of asthma. Compared to placebo, vitamin E resulted in a greater reduction of asthma features.

What Is Asthma?

According to the Mayo Clinic, asthma is a condition during which your airways swell, narrow and produce extra mucus. This makes breathing difficult and often triggers coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Symptoms may vary from person to person, as well as frequency of the attack and severity of the symptoms.20 Many sufferers are able to identify triggers, or the environmental factors increasing the risk of experiencing a flare-up.21

Common triggers include environmental irritants such as chemical fumes, gases, dust or perfumes, and airborne substances such as pollen, mold and dried saliva shed by pets. Others may experience more symptoms when exercising in cold dry air. Asthma is a chronic lung condition that may affect all ages, but usually starts during childhood.22

In some cases, the symptoms are mild and will go away on their own or after minimal treatment. In other cases, during an attack or flare up, you may need additional treatment in an emergency care setting.

Diagnosis is made on your medical history, physical examination and some test results, including measurements of how much air you breathe in and out and testing to measure how your airways react during exposure to physical activity or cold air. If your physician suspects your asthma is related to allergies, they may recommend allergy testing.23

A chest X-ray or EKG may be ordered if your physician suspects a foreign object or another health condition may be triggering symptoms. Although the condition is chronic and is manageable, it may also be serious and life-threatening during a severe attack.24

Indoor Air Pollution Related to Asthma Symptoms and More

Children are exposed to polluted air inside and out. According to WHO,25 98% of children in low- and middle-income countries under age 5 are exposed to PM2.5 pollution at levels higher than WHO air quality guidelines. Children are most vulnerable as their bodies are developing, placing them at risk from inflammation and other health damage from pollutants. They also have a longer life expectancy, giving more time for diseases to emerge.

From an analysis of studies published in the last 10 years, and the input from dozens of experts, the WHO lists some of the top health risks pollution poses to children,26 including infant mortality, childhood obesity, impaired lung development and function, childhood cancers and adverse birth outcomes.

In addition to short-term symptoms with exposure to indoor air pollution, including27 worsening asthma, headaches, dizziness and fatigue, chronic exposure may result in serious health conditions, including:28,29,30

Premature death

Reproductive problems

Decreased cognitive function31

Cancer — According to research published this year, the greater your total pollution exposure, the higher your risk for cancer32

Bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, accelerated aging of lung tissue, lung tissue redness and swelling, wheezing and shortness of breath

Developmental delays in children

High blood pressure,33 heart attack34 and stroke

Poor sleep — Recent research35 demonstrates two widespread pollutants — nitrogen dioxide (traffic-related air pollution) and PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) — disrupt sleep and decrease sleep efficiency (a measure of the time spent actually sleeping as opposed to lying in bed awake).

People with the highest PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide exposure were 50% and 60%, respectively, more likely to have low sleep efficiency over a five-year period, compared to those with the lowest exposure

Importance of Balancing Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fats to Overall Health

Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) your body is unable to manufacture, hence you must obtain them from your food. They are used in a wide variety of bodily functions, including proper cell division and function of cell receptors, muscle activity, cognition and heart health.

Importantly, the marine-based omega-3 fats docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) — two long-chained PUFAs found in fatty fish and krill oil — are actually cellular components, which make them crucial for optimal functioning of cells and mitochondria. These are not available in plant based foods.

DHA is particularly important for your brain, as about 90% of the fat in your brain is DHA,36 while EPA appears to be of particular importance for heart health.37 Research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) once again highlights the importance of your omega-3 level to your heart health and overall well-being.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology,38 looked at the value of measuring blood levels of EPA and DHA to assess your risk for developing certain diseases. The data revealed a higher omega-3 index was associated with a lower risk for:

Total cardiovascular disease events

Total coronary heart disease events

Total strokes

However, as demonstrated in the featured study, the balance of a standard American diet leans heavily toward omega-6 fat found in vegetable oils. Processed foods — everything from French fries to frozen meals and salad dressings to snack foods — are generally loaded with omega-6, due to the vegetable oils used to make them.

Science supports the need for a correct balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fats to be your healthiest. Most consume far too many omega-6 fats, which tend to trigger inflammation when consumed in excess. Ideally, you want to maintain a 4-to-1 ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fats or less, which is nearly impossible if you're regularly eating processed foods or restaurant fare.

Protect Your Health With Cleaner Air

Some of the most common pollutants and toxic particles found in your home may be released from building materials, cleaning products and your furniture. For instance, formaldehyde may be used in the production of wood products, mattresses, nail polish, and glue and adhesives.

Phthalates, linked to significant health problems, are off-gassed from vinyl floors, food packaging, shower curtains and wall coverings. Flame retardant chemicals, such as PCBs, are found in foam cushions, carpeting, children's items and electronics.

Regardless of where you live, you'll likely benefit from addressing indoor air quality. Not only will you reduce the risk of developing chronic health conditions, research shows improving air quality may also benefit your mental health by reducing psychological stress.39

Modern buildings are also more airtight, for energy efficiency purposes, and need to be properly ventilated to prevent or reduce the buildup of indoor air pollution.40 You'll find a list of cost-effective and simple strategies to help significantly reduce your health care costs in the long run in my previous article, "Reduce Indoor Air Pollution."

Safely Increase Your Intake of Omega-3 Fat

Animal-based omega-3s are your best source for this essential fat. There are three strategies to get more of it into your daily diet. However, each has advantages and disadvantages.

• Fish — Small, cold-water, fatty fish such as anchovies and sardines are an excellent source of omega-3 with a low risk of hazardous contamination. Wild Alaskan salmon is another good source low in mercury and other environmental toxins.

Because much of the fish supply is heavily tainted with industrial toxins and pollutants, including heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and radioactive poisons, it is extremely important to be selective, choosing fish high in healthy fats and low in contaminants.

• Fish oil — While fish oil may appear to be a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to increase your intake of omega-3 fats on the surface, it typically delivers insufficient antioxidant support. It is also highly prone to oxidation, leading to the formation of harmful free radicals.

• Krill oil — Krill oil is my preferred choice as an omega-3 supplement as it contains the indispensable animal-based DHA and EPA omega-3s your body needs in a form less prone to oxidation.

With the help of phospholipids, the nutrients in krill oil are carried directly to your cell membranes where they are more readily absorbed. Additionally, they may cross your blood-brain barrier to reach important brain structures.

While you may be tempted to seek your omega-3 fats from the following sources, mainly because they are readily available and perhaps less costly than the sources mentioned above, I strongly advise you avoid:

Farmed salmon — It contains about half the omega-3 levels of wild salmon, is often fed a genetically engineered diet of corn and soy products and may contain antibiotics, pesticides and other chemical toxins

Large carnivorous fish — Marlin, swordfish and tuna (including canned tuna), for example, tend to contain some of the highest concentrations of mercury,41 a known neurotoxin

from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/04/15/is-omega-3-good-for-asthma.aspx

source http://niapurenaturecom.weebly.com/blog/omega-3-stops-asthma-omega-6-makes-it-worse

[paullassiterca]

Omega-3 Stops Asthma; Omega-6 Makes It Worse

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology,1 8.3% of children in the U.S. had asthma in 2016. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics2 suggest approximately 1 in every 12 people have asthma, including adults.

Boys have a slightly greater risk than girls.3 The cost of asthma in children aged 5 to 17 included 13.8 million days of school lost and a median cost of $983 per year. 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.

The economic burden of asthma, including medical cost, lost work and school days and mortality was $81.9 billion in 2013 — the latest year available for these statistics — for children and adults combined.4 The annual per person cost was $3,728.

Your life depends on the air you breathe, and the quality affects your respiratory system and overall health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 92 percent of the world breathe polluted air.5

Nearly 7 million premature deaths are attributed to air pollution each year.6 A recent six-month study of children from Baltimore City has now found evidence linking diet and exposure to air pollution to asthma symptoms.7

Higher Omega-3 Fat Intake Associated With Fewer Asthma Symptoms

In this study, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine8 gathered data from 135 children, aged 5 to 12, diagnosed with asthma. Roughly one-third of the children had mild symptoms of asthma, one-third had moderate and one-third had severe symptoms.

The researchers used the definition of asthma severity based on the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines,9 which defines severity based on symptoms, inhaler use and forced expiratory volume, or how well the lungs forces air out.

The study10 gathered evidence through questionnaires, compiling data on diet, symptoms and inhaler use reported by the participants and the caregivers.11 Surveys were taken for one week at the time of enrollment, at 3 months and 6 months into the study. Participants also had blood samples drawn at those times to assess changes in inflammatory markers, and equipment was left in the home to measure air quality.

The equipment measured particulate matter (PM) of 10 micrometers (PM10) and those measuring 2.5 micrometers and smaller (PM2.5). The children lived in Baltimore City, where previous research had demonstrated air quality often exceeded acceptable standards for outdoor air pollution set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).12

Measurements in the participants home found PM2.5 measured 26.8 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg/m3). The EPA standard for outdoor air is 12 mcg/m3. The average concentration for PM10 was 39 mcg/m3. Additionally, dietary analysis revealed that each additional gram of omega-6 intake was associated with a 29% increased risk of moving into a more severe asthma category.

Pollution Triggered Increased Inflammation With High Intake of Omega-6

Every increment of 10 mcg/m3 of PM2.5 the children were exposed to also increased the risk of daytime asthma symptoms by 2%. Essentially, the researchers found higher levels of omega-6 in the diet were associated with an increased percentage of neutrophils being generated in response to pollution.13

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell linked with inflammation. Dr. Emily Brigham, pulmonologist from Johns Hopkins University, was lead author of the study. She points out that while the role of omega-6 is complicated, some metabolic by-products, such as leukotrienes,14 are known to be responsible for the inflammatory response in children suffering from asthma.15

Conversely, children who had a higher intake of omega-3 had a lower response to indoor particulate matter and seemed to be more resilient. The typical American diet is much higher in omega-6 fats than omega-3, which was also true in every child participating in the Baltimore City study.16

This study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting dietary intake has an influence on your body’s response to air pollution. For example, a recent study published in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation, found:17

“A Mediterranean diet reduced cardiovascular disease mortality risk related to long-term exposure to air pollutants in a large prospective U.S. cohort. Increased consumption of foods rich in antioxidant compounds may aid in reducing the considerable disease burden associated with ambient air pollution.”

Another study18 found supplementation with antioxidants helped modulate the impact of air pollution exposure on small airways in children who already had a diagnosis of moderate-to-severe asthma.

In yet another recent double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study19 involving adults, researchers assessed the effect of daily vitamin E supplementation for 14 days on the inflammatory features of asthma. Compared to placebo, vitamin E resulted in a greater reduction of asthma features.

What Is Asthma?

According to the Mayo Clinic, asthma is a condition during which your airways swell, narrow and produce extra mucus. This makes breathing difficult and often triggers coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Symptoms may vary from person to person, as well as frequency of the attack and severity of the symptoms.20 Many sufferers are able to identify triggers, or the environmental factors increasing the risk of experiencing a flare-up.21

Common triggers include environmental irritants such as chemical fumes, gases, dust or perfumes, and airborne substances such as pollen, mold and dried saliva shed by pets. Others may experience more symptoms when exercising in cold dry air. Asthma is a chronic lung condition that may affect all ages, but usually starts during childhood.22

In some cases, the symptoms are mild and will go away on their own or after minimal treatment. In other cases, during an attack or flare up, you may need additional treatment in an emergency care setting.

Diagnosis is made on your medical history, physical examination and some test results, including measurements of how much air you breathe in and out and testing to measure how your airways react during exposure to physical activity or cold air. If your physician suspects your asthma is related to allergies, they may recommend allergy testing.23

A chest X-ray or EKG may be ordered if your physician suspects a foreign object or another health condition may be triggering symptoms. Although the condition is chronic and is manageable, it may also be serious and life-threatening during a severe attack.24

Indoor Air Pollution Related to Asthma Symptoms and More

Children are exposed to polluted air inside and out. According to WHO,25 98% of children in low- and middle-income countries under age 5 are exposed to PM2.5 pollution at levels higher than WHO air quality guidelines. Children are most vulnerable as their bodies are developing, placing them at risk from inflammation and other health damage from pollutants. They also have a longer life expectancy, giving more time for diseases to emerge.

From an analysis of studies published in the last 10 years, and the input from dozens of experts, the WHO lists some of the top health risks pollution poses to children,26 including infant mortality, childhood obesity, impaired lung development and function, childhood cancers and adverse birth outcomes.

In addition to short-term symptoms with exposure to indoor air pollution, including27 worsening asthma, headaches, dizziness and fatigue, chronic exposure may result in serious health conditions, including:28,29,30

Premature death

Reproductive problems

Decreased cognitive function31

Cancer — According to research published this year, the greater your total pollution exposure, the higher your risk for cancer32

Bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, accelerated aging of lung tissue, lung tissue redness and swelling, wheezing and shortness of breath

Developmental delays in children

High blood pressure,33heart attack34 and stroke

Poor sleep — Recent research35 demonstrates two widespread pollutants — nitrogen dioxide (traffic-related air pollution) and PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) — disrupt sleep and decrease sleep efficiency (a measure of the time spent actually sleeping as opposed to lying in bed awake).

People with the highest PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide exposure were 50% and 60%, respectively, more likely to have low sleep efficiency over a five-year period, compared to those with the lowest exposure

Importance of Balancing Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fats to Overall Health

Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) your body is unable to manufacture, hence you must obtain them from your food. They are used in a wide variety of bodily functions, including proper cell division and function of cell receptors, muscle activity, cognition and heart health.

Importantly, the marine-based omega-3 fats docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) — two long-chained PUFAs found in fatty fish and krill oil — are actually cellular components, which make them crucial for optimal functioning of cells and mitochondria. These are not available in plant based foods.

DHA is particularly important for your brain, as about 90% of the fat in your brain is DHA,36 while EPA appears to be of particular importance for heart health.37 Research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) once again highlights the importance of your omega-3 level to your heart health and overall well-being.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology,38 looked at the value of measuring blood levels of EPA and DHA to assess your risk for developing certain diseases. The data revealed a higher omega-3 index was associated with a lower risk for:

Total cardiovascular disease events

Total coronary heart disease events

Total strokes

However, as demonstrated in the featured study, the balance of a standard American diet leans heavily toward omega-6 fat found in vegetable oils. Processed foods — everything from French fries to frozen meals and salad dressings to snack foods — are generally loaded with omega-6, due to the vegetable oils used to make them.

Science supports the need for a correct balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fats to be your healthiest. Most consume far too many omega-6 fats, which tend to trigger inflammation when consumed in excess. Ideally, you want to maintain a 4-to-1 ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fats or less, which is nearly impossible if you’re regularly eating processed foods or restaurant fare.

Protect Your Health With Cleaner Air

Some of the most common pollutants and toxic particles found in your home may be released from building materials, cleaning products and your furniture. For instance, formaldehyde may be used in the production of wood products, mattresses, nail polish, and glue and adhesives.

Phthalates, linked to significant health problems, are off-gassed from vinyl floors, food packaging, shower curtains and wall coverings. Flame retardant chemicals, such as PCBs, are found in foam cushions, carpeting, children’s items and electronics.

Regardless of where you live, you’ll likely benefit from addressing indoor air quality. Not only will you reduce the risk of developing chronic health conditions, research shows improving air quality may also benefit your mental health by reducing psychological stress.39

Modern buildings are also more airtight, for energy efficiency purposes, and need to be properly ventilated to prevent or reduce the buildup of indoor air pollution.40 You’ll find a list of cost-effective and simple strategies to help significantly reduce your health care costs in the long run in my previous article, “Reduce Indoor Air Pollution.”

Safely Increase Your Intake of Omega-3 Fat

Animal-based omega-3s are your best source for this essential fat. There are three strategies to get more of it into your daily diet. However, each has advantages and disadvantages.

• Fish — Small, cold-water, fatty fish such as anchovies and sardines are an excellent source of omega-3 with a low risk of hazardous contamination. Wild Alaskan salmon is another good source low in mercury and other environmental toxins.

Because much of the fish supply is heavily tainted with industrial toxins and pollutants, including heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and radioactive poisons, it is extremely important to be selective, choosing fish high in healthy fats and low in contaminants.

• Fish oil — While fish oil may appear to be a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to increase your intake of omega-3 fats on the surface, it typically delivers insufficient antioxidant support. It is also highly prone to oxidation, leading to the formation of harmful free radicals.

• Krill oil — Krill oil is my preferred choice as an omega-3 supplement as it contains the indispensable animal-based DHA and EPA omega-3s your body needs in a form less prone to oxidation.

With the help of phospholipids, the nutrients in krill oil are carried directly to your cell membranes where they are more readily absorbed. Additionally, they may cross your blood-brain barrier to reach important brain structures.

While you may be tempted to seek your omega-3 fats from the following sources, mainly because they are readily available and perhaps less costly than the sources mentioned above, I strongly advise you avoid:

Farmed salmon — It contains about half the omega-3 levels of wild salmon, is often fed a genetically engineered diet of corn and soy products and may contain antibiotics, pesticides and other chemical toxins

Large carnivorous fish — Marlin, swordfish and tuna (including canned tuna), for example, tend to contain some of the highest concentrations of mercury,41 a known neurotoxin

from Articles http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/04/15/is-omega-3-good-for-asthma.aspx source https://niapurenaturecom.tumblr.com/post/184196156566

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Nadine Burke Harris How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime

Transcript

00:12

In the mid-'90s, the CDC and Kaiser Permanente discovered an exposure that dramatically increased the risk for seven out of 10 of the leading causes of death in the United States. In high doses, it affects brain development, the immune system, hormonal systems, and even the way our DNA is read and transcribed. Folks who are exposed in very high doses have triple the lifetime risk of heart disease and lung cancer and a 20-year difference in life expectancy. And yet, doctors today are not trained in routine screening or treatment. Now, the exposure I'm talking about is not a pesticide or a packaging chemical. It's childhood trauma.

01:06

Okay. What kind of trauma am I talking about here? I'm not talking about failing a test or losing a basketball game. I am talking about threats that are so severe or pervasive that they literally get under our skin and change our physiology: things like abuse or neglect, or growing up with a parent who struggles with mental illness or substance dependence.

01:31

Now, for a long time, I viewed these things in the way I was trained to view them, either as a social problem -- refer to social services -- or as a mental health problem -- refer to mental health services.And then something happened to make me rethink my entire approach. When I finished my residency, I wanted to go someplace where I felt really needed, someplace where I could make a difference. So I came to work for California Pacific Medical Center, one of the best private hospitals in Northern California, and together, we opened a clinic in Bayview-Hunters Point, one of the poorest, most underserved neighborhoods in San Francisco. Now, prior to that point, there had been only one pediatrician in all of Bayview to serve more than 10,000 children, so we hung a shingle, and we were able to provide top-quality care regardless of ability to pay. It was so cool. We targeted the typical health disparities: access to care, immunization rates, asthma hospitalization rates, and we hit all of our numbers. We felt very proud of ourselves.

02:45

But then I started noticing a disturbing trend. A lot of kids were being referred to me for ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but when I actually did a thorough history and physical, what I found was that for most of my patients, I couldn't make a diagnosis of ADHD. Most of the kids I was seeing had experienced such severe trauma that it felt like something else was going on. Somehow I was missing something important.

03:21

Now, before I did my residency, I did a master's degree in public health, and one of the things that they teach you in public health school is that if you're a doctor and you see 100 kids that all drink from the same well, and 98 of them develop diarrhea, you can go ahead and write that prescription for dose after dose after dose of antibiotics, or you can walk over and say, "What the hell is in this well?" So I began reading everything that I could get my hands on about how exposure to adversity affects the developing brains and bodies of children.

03:59

And then one day, my colleague walked into my office, and he said, "Dr. Burke, have you seen this?" In his hand was a copy of a research study called the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. That day changed my clinical practice and ultimately my career.

04:24

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study is something that everybody needs to know about. It was done by Dr. Vince Felitti at Kaiser and Dr. Bob Anda at the CDC, and together, they asked 17,500 adults about their history of exposure to what they called "adverse childhood experiences," or ACEs. Those include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; physical or emotional neglect; parental mental illness, substance dependence, incarceration; parental separation or divorce; or domestic violence. For every yes, you would get a point on your ACE score. And then what they did was they correlated these ACE scores against health outcomes. What they found was striking. Two things: Number one, ACEs are incredibly common. Sixty-seven percent of the population had at least one ACE, and 12.6 percent, one in eight, had four or more ACEs. The second thing that they found was that there was a dose-response relationship between ACEs and health outcomes: the higher your ACE score, the worse your health outcomes. For a person with an ACE score of four or more, their relative risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was two and a half times that of someone with an ACE score of zero. For hepatitis, it was also two and a half times. For depression, it was four and a half times. For suicidality, it was 12 times. A person with an ACE score of seven or more had triple the lifetime risk of lung cancer and three and a half times the risk of ischemic heart disease, the number one killer in the United States of America.

06:30

Well, of course this makes sense. Some people looked at this data and they said, "Come on. You have a rough childhood, you're more likely to drink and smoke and do all these things that are going to ruin your health. This isn't science. This is just bad behavior."

06:50

It turns out this is exactly where the science comes in. We now understand better than we ever have before how exposure to early adversity affects the developing brains and bodies of children. It affects areas like the nucleus accumbens, the pleasure and reward center of the brain that is implicated in substance dependence. It inhibits the prefrontal cortex, which is necessary for impulse control and executive function, a critical area for learning. And on MRI scans, we see measurable differences in the amygdala, the brain's fear response center. So there are real neurologic reasons why folks exposed to high doses of adversity are more likely to engage in high-risk behavior, and that's important to know.

07:44

But it turns out that even if you don't engage in any high-risk behavior, you're still more likely to develop heart disease or cancer. The reason for this has to do with the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, the brain's and body's stress response system that governs our fight-or-flight response. How does it work? Well, imagine you're walking in the forest and you see a bear. Immediately, your hypothalamus sends a signal to your pituitary, which sends a signal to your adrenal gland that says,"Release stress hormones! Adrenaline! Cortisol!" And so your heart starts to pound, Your pupils dilate, your airways open up, and you are ready to either fight that bear or run from the bear. And that is wonderful if you're in a forest and there's a bear. (Laughter) But the problem is what happens when the bear comes home every night, and this system is activated over and over and over again, and it goes from being adaptive, or life-saving, to maladaptive, or health-damaging. Children are especially sensitive to this repeated stress activation, because their brains and bodies are just developing. High doses of adversity not only affect brain structure and function, they affect the developing immune system, developing hormonal systems, and even the way our DNA is read and transcribed.

09:32

So for me, this information threw my old training out the window, because when we understand the mechanism of a disease, when we know not only which pathways are disrupted, but how, then as doctors, it is our job to use this science for prevention and treatment. That's what we do.

09:54

So in San Francisco, we created the Center for Youth Wellness to prevent, screen and heal the impacts of ACEs and toxic stress. We started simply with routine screening of every one of our kids at their regular physical, because I know that if my patient has an ACE score of 4, she's two and a half times as likely to develop hepatitis or COPD, she's four and half times as likely to become depressed, and she's 12 times as likely to attempt to take her own life as my patient with zero ACEs. I know that when she's in my exam room. For our patients who do screen positive, we have a multidisciplinary treatment team that works to reduce the dose of adversity and treat symptoms using best practices, including home visits, care coordination, mental health care, nutrition, holistic interventions, and yes, medication when necessary. But we also educate parents about the impacts of ACEs and toxic stress the same way you would for covering electrical outlets, or lead poisoning, and we tailor the care of our asthmatics and our diabetics in a way that recognizes that they may need more aggressive treatment, given the changes to their hormonal and immune systems.

11:17

So the other thing that happens when you understand this science is that you want to shout it from the rooftops, because this isn't just an issue for kids in Bayview. I figured the minute that everybody else heard about this, it would be routine screening, multi-disciplinary treatment teams, and it would be a race to the most effective clinical treatment protocols. Yeah. That did not happen. And that was a huge learning for me. What I had thought of as simply best clinical practice I now understand to be a movement. In the words of Dr. Robert Block, the former President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Adverse childhood experiences are the single greatest unaddressed public health threatfacing our nation today." And for a lot of people, that's a terrifying prospect. The scope and scale of the problem seems so large that it feels overwhelming to think about how we might approach it. But for me, that's actually where the hopes lies, because when we have the right framework, when we recognize this to be a public health crisis, then we can begin to use the right tool kit to come up with solutions. From tobacco to lead poisoning to HIV/AIDS, the United States actually has quite a strong track record with addressing public health problems, but replicating those successes with ACEs and toxic stress is going to take determination and commitment, and when I look at what our nation's response has been so far, I wonder, why haven't we taken this more seriously?

13:14

You know, at first I thought that we marginalized the issue because it doesn't apply to us. That's an issue for those kids in those neighborhoods. Which is weird, because the data doesn't bear that out.The original ACEs study was done in a population that was 70 percent Caucasian, 70 percent college-educated. But then, the more I talked to folks, I'm beginning to think that maybe I had it completely backwards. If I were to ask how many people in this room grew up with a family member who suffered from mental illness, I bet a few hands would go up. And then if I were to ask how many folks had a parent who maybe drank too much, or who really believed that if you spare the rod, you spoil the child,I bet a few more hands would go up. Even in this room, this is an issue that touches many of us, and I am beginning to believe that we marginalize the issue because it does apply to us. Maybe it's easier to see in other zip codes because we don't want to look at it. We'd rather be sick.

14:33

Fortunately, scientific advances and, frankly, economic realities make that option less viable every day.The science is clear: Early adversity dramatically affects health across a lifetime. Today, we are beginning to understand how to interrupt the progression from early adversity to disease and early death, and 30 years from now, the child who has a high ACE score and whose behavioral symptoms go unrecognized, whose asthma management is not connected, and who goes on to develop high blood pressure and early heart disease or cancer will be just as anomalous as a six-month mortality from HIV/AIDS. People will look at that situation and say, "What the heck happened there?" This is treatable.This is beatable. The single most important thing that we need today is the courage to look this problem in the face and say, this is real and this is all of us. I believe that we are the movement.

15:52

Thank you.

15:54

(Applause)

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