Asthma

                As spring is nearing with the arrival of Easter and blooming trees and plants here in the Arizona desert, allergies and asthma are problematic issues as a result.  Asthma can be very troubling and very scary for children and people of any age. 

                Asthma symptoms most commonly seen are shortness of breath, coughing, tightness in the upper chest, sometimes expectoration of mucus and wheezing.  Often cases are caught very quickly and physician most commonly will prescribe an inhaler of some sort or combination there of.  Usually a rescue inhaler for emergent issues and one that can be prescribed to help on a daily basis for those who suffer chronically. Inhalers will help with dilating the constricted areas of the lungs and decrease some of the inflammation associated with Asthma. 

                However, a more integrative approach and self-empowering approach can be met with discussing with your Naturopathic physician what other forms of prevention and assistance can be utilized to assist with allergies and asthma.  Asthmatic patients have an imbalance in their arachidonic acid metabolism meaning more inflammation is going on in the body.  Fish oils are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that help greatly decrease inflammatory markers and responses in the body.  Diet is key in decreasing inflammation in the body and the gut as the majority of the immune system lies within the gut! 

                Decreasing the amount of red meat you eat, eating lean chicken breast, fish and wild caught seafood, increase your veggie consumption and fruit and buying organic as much as possible but at least the dirty dozen you should be consuming organic with.  Increasing your veggie and fruit like dark leafy greens and dark berries will also be providing you with some good antioxidants and limiting inflammation.  Taking good quality pharmaceutical grade supplements is key your doctor can assist with like Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Vitamin E, selenium, B-complex, magnesium and botanicals noted to be so very important in an asthmatics treatment protocol.