asthma-related stories

Dear Reggie,
My 13-year-old son (Brandon) has sports-induced asthma. He's crazy for sports, especially ice hockey and soccer. I get nervous every time he plays a game. If it's too cold in the arena I think he's going to have an asthma attack. If it's too hot or humid outside, I urge him to skip his soccer game that day. I am made to feel that I am always nagging him about bringing his puffers to the team bench. Am I being an over-protective mother? Is it safe for him to play sports? Please help.
Mrs. Michaels

Dear Mrs. Michaels,
I understand your concerns, as my 15-year-old daughter has had sports-induced asthma since she was six years old. Believe me when I say it gets a lot easier the older they get. She enjoys snowboarding and plays soccer at a pretty high level and has survived the extreme cold, as well as hot and humid conditions over the years.

Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA) Defined

Exercise-induced asthma occurs when the main air passages of the lungs, the bronchial tubes, become inflamed. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and cells in the lungs produce extra mucus. This can cause signs and symptoms that range from minor wheezing to severe trouble breathing.

It may not be a good idea to take infants and young toddlers swimming. At least not for too long.

The European Respiratory Journal reports this month that infants who swim may have a greater risk of asthma and other respiratory problems later in life.

Researchers in Belgium found chlorinated pools -- combined with sweat, saliva and urine from other swimmers -- can be a dangerous formula for children under 2. In addition to asthma, the study reveals, children are at increased risk of developing hay fever, allergies and bronchiolitis by the time they reach kindergarten.

Family history plays a major role in the risk factor, and indoor pools were found to pose a greater threat than ones outdoors.

Source

Is eating dirt good for you? Perhaps so. I've heard that in the course of a lifetime we consume and inordinate amount of dirt, and other things too, but is that something that perhaps we're supposed to be doing? Mud pies aside, it may be instinctive for small children to eat dirt, and good for them too. It's a trait humans have exhibited as long as they've been around. Little kids naturally tend to put things in their mouths. We've been told they do this in order to learn more about the world. That may be true, but what about using their senses other than taste for that? One would think that sight, touch and sound -- heck, even smell -- might give a child more of a clue about something than putting it in her mouth.

What scientists are concerned with, though, is what goes into the mouth along with the dirt. So called the "hygiene hypothesis," researchers look at the bacteria, viruses and worms introduced into the system along with the dirt which may promote a healthy immune system. Further research indicates that worms in particular might "redirect" an errant immune system resulting in autoimmune disorders, allergies and asthma. According to Dr. Mary Ruebush, a microbiology and immunology instructor, eating dirt allows a child's immune system to practice its craft and also allow it to learn to ignore what should be ignored. Dr. David Elliott who practices gastroenterology and immunology at the University of Iowa furthers that notion by stating that worms are "likely to be the biggest player" in directing immune system response. In a study of mice with colleague Dr. Weinstock of Tufts Medical Center, used worms to both prevent and even reverse autoimmune disease,

It was noted in developing countries that a lot of the good organisms have been removed along with the bad ones. Children being raised in ultra-clean environments are not getting exposed to the good dirt and organisms. No one is suggesting throwing out the bathwater, but that using antibacterial products should be done in moderation and that cleanliness isn't necessarily next to godliness. According to Dr. Ruebush, author of "Why Dirt is Good," hands should be cleaned after changing diapers, when handling food, whenever they are visibly soiled and, of course, after using the bathroom. Dr.Weinstock also suggested giving kids two dogs and a cat to expose them to intestinal worms. Not sure that it would really take two dogs to have the intended effect, but I think you get the idea.

Source

What's the best time of year for a baby to be born? Having grown up the son of an accountant, I would naturally say as close to December 31st as possible, without going past. That way, you get a full year's tax deduction for only a day or so of parenthood. My wife, on the other hand, would say the spring -- April or May -- so that they are closer to being the oldest in their class than the youngest; it positions them better developmentally or something. You might have your own thoughts on the matter and the reasons for them, but I think everyone can cross the Fall off their list.

It turns out that kids born in the fall, four months before the peak cold and flu season, have a higher risk of developing asthma -- thirty percent higher. That kids born in the fall have higher rates of asthma is not something newly discovered -- what is new is the link between the date of birth and the cold and flu season that has just been identified.

Dr. Tina Hartert, director of the center for Asthma Research at Vanderbilt University and her team studied 95,000 infants in Tennessee and found that babies were at increased risk of asthma if they had bronchiolitis, an infection caused by RSV, and that babies born in Autumn where even more at risk. "What we were able to show was the timing of birth and the risk of developing asthma moves in time almost to the day with the peak of these viral infections each winter," said Dr. Hartert.

The next step is to determine whether or not preventing RSV and bronchiolitis affects the likelihood of developing asthma. "That is where we are now. We need to prove that preventing this infection prevents this lifelong chronic disease," explained Dr. Hartert. The best way to do that would be with a vaccine, but as yet, there is none. So, in the meantime, I guess the best option is to avoid giving birth in the fall.

Source

A spike in the number of children taking medication for chronic health problems such as diabetes and asthma has doctors wondering if the number of kids with these diseases is actually on the rise, or if treatment of the conditions has changed in the last four years.

A study in the journal Pediatrics shows that there has been a sharp increase in the number of kids who are getting medicines for obesity-related conditions, as well as smaller increases in the number of kids being treated for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The number of kids taking meds for asthma alone has increased 47 percent.

The fact that kids are being treated for conditions that might have gone unmedicated in the past worries doctors less than the fact that the medicines themselves may not be appropriate for young people. Often, these drugs have been used and tested on adults -- not children. This practice can lead to medical mishaps; for example, children can't metabolize aspirin the same way a grown-up does, and it can lead to dangerous liver and brain disease in the wee ones.

I'm not at all surprised that more kids are taking more drugs. Our lifestyles have changed so much even since I was a kid. My parents kicked us out of the house with the admonition to "get the stink off" of us. Nowadays, kids are much more sedentary. And as for the asthma -- well, the atmosphere ain't what it used to be.

Do you think kids should be on so many adult medications? Are there children in your household who are medicated?

Source

One would think the obvious answer to that question is yes. One would surmise that exercise would help anyone stop smoking, right? After all, you're striving to do something healthy, sort of the opposite of smoking, by getting out there and running or doing yoga or whatever it is, not to mention that raising your heart rate and panting and whatnot is a little easier when you have full use of your lungs. Only problem is, smoking is touted as nearly impossible to quit--it's just that addictive.

We've been told for years and years now how bad it is for pregnant women to smoke. Children of pregnant women run the risk of a number of problems including low birth weight, asthma and increased risk of infant mortality. According to researchers, seventeen percent of British women and twenty percent of American women profess to smoke during pregnancy. Exercise is seen as a great way to assist in the cessation of the notoriously hard to kick habit and is considered a much safer option than nicotine patches, which are seen as possibly harmful to the unborn child.

In a study recently conducted in Britain, women were asked to exercise and given weekly smoking cessation counseling. Twenty-five percent of the 32 women tested were able to give up smoking before they gave birth. It has been suggested that the physical activity alleviated cravings. A new study by the same researchers will focus on a group of 850 women in an effort to uncover more data.

Source

Croup is scary. If you've ever woken up to the sound of your child barking like a seal, then you know what I mean. Though in most cases, croup can be handled at home with some warm steam or cool night air, it can occasionally be serious enough to warrant a trip to the ER.

Croup is almost always caused by a virus. But a recent small study found that recurrent cases of croup, or those that happen repeatedly in a short period of time, might actually be triggered by acid reflux. When doctors treated children with recurrent croup who also had symptoms of acid reflux, many showed improvement in the number of times they came down with croup and the severity of it.

Though researchers believe that this acid reflux/croup link only applies to a small number of children, there is growing evidence out there linking acid reflux with other respiratory disorders, such as asthma. If your child has symptoms of acid reflux, it might be worth mentioning to your doctor.

Source

Asthma is the result of an overactive immune system. When a benign substance, such as pollen, is inhaled by an asthmatic, their body reacts defensively, which creates inflammation and wheezing. Researchers have long thought that this over-response is in part due to the fact that we are not exposed to as many germs in modern society as we were in the past. They call this the hygeine-hypothesis.

It's not a perfect theory, but a new study is giving it more weight. Infants who go to daycare between the ages of six and twelve months were 35% less likely to develop asthma by kindergarten. Researchers speculate that being exposed to more germs as babies gives the immune system more work to do, so that it doesn't "get bored" and turn on harmless invaders like allergens.

The hygiene-hypothesis is just one theory about asthma. There's also pollution, smoking, poor diet, obesity -- the list goes on and on. But if your family has a history of allergies and asthma and you've got your baby in daycare, this study shows that the extra exposure to other children might be doing your baby's body good.

Source

According to new research, they just might. A recent study suggests that pregnant mothers who eat nuts may impact their child's health later on. Women who consume nuts or "nut-products" like the beloved peanutbutter may increase the risk of asthma in their children by as much as 50%.

Before we go any further, I would like to point out for the record that peanuts are NOT nuts, they're legumes. It's true. Anyway, the Dutch researchers in charge of the study are leary of advising pregnant women to forego peanuts as they provide protein and nutrients. Although seafood also causes similar allergic reactions in children, the researchers were only able to make a connection to peanuts.

Four thousand women were surveyed for what they ate while pregnant along with their children's eating habits over eight years. The research indicated that women who ate nut products daily were more likely to have children with asthma. The link persisted despite factoring for the children's diet. Although there is no conclusive evidence at this time, the researchers think the toxin from the peanuts could pass through the placenta and sensitize the unborn baby. Needless to say, more studies are needed before anyone throws out her peanut butter jar!

Photo by Dr Stephen Dann.

Source

Depending on who you talk to, Summer officially started yesterday evening. In short order, the street fairs and other summer festivals are set to make their debuts, if they haven't already. Amidst all the fun, thrills and excitement, the lights and sounds--and smells--of the fairs, there's another main reason people of all ages travel to such things: The food. It's deep-fried, a lot of it, it's greasy, and it sure is tasty. It also presents some precariousness for a parent of a child with a serious food allergy. After all, who knows what exactly is in that stuff? Most of the time, we'd rather enjoy it and not know.

Dr. Amal H. Assa'ad, a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology warns parents to inspect every molecule of food their children may come in contact with, and recommends children with severe allergies such as peanuts and tree nuts carry an Epi-pen with then at all times. I would add to that, from personal experience (I have one of these life-threatening allergies) that you SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR YOUR MEDICAL EMERGENCY ID BRACELET. As my CPR instructor noted, if my throat is closed up and I can't speak, and I'm not wearing my bracelet, no one is going to know I have a nut allergy and to give me the Epi-pen shot.

I hate to say this too, but parents should consider packing and bringing snacks they know are safe to any event, whether it be a potluck or a street fair. Sure, the food is tempting, but most of the people selling it didn't make it, don't know what's in it--oils, for example, are known to be terrible allergens but most servers don't know if what they're serving was made with peanut oil or soy oil--and don't understand how severe the consequences can be when the provide misinformation. Bringing your own food is sure to be healthier, too. Dr. Assa'ad also recommends that parents who suspect a child may have any sort of allergy get it checked out immediately. Honestly, as a kid, I never did. I just had the reaction and we thought, ok, we'll avoid that FOREVER. It's not a great way to navigate through the endless purveyors of things that smell delicious, but could be deadly.

Source

When kids are little, the responsibility for making sure they take necessary medications falls to the parents. You may have to hold them down and force them at times, but that is totally doable. But when they get older, necessity dictates that kids with chronic illnesses begin to take more responsibility for their own health. Short of following them around with a bottle of pills/syringe/inhaler, parents are often powerless to ensure their kids are doing what they need to do in order to stay healthy.

Reasoning that chronically ill kids who don't take their meds are doing so out of forgetfulness, Dr. Maria Britto hit on what may be a very effective way of reminding them: text messages. What better way to grab the attention of a teen these days than via their ever-present cell phone? "You have to get in their face a little," says Britta, an asthma specialist at Cincinnati Children's.

Her idea has evolved into a study to see if daily text message reminders will improve the health of teens who suffer from asthma. Pilot testing has begun and a full study will get underway later in the year. Study participant Kabrina Moton confesses that in the past, she has gone a whole month without taking her asthma medication. Now, she gets a happy little reminder each evening and she says she hasn't missed a dose. "It always says, 'Have a nice day,'" she says. "It makes me feel good about it."

If Dr. Britto's idea proves successful for asthma patients, it stands to reason that it would work for other diseases as well. "We have the science," Britto says. "We just can't figure out how to get the right drugs into the right kids' bodies." Maybe now they have.

Source

When it comes to avoiding allergies, my kids weren't dealt a good genetic hand. I have asthma, and my husband has fairly severe seasonal and year-round allergies. Needless to say, we're hyper alert when watching for signs that they're developing allergies. So far so good.

According to MSNBC, maybe we should thank our dog. A recent study of 9,000 children found that having a dog in the home during infancy reduces the risk of developing allergies, asthma, and eczema. Though no one is exactly sure why, experts theorize that when kids are exposed early on to germs that the dog carries in the house on their fur and paws, their immune systems become less sensitive to things like pollen and other inhaled allergens.

Though previous studies have also found that having pets in the home can have a protective benefit, this study is considered more reliable because of the way it was structured.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to give my dog a milk bone for all of her "hard work."

Source

Because I have asthma and my husband has allergies, we know our kids have a higher risk of developing either condition. Though neither has developed any chronic symptoms, I'm always on the lookout for articles about preventing asthma in the first place.

A recent study found that mice fed sugar water were much more likely to have airway inflammation than mice who were fed plain water. Researchers theorize that the excess sugar fired up the immune system and created inflammation, so when allergens were present, the body reacted. This suggests that kids with poor eating habits and who consume too much sugar may be at a higher risk for asthma.

This is not happy news for my younger daughter, who has inherited my raging sweet tooth. She already thinks it's terrible she can't have candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

After reading this study, I'm wondering if cutting down on my own sugar consumption might help me control my symptoms as well. It'll certainly help me control my waistline, and that is no small feat!

Source

When I walk in the doors at Ellie's school, I am immediately assaulted by that peculiar elementary school smell. It's a mixture of feet, farts and food. As bad as that combination is, it can't be as bad as what an upper grade school building smells like. You get all those odors, plus a heavy dose of perfume and cologne.

And while a splash of smell-good might work when trying to appeal to the opposite sex, it makes some people downright sick. For those who are sensitive to the smells of cologne - including asthma sufferers - being in a building surrounded by all those pungent aromas can lead to headaches, nausea and even wheezing.

With one in eight Minneapolis students suffering from asthma, the problem has become enough of an issue that Representative Karen Clark has proposed a way to provide those kids with some relief. She's introduced legislation that would result in fragrance-awareness campaigns in Minneapolis and other Minnesota school districts. The campaign might involve letters to parents, fact sheets, signs posted in schools and email and Web site communications.

You might think it would be the girls overloading on perfume causing most of the problem. But according to Mikolia Altenberg, a senior at Minneapolis South High School, it's the boys. "You can smell it from 10 feet away," she says. "Mostly it's just guys who just think that putting Axe all over them is a substitute for showering."

Source