As I chase my toddler around the backyard on these Spring afternoons, I breathe deeply the fresh newness of this season.  I watch as my little guy gets out of breath from running, takes a quick five-second rest and recovers enough to continue playtime.  I take a minute to be thankful for his gift of breath.

We often take for granted our ability to participate in sports and exercise.  The reality for many children is loss of breath and chest constriction followed by tremendous fear as they gulp for air while playing an innocent game of soccer.  The incidence of asthma among our children is rising.

Asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease, characterized by increased mucus production and airway hyper-responsiveness resulting in decreased airflow.  Familiar symptoms of asthma include recurrent episodes of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.  These episodes often occur at night, disrupting sleep which can result in problems with focus and concentration the next day.

Asthma is a multi-factorial disease in that there are many contributors to this respiratory imbalance.  Genetic, environmental, nutritional, infectious, emotional and allergic components all play a role in asthma development and aggravation.  According to the Asthma Society of Canada, 12% of Canadian children have been diagnosed with asthma and on a worldwide scale, the number of asthmatic cases is increasing by 50% every decade!  Although it’s a gloomy statistic, there are many preventive measures we can take to decrease susceptibility to this disease.

Starting with prenatal health, as mothers to be, our maternal instinct to protect our little ones often kicks in immediately and we start making changes to our diet and lifestyle during our pregnancy.  Prenatal care should include prevention strategies to ensure a full 40-week gestation period, free of any pregnancy induced diseases, such as pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes.  We know premature babies have underdeveloped organs and in particular have a higher chance of developing asthma.  Avoiding situations of environmental toxic exposure, such as cigarette smoke and toxic household cleaners, help ensure proper development of the fetus organs.  Some research has shown that an omega 3 fatty acid supplement, in particular DHA, taken by pregnant women provides some protection against the development of asthma in their offspring.

Upon arrival of our precious babies, breastfeeding is the best preventative treatment from the development of asthma.  Studies have shown that children who were not exclusively breastfeed for the first four months of life were 27% more likely to have doctor-diagnosed asthma by age six.  It has also been found that there is further protection against asthma in children who have been breastfed for 6 months or longer than with infants who are breastfed for less then 3 months.  Breast milk can also reverse some of the negative effects of prenatal cigarette smoke exposure and pet dander exposure.

Food introduction is the next step in the asthma prevention protocol.  I often advise a new mom to hold off introducing foods until her infant is at least 6 months old.  This gives the baby’s gastrointestinal tract time to mature and for the gut flora to establish so it is able to receive food optimally.  When the digestive system is underdeveloped, larger food proteins and waste can be absorbed, rather than be excreted through the bowel and this can result in wheezing, difficulty breathing, increased mucus production, gas, constipation or diarrhea and skin irritations – all signs of a food allergy.

There are some foods that are more easily tolerated by our little baby’s digestive tract.  Starting with foods like prunes, apples, carrots, bananas, sweet potatoes, green peas and squash ensure easy digestibility and lower risk of food allergy development.  There has been evidence suggesting early introduction of dairy products (cow’s milk) can increase the risk of developing asthma.  Plain organic yogurt is often well tolerated after 9 months, but I suggest waiting to introduce cheese and cow’s milk until around 18 months of age.

For those who have been diagnosed with asthma, there are many naturopathic treatments available to decrease the severity of the symptoms and to help restore the health of respiratory tissue.

Following an anti-inflammatory diet can often help with symptoms of asthma.  Saturated and trans fats from the diet can actually increase the inflammation that is happening in the airways of an asthmatic child.  Polyunsaturated fats (including omega 3 fats) found in fish and plant oils, have the ability to block inflammatory pathways, thus settling the storm in the lung tissue.  Foods high in antioxidants like quercetin and bioflavonoids, such as raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and blueberries, can stabilize the mast cells in the respiratory tract that often release chemicals that cause asthmatic attacks.

Because of the obvious food allergy and asthma connection, I always rule out any dietary offenders in children.  By removing any food intolerances and including some gut healing remedies, we are working at resolving a root problem and therefore symptoms of asthma often lessen as well.

There are a number of nutritional supplements that can be helpful in the treatment of asthma.  One study showed supplementing children with Vitamin B6 resulted in fewer broncho-constrictive attacks, less wheezing, cough and chest tightness, and less use of bronchodilators and steroid medications.  Vitamin C and Vitamin B12 have been found to be deficient in many asthmatic children and re-establishing levels can be beneficial for reducing symptoms.  Magnesium is a natural relaxant for smooth muscles and can be helpful in reducing respiratory constriction episodes.

Botanical medicine can help resolve asthma symptoms and herbs such as Tylophora asthmatica and Boswellia serrata are often chosen for their anti-inflammatory actions in the lung tissue.

The number one reason for hospitalization in children is asthma.  Prevention is definitely the best medicine, but our health and that of our children is best achieved by accepting responsibility for it…one breath at a time!

© Dr. Amy Wells, Naturopathic Family Physician  250.871.2600