Asthma and Other Lung Issues

Exercise-induced asthma is a condition where the patient suffers from asthma symptoms—breathlessness, cough and wheezing—with exercise. Japanese researchers have found that vitamin C relieves exercise-induced asthma. The study was a small one. It was presented at the World Congress of Asthma; Buenos Aires, Brazilon October 19, 1999, involved children who did not regularly take any […]

Nearly 20 million people in the United States suffer from asthma, 70% of whom also have allergies. Between 1980 and 1994 the prevalence of asthma increased 75%. Between 1982 and 1992 the death rate from asthma increased by 35%. Asthma is characterized by narrowing of the airways. The airways of the asthmatic individual become irritated

The type of fats and oils consumed in the diet may have an influence on asthma symptoms. Fatty acids are the precursors to prostaglandins and other chemicals that are involved with inflammation. Some fatty acids produce substances that increase inflammation and others produce anti-inflammatory substances. Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fish oil, act

Oxidation and free-radical damage are words to describe damage being done to cells by certain chemical constituents. A free radical is an electron that is easily given up by a molecule. It is “fired”, like a kind of chemical “bullet”. The words used to describe this action include oxidation, oxidative stress and free-radical damage. Certain

Researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School found that, in mice, antibiotics may be responsible for changing the makeup of the bowel flora. A change in bowel flora could affect the way the immune system responds to common allergens in the lungs. According to one of the researchers, antibiotics eliminate bacteria in the GI

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal (July 8, 2000;321:88-92) the incidence of asthma is up by 250% in the last two decades. Prescriptions for steroid medications for asthmatics has increased by 600% in the last 20 years. Hay fever is also on the rise. Among non-smokers, the rate of hay fever

ADD is attention deficit disorder. It is characterized by a poor or short attention span and impulsiveness inappropriate for the childn’s age, with or without hyperactivity. (With hyperactivity, it is called ADHD.) Hyperactivity is a level of activity and excitement in a child so high that it concerns the parents or caregivers. The diagnosis of

COPD is an acronym for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it includes emphysema and bronchitis. Research appearing in the May, 2005 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine contains research that connects acetaminophen use with asthma and COPD. “Oxidative stress may increase the risk of asthma, contribute to asthma progression, and decrease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is also known as COPD. COPD is actually two related diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In both diseases, there is chronic obstruction of the flow of air through the airways and out of the lungs. The obstruction is permanent and gets progressively worse over time. While COPD is actually two diseases,

The lungs are two sacks of a soft, spongy like material. The trachea is a rigid tube that connects the mouth with the bronchia. The bronchia are two tubes that come off of the trachea and go into each lung. The bronchia further split into several bronchioles, and the tubes split further and further, and