Introduction
You've heard that asthma is a common lung disease, but do you really know what it is? Do you know the types of asthma? The symptoms? The dietary management?
In this article, we will be discussing everything you need to know about asthma. We will uncover the causes, types, symptoms and dietary management of asthma. So, if you are looking for some more information on asthma, read on!
What Is Asthma?
Is a chronic respiratory disease that inflames and narrows the airways. This makes it difficult to breathe.
There are many different causes of asthma, including genetic factors, environmental triggers, and lifestyle choices. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe, and they can occur unpredictably.
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for asthma. The best approach is to work with your doctor to uncover the underlying causes of your asthma and develop a personalized treatment plan. This might include medication, lifestyle changes, and dietary adjustments.
What Are the Causes of Asthma?
There are many potential causes of asthma, which is why it can be a little tricky to diagnose. The following are some of the most common ones:
- Environmental factors, such as smoke, pollen, pet hair or dander, and air pollution
- Birthing complications
- A family history of asthma
- Being overweight or obese
- Exposure to chemical irritants, such as fumes from paints and solvents
Types of Asthma
There are several types of asthma, categorized by their triggers. The most common types are:
1) Occupational asthma, which is caused by exposure to specific substances in the workplace, such as flour, wood dust, metal fumes or chemicals.
2) IgE-mediated asthma, which is an allergic reaction that happens when the immune system overreacts to a particular substance, such as pet dander, pollen or dust mites.
3) Non-IgE-mediated asthma, which is also an allergic reaction, but it doesn't involve the immune system. This type can be caused by indoor allergens like cockroaches or outdoor allergens like mold spores.
4) Exercise-induced asthma, which is triggered by physical activity
5) Asthma caused by respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia
6) Late-onset asthma, which develops in people over the age of 40
Symptoms of Asthma
The most common symptom of asthma is shortness of breath. This can range from a feeling of being out of breath after mild activity to having difficulty catching your breath, even when you're resting.
Other symptoms include:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe)
- Trouble sleeping due to coughing or wheezing
- Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise
- A rapid heartbeat
- Anxiety or panic attacks
Dietary Management for Asthma Patients
There are certain foods that can trigger asthma attacks, so it's important to be aware of what they are and to avoid them if possible. Some of the most common trigger foods include:
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, and everyone's triggers are different. If you have asthma, it's a good idea to keep a food diary and note any times when you have an attack after eating certain foods. That way, you can start to identify your own personal triggers and avoid them as much as possible.
FAQs on Asthma
Q: Can asthma go away?
A: In some cases, asthma goes away on its own. However, even if your symptoms seem to disappear, it’s important to continue taking your medication as prescribed and to see your doctor for regular checkups. It’s also important to be aware that symptoms can come back at any time, even if you haven’t had them for years.
Q: How can I prevent asthma attacks?
A: There are a few things you can do to help prevent asthma attacks, including:
- Taking your medication as prescribed and keeping track of how well your asthma is controlled
- Avoiding triggers that can cause an attack, such as smoke, pollen, dust, pet dander and cold air
- Exercising regularly to help keep your lungs healthy
- Keeping a written record of your asthma symptoms and medications
- Dietary management
Q: What should I do if I have an asthma attack?
A: If you have asthma, it’s important to know what to do in case of an attack. The first step is to try to remove the trigger, if possible. For example, if you’re having an attack triggered by exercise, stop exercising and rest. If you can’t remove the trigger, the next step is to take your rescue inhaler as prescribed. If you’re still having difficulty breathing, call emergency or go to the nearest emergency room.
Foods allowed and disallowed in asthmatic condition.
- Foods allowed includes: Tomatoes and its juice: Tomatoes contains lycopene ,an antioxidants that helps reduce inflammation ceased by an allergic reaction. Researchers in 2016 study founds that tomatoes juice not only decrease oxidative stress but also plays important roles for allowing easier breathing by relaxing the airways.
- Apples: According to Amanda Nicole RDN registered Dietician says in a 2021 study published in food science and Nutrition found that apples juice concentrate induced antiinflammatory environment in the lungs leading to lowering tissues damage. Apple suppress the activities of free radicals by neutralizing them..
- Bananas: Bananas are high in dietary fiber ,one banana gives around 4 grams of soluble fiber. A study in 2017 published by Nutrients found that dietary soluble fiber has anti inflammatory effects in asthmatic airways.
- Avocados, lentils and oats are also very good sources.
- Leafy vegetables: such as spinach, baobab leaves, kale,pumpkin leaves,water leaves are very high in folate, calcium, fiber and vitamin E, according to Annals of the American Thoracic Society published in a 2015 study, researchers found that children with deficiency of folate, vitamin D and calcium saw an increase risk of developing asthma. Green leaves vegetables are high in vitamin E,tocopherol fight off the oxidative stress in the lungs and airways which may decrease the symptoms of asthma such as coughing and wheezing. According to Mayo clinics the beta carotene which is a precursor to vitamin A present in green leaves vegetables can decrease inflammation and swelling in the lungs.
- Increase the intake of unsaturated fats from fish such salmon and sardines they are very rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, but avoid some types of fish like shellfish and catfish.
What To Avoid:
- Avoid common allergens such shellfish, dairy products, wheat,artificial ingredients, such as monosodium glutamate, food colouring, chemical preservatives such sulfites, flavours all are chemically processed and synthetically made they can cause inflammation of the lungs and destroy the airways.
- Avoid foods and drinks that contains salicylates ,they naturally found in foods such as coffee,tea and some herbs,a study that was published by Clinical and Translational Allergy suggest that people that are asthmatic are very sensitive to the natural compound saicylates .The compound can flare-up the multiple symptoms of asthma such as coughing and wheezing.
- Avoid foods that cause gas .Foods that are fried, carbonated drinks, garlic, onions should be restricted for managing asthma according to American Lungs Association, the foods can cause gas and bloating and can makes it difficult to breath by causing more pressure in the diaphragm resulting to chest tightness and pain.
- Avoid saturated fats.They sleeps at room temperature and can cause blockage of the airways leading to difficult in breathing.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking of tobacco. They accumulates in the lungs and can cause blockage and inflammation of tissues in the lungs.