Chronic Respiratory Illnesses

- Chronic bouts with pneumonia and bronchitis are often a signal that there is some underlying problem – and that problem often turns out to be asthma.

If you or your child shows the above signs and symptoms of asthma, it’s important to have them evaluated by a doctor. If they DO have asthma, a few simple changes in your life and daily medication can make a world of difference in your lives.

Natural Preventative Asthma Treatments

Nutritional supplements as a treatment for asthma? As the medical community has come to understand what triggers an acute asthma attack, more and more doctors are saying that natural preventative asthma treatments can be one part of managing asthma in their patients.

Nutrition and supplements are completely useless in a rescue situation, caution nutritionists. If you are having an asthma attack, or if your doctor has prescribed daily medication, nutritional supplements aren’t a substitute. There are some natural preventative asthma treatments that you can try, though, say doctors, that may help your body deal with irritants and allergens more efficiently and ultimately reduce your dependence on medication.

Research shows that people who have asthma usually have mild deficiencies of several nutrients. By making sure that you get plenty of these nutrients and vitamins in your diet or through supplements, you may be bolstering your immune system or helping your body deal with asthma by providing it with nutrients that it needs.

Vitamin C may help reduce the severity of allergic reactions. 500 to 1000 mgs per day is the usual recommended dose to help control asthma symptoms.

Vitamin B6 is a surprise natural preventative asthma treatment. Scientists were studying the effects of vitamin B6 on sickle cell anemia, which often occurs in the same risk groups as asthma. Coincidentally, while evaluating the effect of B6 on anemia, researchers noticed that many of those who also had asthma reported fewer asthma attacks and milder symptoms. Follow-up research confirmed the original finding. Doctors generally recommend 50 mg of vitamin B6 twice a day as a natural asthma preventative treatment in conjunction with regular medication.

Quercetin is found in apples, onions and back tea. Quercetin is on the list of natural preventative asthma treatments because it helps prevent the release of histamines (which cause inflammation of the airways in asthma) and reduce inflammation in the airways. It’s especially helpful in cases where asthma is triggered by pollen.

Magnesium is a trace mineral that is often in low supply in asthma patients. Magnesium is one of the keys in regulating muscle contraction in the body. By helping to regulate contraction of the bronchial muscles, magnesium may help encourage the bronchial muscles to relax. On a side note, some studies have shown that intravenous injection of magnesium can stop some severe asthma attacks. By taking magnesium supplements – or eating high magnesium foods – to build up your body’s supplies of magnesium, you may be helping your body to resist the mechanisms that trigger asthma attacks.

Again, it’s important to remember that natural preventative asthma treatments are not a substitute for medical care or for your prescribed medication. Making sure that your body has all the nutrients it needs to do its job right never hurts, though. And by providing your body with all the right ingredients, you’re helping to manage your asthma and reduce your dependence on other medications.