Are Your Asthma and Allergies Caused by A Low Immune System?


Many people who suffer from asthma and allergies don't realize it, but a low immune system is very likely at the root of their problems. Medical experts agree that a lowered or improperly functioning immune system can and does result in several diseases such as asthma, allergies, arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer to name just a few. There are ways to strengthen your immune system, which will help to significantly decrease your allergy and asthma symptoms.

The body's immune systems first line of defense against disease are barriers that prevent antigens, which are large protein molecules of bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other substances that appear harmful from entering your body. The barriers include your skin, mucus, cough reflex, stomach acid and even enzymes in your tears, which destroy toxins. If the antigen or toxin manages to get past these barriers, then the immune system launches a second line of defense, found in your blood. They are white blood cells, which perform a protective function by seeking out and destroying foreign protein antigens. 

If you suffer from a low immune system it is important to avoid things that suppress or act to destroy it, such as a high cholesterol diet, heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), fat, alcohol, fried foods, food additives, obesity, industrial pollutants, pesticides, herbicides, stress, prescription drugs, too much sunlight, tobacco, and radiation. Even too much sunlight will lower your immune system. Studies show that 15 minutes a day without sunscreen is benifical, after that it's best to slather on the sunblock if you are out longer.

Unfortunately, there is no "magic bullet" that you can take to quickly repair your immune system, but there are several ways to help build and support it by providing your body with proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest, relaxation and maintaining a positive mental attitude.

Taking the following dietary steps will help protect and build your immune system:

1. Limit saturated and trans fats, food additives and alcohol (however olive oil is very healthy)
2. Take a good quality balanced multi-vitamin/mineral supplement daily
3. Ensure your diet includes adequate protein like fish and lean meats
4. Take 1000 mg of Vitamin C daily.
5. Eat 5 to 7 servings of vegetables and fruits daily.
6. Eat 3 to 4 servings of legumes weekly.
7. Eat 3 to 4 servings of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods weekly

The length of time required to re-build a low immune system of course will vary depending on your individual situation and environmental exposure to immune system suppressants. This is not an overnight process, for some people it can take three months to two years. Obviously, the higher your exposure has been to immuno-suppressants, the longer it will take to build your immune system. Children tend to heal much more quickly than adults or the elderly. People with 
allergies and asthma will find that their asthma and allergy symptoms become less frequent and less severe when their immune systems are stronger. It's important to avoid using allergy and asthma drugs, which have toxic side effects that act to lower the immune system.


How Water Can Prevent Asthma?

It's good for you, inexpensive and simple, but an often overlooked asthma remedy- drinking enough pure water daily can actually help prevent and reduce your asthma symptoms.

Dehydration produces a large amount of histamine, which creates back pain, inflamed joints, allergies and asthma. The lungs need water almost more than any other part of the body, when the body lacks sufficient water the lungs feel tight and sensitive. 

When your lungs are dehydrated, the free passage of air is obstructed so that water does not leave the body in the form of vapor. If you simply increase your water intake this will help to actually prevent asthma attacks. If you or your loved one have ever experienced them you know just how frightening and horrible they can be. You will be delighted to find your symptoms decrease just from drinking 8 to 10 eight ounce glasses of pure water daily. However, doctors warn that being overly enthusiastic and drinking water in excess of this amount is not helpful. Keep in mind that Mom was right, it's wise to do all things in moderation. If you are like me and many others, we get too busy and forget or avoid drinking so we can limit restroom visits. But your health is much more important and it's a small price to pay. If your urine is not a very pale yellow, or even clear, you are not getting enough water (taking B-complex vitamins will result in bright yellow urine). 

It's not necessary or advisable to spend a fortune on expensive bottled water. Tap water that is filtered with a system like Brita is good and costs are low, or you can use distilled or spring water if you prefer. Use a glass or stainless steel bottle, or non toxic plastic. Shaking the water briskly will also help oxygenate it.

Experts say that taking sea salt to break the mucus plugs in the lungs, which obstruct the free flow of air in and out of the air sacs is also very beneficial. Keeping your acid and alkaline levels in balance is also particularly important for you if you have asthma and allergies or any disease. Simply adding a slice of lemon to your water is excellent because it actually has an alkalizing effect when inside the body.

How to Discover Your Hidden Asthma Triggers  - Taking Control By Tracking Your Asthma


Asthma is a serious lung disease effecting over 20 million people in the US alone. An asthma attack is caused by a trigger, which can be any external stimulant such as perfume, food, air pollution, cold air, animals, dust, etc., which our bodies react to. Knowing what your personal triggers are and avoiding them will help greatly to prevent asthma attacks. However, what triggers an asthma attack in some people may not even bother another asthma sufferer at all.

To make things more confusing, sometimes a trigger will cause a mild reaction one day and then a severe one the next day. This could be the result of being exposed to multiple triggers, for example one of your known triggers could be pollen, but when combined with a few new unknown triggers - fabric softener, detergent, perfume or a food additive can hit very hard and trigger a major attack. On days when you are feeling tired and haven't had enough sleep or are under stress, you may also find that things which never seemed to bother you previously now suddenly do. 

As you see tracing them can be rather complex and requires a bit of detective work to track down and eliminate or minimize these triggers at home or at work. Keeping track of your asthma attacks by writing a journal for a few days is a good way to start. First it's a good idea to note how you were feeling the day you had an attack, if you were tired or didn't sleep well, had a fight with your friend.

What did you eat? Make this detailed and include food ingredients, additives and coloring since they can be a trigger for many people. Where did you go that day? Were there weeds or flowers blooming nearby, animals, damp moldy smells around you? Did you start using a new 
detergent, fabric softener or household cleaner? Make a note of any exercise you do and your body's reaction to it. On one particular day did the exercise have negative results? Why? What was the weather like? What was the room where you exercised like? If the room is where you regularly go to exercise, was there anything different about it on that day? 

After only a few days of writing in your journal you will soon see a pattern emerging. You will have uncovered your asthma triggers and now you can take control and prevent an asthma attack by avoiding, reducing or eliminating them.

What You Can Do About Exercise Induced Asthma?


Exercise induced asthma is quite common and the general consensus is 
to avoid those activities that trigger it, but avoiding all exercise is not necessary or a good alternative, since the right kind of exercises actually helps strengthen the lungs and helps to prevent or diminish asthma attacks.

Playing sports you love and getting regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, however for some asthma sufferers exercise can actually trigger an asthma attack by drying out the airways. Fortunately, there is a solution.

There are several things that you can do ensure active life and still enjoy sports: 

Moist, warm air prevents the airways from becoming dry, so using a good humidifier in the home or gym will help those who live in a dry climate.

Next, if you are out of shape, you will need to increase your fitness level gradually by activities such as yoga, walking, cycling and swimming. Those allergic to chlorine should find a warm lake or sea to swim in. Continuous running can trigger asthma, so team sports that require short bursts of running are far better. 

Avoiding temperature changes is also important: cold air entering the lungs at a rapid rate will dry out the airways and cause an asthma attack. Working out in gym is a good alternative to exercising outdoors in cold weather. One very important thing to be aware of is to make sure to avoid becoming dehydrated, which will trigger an attack. (see  "How Water Can Help Prevent Asthma Attacks")

When you have strengthened your lungs through exercise, you are much more likely to reduce the threat of an asthma attack.

Does Alcohol increase the risk of Asthma?

Your favorite drink could be making you sick...recent studies in Australia show over one third of asthma suffers who drank found that it triggered an asthma attack on two or more occasions and almost half also experienced hay fever, itching and coughing.

Drinking wine seemed to trigger the highest number or one third of asthma attacks and allergic reactions, while beer was found to cause 10 percent; lastly hard alcohol or liquor triggered 5 percent. Experts warn that Asian asthmatics tend to be very sensitive to alcohol.

For many asthma and allergy suffers who are sensitive to wine there are two possible causes. The link of candida or yeast infection to asthma and allergies is clear and since wine is fermented and naturally contains yeast, this would trigger asthma attack or allergy symptoms. Most wines also contain traces of pesticides or toxins used in growing the grapes that can trigger an attack. If you are not sensitive to yeast then, drinking organic wines is a good alternative.

Beer also contains yeast and preservatives, which can trigger an allergic response and or an asthma attack. Once again, if yeast is not a problem then finding a micro brewery that uses few or no preservatives is a good alternative for those who can't bear to part with their cold one.

However, if you drink regularly and have never experienced any problems then you probably don't need to worry. Drinking alcohol has been shown to decrease magnesium levels in the body, which in turn can trigger an asthma attack. Limiting your alcohol intake and practicing moderation is a good idea. Experts advise that it's wise to avoid drinking alcohol if you do have an attack.

Increasing your Magnesium Levels Can Help Prevent Allergy and Asthma Attacks


Most people are deficient in magnesium due to the refining of foods- find out how increasing your daily intake of  this important mineral can make a big difference to your overall heath and also prevent allergies and asthma.

Magnesium is a trace mineral that is required for not just building strong bones but for the proper functioning of our entire bodies.

"Magnesium is not limited to improving bone health. There are some three hundred bodily enzymes that require magnesium, which suggests that magnesium is vital for most cells and tissues of the body." - from American Chiropractic. 

Studies show that insufficient magnesium levels not only can cause asthma and allergies, but also muscle cramps, muscle twitching, muscle weakness as well as muscle aches, TMJ disorders, depression, insomnia, osteoporosis, attention deficit disorder, fibromyalgia, diabetes, mitral valve prolapse, migraines, attention deficit disorder, noise sensitivity and nervousness among several other conditions.

Today's refined food simply doesn't contain enough magnesium and foods that do contain it lose it through the cooking process. Even if you are purposefully eating raw foods daily that are rich in magnesium, consuming coffee, alcohol, soda or soft drinks and salt will result in a loss of this mineral. Foods that contain magnesium are cereals, nuts, green vegetables, and dairy products. However, according to an article in The Lancet by Britton et al. Magnesium deficiency is surprisingly common. In one study 65% of an intensive care population and 11% of an outpatient population suffered from magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is used pharmacologically in acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) angina, (chest pains) cardiac arrhythmias, (irregular heart beat) alcohol withdrawal, and pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). It has been used to treat acute asthma, plus magnesium may also help prevent asthma. (Britton J et al. Lancet. 1994; 344: 357-361. McLean RM. Am J Med. 1994; 96: 63-76.)

Maintaining proper levels of magnesium in the body helps by relaxing airway smooth muscle and dilating bronchioles in the lungs. It also reduces histamine release and inflammation of the airways and lungs by stabilizing mast cells and T- lymphocytes. Studies like the one in The Lancet showed that increasing magnesium intake helped to reduce and even prevent allergy and  asthma symptoms. Taking a good magnesium citrate supplement, which is easily absorbed is important. Recommended daily dosages vary from 500 mg to 1000 mg if you have a substantial deficiency, but be aware that a dose of 1000 mg of magnesium will cause a loose stool. It is best not to take it after a meal since it neutralizes stomach acids, which would interfere with digestion. It is best to consult a naturopathic doctor or nutritionist for advice and testing to determine your individual needs. Trace mineral deficiencies can be determined through a tissue mineral analysis using a stand of your hair at a medical lab.

Is There A Link Between Asthma And Obesity?

Surprisingly, evidence indicates that managing the type of fat in our diets may reduce the symptoms of asthma and decrease weight gain. 

Those asthma sufferers who are heavier than the norm who are seeking asthma relief might find it beneficial to loose some weight. Researchers believe that there is a link between obesity and asthma in the US and other western countries, where both health conditions are on the rise. Recent studies in Sweden and the US indicate there is some evidence to support this finding.

The US study, from the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that 3,792 children in Southern California with a body mass index greater than the 85 percentile had an increased risk of developing asthma. The Swedish study of 457 children, published in Acta Paediatrica, also found that there was a clear association between higher body mass index and asthma. Another study published in Annals of Epidemiology using Black and Hispanic men and women supports a strong association between asthma and obesity and also indicates the incidence of asthma is higher among women than men. Another study of 4,500 of men and women in California from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2005-2006 had very interesting findings. In this study one third of the participants were overweight, one third were normal weight and another third were obese. This study concluded that the risk of asthma was more than tripled for the obese people compared to normal weight people.

One of the main links between asthma and obesity is thought to be dietary fat. The main question experts are asking is could the type of fat in our diets that causes weight gain be a contributing factor to the development of asthma? Would a low-fat diet help to reduce both obesity and offer relief from asthma symptoms? Surprisingly, evidence indicates that managing the type of fat in our diets may reduce the symptoms of asthma and decrease weight gain.

Some researchers believe the system-wide, low-grade inflammation that occurs with obesity may be a factor in increased asthma and allergy risks. An analysis by Spector and Surette in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology indicates that low levels of two specific oils may be directly associated with asthma. These are gamma-linolenic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in salmon, tuna, and halibut, algae, krill, some plants, and also nuts. Gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid is derived from flax seed & borage seed oils.

The most important point gained from these studies is that eating right and maintaining an ideal body weight have clear health benefits and could substantially lower your risk of developing asthma as well as offering asthma relief to those who already suffer from it.


Does Asthma reduce the function of Lungs?

Research Shows Children With Severe Asthma Suffer Loss Of Lung Function Despite Asthma Relief Drugs

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine report that young children who suffer from severe asthma have a decrease in lung functioning and a greater risk of developing more serious diseases later in life.

Doctors believe that early detection and asthma relief treatment of those children who have asthma is important in avoiding the development of severe asthma. More importantly, this study indicates that wise parents should take all necessary steps for asthma prevention so that their children are at lower risk for developing asthma or can avoid this debilitating disease entirely.

Anne M. Fitzpatrick, PhD, and W. Gerald Teague, MD, published their study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which explains how decreases in lung functioning and airflow capacity throughout childhood can affect disease severity when children later become adults.

Anne Fitzpatrick says, "It is important for physicians to identify those children with severe asthma who are at risk for lung function decline. With early identification, physicians can customize treatment plans and educate families on lifestyle changes that may help children with severe asthma breathe easier as they grow older."

Children who are considered to suffer from severe asthma experience serious asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breathe despite taking high doses of inhaled corticosteroid drugs on a regular basis. Recent research has revealed that the decrease of airflow or lung capacity is more significant in adults than in children with asthma. This indicated that there is a connection to lung capacity decrease in adults who also suffered from severe asthma as a child.

Most interestingly, the study revealed that despite higher doses of inhaled corticosteroid and controller asthma drugs, children with severe asthma experienced a higher occurrence of daily symptoms as well as hospitalization during the previous year. Children with severe asthma also reported significantly lower lung function compared to those with mild or moderate asthma. A decline in lung function of 1 percent a year was more likely in children who had daily asthma symptoms of wheezing and coughing plus a sensitivity to air borne allergens.

In light of this knowledge it would seem to me that governments and educators should place a greater emphasis on educating parents in the simple steps required to prevent the development of asthma in their children. The human costs of this frightening disease far outweighs any profits made by drug companies. Ask any parent who has helplessly watched their child struggle to breathe. Those parents who's children already suffer from asthma may want to consider a holistic approach or natural asthma relief remedies rather than asthma drugs, which are not only ineffective but are well known for their serious adverse side effects.

How to Lower Your Stress Levels And keep Asthma under control

It seems our lives are busy and more stressful than they have ever been. We are endlessly multitasking, on the run, trying to juggle life, work and family. Stress can be caused by several different factors.

Some of these are physical trauma, illness, or overexertion; environmental stressors like heat, cold, noise or natural disasters; chemical stress such as pollution or drugs and psychological factors like worry, fear and are often encountered on a daily basis. If we do not find ways to protect ourselves from this constant and cumulative stress it will eventually lead to a breakdown of the body’s adrenal system, which in turn results in several diseases including asthma. For those who are seeking relief of asthma and allergies there are several things you can do, which are simple and will benefit your overall health as well as helping to decrease your asthma and allergy symptoms.

Identifying and removing the main stressors in your life is extremely important but not always possible to do right away. However finding ways to reduce or limit the stress as much as possible until you can make major life changes is important. In addition using techniques for stress release, particularly deep breathing exercises are quite effective. This only takes a few minutes and is especially useful for times that you are very stressed or having trouble sleeping. Click here to learn more about how you can quickly lower your stress in 48 hours. Getting adequate rest and regular activities like yoga, meditation, guided relaxation or going for a long walk preferably in a natural setting are also very helpful in lowering stress levels. Taking herbs like Ashwaganda, Panax and Siberian Ginseng help to improve stamina and adapt to stress. Lemon Balm, Kava and Passionflower have a calming effect and can also help you to relax and sleep better. However, they should never be relied upon as your only treatment as they do not address the underlying causes of stress.

Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands. It regulates blood sugar, inflammation, the immune system, energy production and aids in healing. When our adrenals are under stress they overproduce cortisol to help our body adapt. When too much cortisol is released by the adrenal gland the receptors in the hypothalamus gland eventually become damaged and their ability to sense and correct high cortisone levels is diminished. A particular nutrient called Phosphatidylserine is known to help to heal the hypothalamus glands’ cortisol receptors allowing them to maintain cortisol levels in the normal range.

When we are under constant stress the adrenal gland’s demand for several vitamins and nutrients that support them increases sharply. Even if you are eating a good diet this will not be enough to support your body during ongoing stress for long periods of time. Eventually the adrenal gland becomes exhausted if it is not properly supported which will eventually lead to a serious breakdown in your health, including the development of diseases like asthma. Those seeking to improve their health and who are looking for relief of asthma symptoms will find these daily supplements help boost and support adrenal function: Vitamin C - studies show that 1000 to 2000 mg a day is helpful when under stress. Vitamin B5 500 mg (pantothenic acid) Vitamin B6 - 50 mg (pyridoxine) Vitamin E - 400 mg from a natural source. A good quality Magnesium, Calcium and Vitamin D complex. A good multivitamin with trace minerals including copper, sulphur, manganese, selenium, zinc, chromium, iodine, cobalt, molybdenum and silicon etc. plus Phosphatidylserine - 100 mg

Taking these natural and simple measures to deal with your stress and heal your adrenal gland will prove to be highly beneficial to your health and overall well being as well as preventing asthma and many other diseases. 

The Role Of Antibiotics In Causing Asthma And Allergies

For the past forty years baby boomers and their children were given antibiotics on a regular basis to treat infections. This overuse has resulted in very dangerous resistance to superbugs that we’ve all read about in the news. You probably are aware now that infectious microorganisms and fungi that were once treatable have become much stronger and even deadly because they have mutated into hardy or resistant strains due to the use of antibiotics.

However, what many people and even your own doctor may not be aware of is that antibiotic use also results in an overgrowth of yeast and fungus in the intestinal tract. Eventually if this is not treated properly it can become systemic, meaning that it invades all systems of the body. This yeast or fungus overgrowth contributes to a lowering of the immune system where cancers and other pathogen overgrowths can develop. Patients looking for asthma relief would benefit by knowing that diseases like asthma and allergies are a result of yeast and fungus overgrowth or candida in the intestinal tract caused by frequent antibiotic use.

The symptoms of a yeast overgrowth problem can include: 1. Fatigue and foggy thinking. 2. Cravings for sugar or bread or any foods that contain yeast 3. Bloated abdomen, gas or abdominal pain. 4. Unable to lose weight 5. Vaginal, genital infection or itchy rashes. 6. A white coating on the tongue. 7. Sinus infections. 8. Loss of energy.

Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and Chrohn’s disease are linked to antibiotic use. In addition, studies have shown that antibiotic use has also been linked to the development of allergies, hayfever and asthma in children.  Medical associations in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia are aware of this but surprisingly many people and their doctors do not seem to be educated in this regard. Despite the superbug problem, antibiotics still seem to be asked for by patients and prescribed too often by their doctors. Boosting the immune system by eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and adequate rest is often all that is needed to fight or prevent infections.

Children who are considered to suffer from severe asthma experience serious asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breathe despite taking high doses of inhaled corticosteroid drugs on a regular basis. Recent research has revealed that the decrease of airflow or lung capacity is more significant in adults than in children with asthma. This indicated that there is a connection to lung capacity decrease in adults who also suffered from severe asthma as a child.

Most interestingly, the study revealed that despite higher doses of inhaled corticosteroid and controller asthma drugs, children with severe asthma experienced a higher occurrence of daily symptoms as well as hospitalization during the previous year. Children with severe asthma also reported significantly lower lung function compared to those with mild or moderate asthma. A decline in lung function of 1 percent a year was more likely in children who had daily asthma symptoms of wheezing and coughing plus a sensitivity to air borne allergens.

If antibiotics are necessary, many patients are not made aware of the risks and more importantly what to do about them. When you take antibiotics, one of the side effects is that they kill the good bacteria or lactobacillus living in your intestinal tract. When this happens the candida yeast or fungus is allowed to grow unchecked and causes an imbalance.

The result of this imbalance can be allergy and asthma symptoms an other diseases. To their credit some doctors advise their patients to take yogurt and lactobacillus supplements immediately after a course of antibiotics to re-implant the bacteria and prevent yeast and fungus from taking over. If this is not done each time antibiotics are prescribed, then an overgrowth will result. Antibiotics such as penicillin are also known to have severe side-effects like anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction resulting in an asthmatic attack and eventually heart failure and death. Medical reports show that other antibiotics such as amoxycillin, ampicillin, cephalosporins, erythromycin tetracycline and spiramycin are known to cause asthma. Avoiding antibiotics whenever possible is important, but if you do have to take them be sure to take a good quality lactobacillus supplement and yogurt daily to restore your body’s balance of good bacteria.

Is there any link Between Eczema And Asthma

Eczema is a skin disease that covers a number of different skin ailments, from atopic dermatitis (an allergic type reaction) to dyshidrotic eczema (a blistering rash on the palms of hands and soles of the feet often caused by stress). Studies show that 50 - 70 % of all young children who develop severe eczema will go on to suffer from asthma possibly months or even years later.

However, research scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered that treating eczema early can help stop the development of asthma. Their studies have shown that damaged skin secretes a substance that circulates through the body and triggers asthma symptoms. Treating the rash early is vital in asthma prevention and for those who already suffer from asthma, it could also prove beneficial for asthma relief.

Eczema is an itching rash that effects the epidermis or outer layer of the your skin. It is easily irritated and when scratched it can also become quite painful and inflamed. The rash can be mild to very severe often consisting of blisters, swelling, redness, dry flackey skin, cracking, crusting, and extreme itchiness. When the rash is scratched there is often oozing or even bleeding in more severe cases. Scratching results in worsening of the rash and therefore it is to be avoided. Doctors will often prescribe corticosteroids drugs to treat eczema. Unfortunately, these drugs are not a cure, they create dependence and have many negative side effects and they eventually weaken the adrenal gland plus cause thinning of the skin. The good news is that there are effective ways to treat eczema naturally without drugs.

Doctors and scientists suspect that there are likely two causes as to why eczema is associated with asthma. One is that an immune system disorder causes an overreaction to allergens that contact the skin and lung airways. The other may be that defective skin and airways trigger an excessive immune response.

Whatever the actual cause may be, holistic medicine has shown that boosting the immune system and the adrenal glands through proper diet, vitamins, adequate rest and exercise is paramount. There are also many herbal creams and natural treatments that help calm the rash, offer relief from itching and also prevent the sufferer from scratching. In this way they are very helpful in slowing the cycle of eczema to prevent the damaged skin secreting the substance that triggers asthma symptoms.   





References / Citations

1.       National Institutes of Health (2007). National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (NIH Publication No. 08–5846). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm

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