Allergy and Asthma:
Life Threatening Concerns
Allergy and asthma are often caused or revealed by the environment one is exposed to. From the very first minute you are born, every person is exposed to outside factors you were previously unaware existed. You are poked, prodded, given injections, weighed and measured and on and on. You also get to feel air and all of its impurities, touch, sound, smell, and soon to be, taste - your first chance at food.
After these first few moments of life, everything you now get exposed to has the capability of causing an allergy and asthma. Every person will react differently to the same stimuli. If you react normally there will be no problem. If you are sensitive to any of the new stimuli in your new environment - then the allergy cycle has the opportunity to begin.
Allergens From The Air
Other than foods, another major allergen factoring into our everyday life is what we breathe in the air. This can include animal dandruff, ragweed, feathers, grass, tree pollen, mold and dust. Any of these are considered major allergens which can become troublesome for many people at any age. Airborne pollutants are very common causes of allergy and asthma.
The Family Pet May Be The Trouble
Dogs and cats are what comes to most people's mind first when anyone states they have an allergy to animals. But actually the list also includes
guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, birds and monkeys. Each of these can equally result in an allergic response from any member in the family.
Of all the chronic allergic conditions, asthma is considered the most dangerous. With its signature symptoms of wheezing, coughing and gasping for breath while the face turns a bluish color, the family and child both are going through degrees of panic. Often times the attacks themselves can be so serious it can lead to death.
Common Causes Of Asthma
Food, fur, feathers, pollen and animal dander: yes it is the same list that can cause any allergy. Unfortunately though, once the condition has been set up, other factors in everyday life can also
trigger an asthma attack. This can include weather changes, barometric pressure changes, infection or major illness or a psychological shock or trauma.
Early Treatment Can Often Prevent An Attack
The treatment plan for any asthmatic child is as varied and different as there is children. No two people are alike. so
each treatment plan must be tailored to fit each individual. This is why it is so very important to continuously work with the same doctor so effective
allergy control products can be found and set up. This way adjustments can be made, as needed, so your child will obtain the best possible chance of resuming normal activities as soon as possible.
Some common dietary modifications though can often result in an increase in resistance against future attacks, sometimes resulting in a decreased severity also. You must realize though, this is not a cure-all program. It is just a ways to a means program which often does help many people reduce the severity of their condition. Talk to your doctor, find out if they have any problems with this dietary program first, and then start changing over your daily diet, increasing the good elements, decreasing the problematic elements, and see if any of this has any effect for you.
All of these changes though, unless otherwise specified, should become your new lifetime daily plan. But don't worry, there is nothing strange or wierd about it. It's just plain and simple foods which are either known for being triggers for some people, or they are the types of foods which are the building blocks for better health.
- Use extra virgin olive oil as your main source of fat in your cooking and cold salads.
- Eat organic fruits and vegetables as much as possible. The elimination of many of the chemicals and herbicides on standard produce alone is a detrimental factor as an asthma trigger for many asthmatics.
- Eliminate milk and all milk-based products. If the ingredient label shows any form of milk, avoid it.
- Replace the animal protein in your diet to plant proteins as much as possible. Beef, poultry, pork etc. should now center on beans, legumes, nuts and seeds instead.
- The animal protein you do keep in your diet should be free-range grass-fed selections. Always try to choose products from an independent farmer who raises their stock using the old ways of farming, thus a cow, a pig or a chicken gets to eat its food off the land also, not from a processed bag of prepared feed. These bags are full of abnormal mixtures some which include antibiotics, chemicals, pesticides, other animal parts plus an assortment of waste products derived often from the slaughterhouse waste piles. None of these is a true food planned direct from nature for man or animal.
- Very important is to reduce your reliance on hydrogenated oils, trans fats (deep-fried foods especially) and found in many commercially prepared baked goods and candies. Reduce, or eliminate many of the polyunsaturated oils also such as corn oil, margarine, vegetable shortenings.
- Learn to love water or water with fresh-squeezed fruit. The more the merrier. Lots of water keeps your respiratory tract fluid and moist which means your secretions can and do drain much easier, lessening your chances of a severe reaction.
- With the help of friends, family, your child's school. physician etc. try to institute an elimination diet for your child of many of the major food groups, one at a time. Eliminate each type of food for a minimum of 8-10 weeks and see if this reduces their noticeable reactions or severity of attacks. With no changes, you can then be assured this food group is not a trigger for your child.
Some common groups, all corn products, soy, wheat/gluten, sugar, food dyes etc. can lead to sensitivities for many children. Care must be taken though to confirm all traces of each food group are avoided for the entire two months though as the results can be skewed with any type of accidental ingestion.
Eventually many kids will learn to "feel the likelihood of a seizure". In this early stage of an attack, symptoms can sometimes be reversed before they have time to start. Give your child his medication immediately which will help to lessen the swelling in the bronchial tubes, thus preventing a full asthma attack. Follow this up with drinking warm fluids to keep the mucus loose and flowing. The extra fluids also prevent any symptoms of dehydration. A shortage of fluids will just intensify any symptoms thus resulting in a stronger attack.
Any child suffering from an allergy and asthma, until an effective treatment plan is in place and functional, emotional support from parents and siblings is especially important to bolster your child's self-confidence. Work with each of your children as a family unit to verify they understand their sibling does have a very serious condition, but as a family the problem can be resolved with each of them helping.
Asthma Inducer
Food allergy is one of the many asthma inducers. Find out more about the allergy-asthma correlation and how to reduce asthma risk.
Return to "Food Allergy Safety"
Home | About Us | Contact Us
*Disclaimer*This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
