Asthma & Allergies

Almost 3.5 million Canadians must cope with potentially serious respiratory diseases. Only cardiovascular disease and cancer are responsible for more hospitalization and death than respiratory diseases. It is the number one cause of emergency room visits in Canada (download report).  In the United States, asthma ranks among the most common chronic conditions affecting an estimated 14.9 million persons in 1995 and causing over 1.5 million emergency department visits, about 500,000 hospitalizations, and over 5,500 deaths. Asthma prevalence rates among children remain at historically high levels following dramatic increases from 1980 until the late 1990s (download report).  Approximately 300 million people worldwide currently have asthma. By 2025, an additional 100 million people will suffer from asthma due, in part, to growing urbanization and pollution.  

What Causes Asthma?

The exact cause of asthma isn’t clear but a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental influences can lead to increased reactivity of the airways. These influences include:

·        Atopy – an inherited tendency to allergic disease including eczema, hay fever and other types of allergic rhinitis. People who have certain kinds of allergies are more likely to have asthma. Whatever causes an allergic reaction, such as pollen or dust mites, can also trigger asthma symptoms. But not everyone who has allergies develops asthma. And not all cases of asthma are related to allergies. However, up to 75% of people with asthma also have seasonal allergies and people with seasonal allergies are up to three times more likely to develop asthma. (Allergic Rhinitis and its impact on Asthma, ARIA Workshop Report, J Allergy Clin Immunol, s198)

·      A family history of asthma

·      Frequent respiratory infections as a child

·      Low birth weight

·      Being overweight

·      Smoking: There is certainly a link between smoking and asthma. Studies show that children whose parents smoke are twice as likely to develop asthma as kids in non-smoking households. It is also now understood that children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy often develop smaller airways. Given that asthma is a condition that causes reduced airway capacity, it is not surprising that these kids would be at higher risk.   Smoking has long been understood as an environmental factor linked to this disease.

·      Air pollution indoors and out: some research shows that people who live near major highways and other polluted places are more likely to get asthma. Also, kids who grow up in a home with mould or dust may be more likely to get asthma.

·      Occupational triggers, such as chemicals used in farming, hairdressing and manufacturing, laboratory workers can get asthma from lab animals: rats, mice, guinea-pigs, spray painters can get asthma from isocyanates, grain handlers can get asthma from grain dust, and crab processors can get asthma from crab dust.

For More info: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/asthma.html

        In any event, the causes are not simple and can be different for each individual. But figuring out what your specific cause can be one of the most important steps in conquering the disease.   

 

Common Asthma Triggers

Asthma symptoms start when allergens or other irritants cause the lining of the airways to swell (become inflamed) and narrow. The muscles around the airways can then spasm, (contract rapidly), causing the airways to narrow even more. When the lining of the airways is inflamed, it produces more mucus. The mucus clogs the airways and further blocks the flow of air. This is called an “asthma attack.”

 

The Hygene Hypothesis: Are We Too Clean?

        The Hygiene Hypothesis was first put forth by David P. Strachan in 1989 with an article he published in the British Medical Journal. His research showed that hay fever, eczema, and other allergies were far less common in children with many siblings. He suggests that this was due to the children being naturally exposed to many more pathogens and allergens by living in close quarters with a larger number of people. This work has been extensively researched by epidemiologists and allergists since its publication and found to be sound. This theory has been used to show why allergies and immune disorders have been on the rise since the Industrial Revolution and have a much higher occurance in developed countries. As the knowledge base of this research has grown, the hypothesis has also been applied to agents other than allergens as well. It also explains why certain groups of people have stronger immunities against “minor” illnesses such as colds and flu.  

The Hygiene Hypothesis: Are Cleanlier Lifestyles Causing More Allergies For Kids? ScienceDaily (Sep. 9, 2007) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905174501.htm

Asthma Management

          You can control your asthma by knowing the warning signs of an attack, staying away from things that trigger an attack, and following the advice of your health-care provider. When you control your asthma, you won’t have symptoms like wheezing or coughing, you’ll sleep better, you won’t miss work or school, you can take part in all physical activities, and you won’t have to go to the hospital.

 

Norwex can help to improve the quality of life for people living with asthma.  By cleaning with microfibre and our other non-toxic products, you can reduce indoor air pollution from toxic chemical substances.  Many people who suffer from asthma are very sensitive perfumes and chemicals found in conventional chemical cleaning products. By cleaning with Norwex microfiber, all you are exposed to is pure clean water.  Furthermore, the microfibre cleans so well that it will remove 99.94% of all microorganisms from a surface. Dust and allergens don’t stand a chance!

         Another great product Norwex carries that would greatly benefit asthma sufferers is the enzyme based mattress cleaner. It contains dormant bacterial spores that activate when they come into contact with a food source, which just happens to be dust mites, their feces and all of the dead skin cells we shed on our beds. Once they run out of food they also die off and turn into carbon dioxide and water, leaving you with an allergen free rest for 4-5 months!!  It can also be used on pillows, upholstered furniture, stuffed animals and carpets greatly reducing the presence of one of the most powerful allergens in your home.   To see a video on dustmites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEgQVnDbRZw&feature=related

There are many things that we can do to make our indoor air quality better, but there is one thing that is more important above all else: Fresh air.

 We cannot take this invaluable non renewable resource for granted.  Asthma rates are steadily increasing just as our emissions into our precious atmosphere continues to.  We must all take responsibility for our own contribution to this problem and take simple steps everyday to reduce pollution.  Change that wasteful bulb out for a compact fluorescent light, but make sure you still shut them off.  Take the bus, car pool, ride your bicycle or go for a walk in the fresh air….while we still have it.  It is up to all of us to make sure that we do.

More Resources to Control Asthma and Allergies:

 

http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/asthma-asthme/what-quoi/index_e.php

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/asthma/basics/014.html

http://www.asthma.ca/allergies/asthmaandallergies.html

http://www.4seasonsofasthma.ca/index.php

 

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