According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 25 million Americans are afflicted with asthma. It is a chronic lung disease typically characterized by symptoms that include shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. Coughing can also accompany asthma, with some or all of these symptoms often more pronounced during the evening or early morning.
For asthmatics, breathing is not routine; at that, it is often accompanied by discomfort or worse. An asthmatic’s maintenance of a good and active quality of life can be a constant challenge for them, beginning with the realization that there is no known actual cure. During an asthma event, your airways typically will swell, muscles will constrict (tighten), and excess mucus will move into and block your airways, bringing with it coughing and tightness in the chest.
Chronic Asthma Explained
Essentially, chronic asthma is a respiratory disorder that produces inflammation and a narrowing of a person’s airways; hence, leading to difficulty breathing and limitations, sometimes significant, in performing physical activities. Asthmatic athletes, many of them competing at elite levels, have succeeded in the sporting arena thanks to various medical treatments and medications, although many athletic governing bodies prohibit the use of certain prescription medications.
Among the common risk factors for asthma, and there are a variety, is genetics. If one or both of your biological parents have asthma, you stand a greater chance of developing asthma than someone without an asthmatic parent. Interestingly enough, studies have revealed that humans carry more than 100 genes apparently connected to allergic asthma. Many of those genes are associated with the body’s immune response, while others have been singled out as linked to lung and airway activity.
The presence of asthma can be attributed to an assortment of environmental and immunological circumstances. Asthma triggers range from pollen and pet dander to environmental pollutants such as smoke and industrial chemicals.
A Treatment Plan for Asthma
One important thing to know about asthma – and asthmatics understand this well – is that it is a condition that is unpredictable, especially when it involves severe cases. That’s why it is important to have a treatment plan to be prepared to handle any occurrence, whether mild or dire, and whether at home alone or with family, or in a public setting.
Such a plan – preferably devised with your own team of healthcare providers (such as your personal physician and/or an allergy/asthmatic specialist, nutritionist, etc.) could include use of natural remedies such as herbs and supplements, breathing exercises, tweaks to your diet and properly directed and monitored use of medical devices and prescriptions. A note of caution: Always be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider(s) planned usage of supplements and herbs if you are already on prescription medication(s). You want to be certain there is no chance of unwanted interactions.
6 Supplements to Consider in Treating Chronic Asthma
Following is an alphabetized list and brief summation of a half-dozen supplements/herbs that could help in relieving asthma symptoms. Again, always be sure to consult with your personal physician or other healthcare professional before using any supplement or herb. Diligent caution is advised! Such natural remedies should be used only in support of – NOT IN PLACE OF – medically-prescribed treatments and protocols for asthma.
Vitamin C. As a robust antioxidant, vitamin C can chip in to the anti-asthma efforts by protecting your lungs from damaging free radicals, potentially thwarting the severity of an asthma attack.
Vitamin D. Studies have demonstrated that this “Sunshine” vitamin can shed some light on the asthma-treatment conundrum by modulating inflammatory responses, in the process tamping down the severity of an asthma attack.
Ginger. Ginger’s inherent anti-inflammatory characteristics might help reduce asthma-connected coughing by opening up airways.
Magnesium. Supplementing with magnesium has been linked to lessened airway inflammation related to asthma. It has also been found to limit exercised-induced bronchoconstriction (tightening of muscles in the airways).
Selenium. Among the conclusions reached by various studies: 1) that selenium might help diminish the severity of asthma symptoms, and 2) that asthma might be associated with decreased circulatory levels of the antioxidant mineral selenium.
Turmeric. Chalk up turmeric’s value in helping to ease asthma symptoms to its chief anti-inflammatory component curcumin. This herb can help clear obstructed airways, thus enhancing airflow in the lungs.
Although chronic asthma has no cure (yet), the availability of well-conceived treatments – and these include OTC supplements and herbs – makes it a manageable condition that can improve the quality of life for asthmatics.