A Dose of Health

What Triggers an Asthma Attack?

It can be triggered by airborne allergens, food reactions or even burning the candle at both ends and not getting proper rest. A run down body is more susceptible to illness than a healthy rested one. It usually presents itself by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing. My son would have a harsh never ending cough. No matter how much cough medicine or tea I would give him, it would not resolve the cough. Anyone with a child that suffers from asthma recognizes the cough.

Relief would begin when the cough would finally break up accompanied by a more rattely mucousy sounding cough. As unattractive as it would sound, I knew that it was the beginning of his getting better.

Usual Treatments

There are a variety of treatments for asthma depending on the severity. I’m most familiar with nebulizing albuterol and pulmicort. There are also the portable inhalers for a quick treatment when the nebulizer isn’t available. We could never leave the house for a soccer game without the cleats, plenty of water and the inhaler.

Alternative or Supplementary Asthma Treatments

While some foods can trigger an asthma attack, others can help to stave of an attack. I don’t recommend throwing away the inhaler and nebulizer, but I do recommend modifying the diet to help reduce the need for the prescribed medicines. Is there documented proof that this stuff works? There are small studies that give credence to some of the dietary changes, but I believe the medical community wants more proof before they make recommendations. I’m not part of the medical community, I’m only sharing my beliefs and some of my experience, so don’t consider me an authority on the subject.

The Asthma Thought Process

I usually look at afflictions and illnesses and diseases by how they work. If an asthma attack is caused by the inflammation of airways in the lungs, it makes sense to try to find foods and natural ingredients that helps to reduce or prevent inflammation (prevention is always better – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure).

Anti Inflammatory Spices

Not recommended for the little ones, but spicy foods help to dilate the passages in the lungs thus helping to improve breathing. If you’re in the mood to nibble on chili peppers, sprinkle cayenne on your food or eat hot mustard (to name a few airway opening foods), you might find that you can breathe a little easier.

Inflammation Reducing Fish Oils

A little easier on the palate and probably a better alternative for the little ones, fish oils have an anti inflammatory properties because they’re high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Some  small studies suggest that Omega 3 is helpful in preventing the inflammation associated with asthma, and Omega 6, on the other hand does just the opposite and can contribute to exacerbating asthma symptoms. Before you go out and start eating tons of fish, do your homework. You don’t want to trade asthma symptoms for mercury poisoning.

For you guys who prefer a more technical explanation of the Omega 3 and Omega 6 balance check out Asthma World’s Omega 3 and Omega 6 Pathways – Inflammation and Asthma article.  Or, for a more simplistic approach to omega 3 and omega 6 balancing read  Essential Fatty Acids: Omega 6 & Omega 3.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and Inflammation

From my experience with ACV, it does wonders with mucus and the sniffles, and also helps with snoring. Does it work on preventing asthma inflammation? There are folks who swear by it,  but honestly speaking, I don’t know for sure because I don’t suffer with asthma and I stumbled upon ACV well after my son’s asthma symptoms had all but disappeared.

My Story

When my son was diagnosed with asthma, in addition to the doctor prescribed albuterol and nebulizer, I changed his diet. I removed as many processed foods as possible and made most foods from scratch. The whole milk was substituted for soy milk and all dairy products were low or no fat.

Over time, there was a reduction in frequency of asthma attacks. Was it the change in diet? Who knows for sure, but as a mom, I tried to be proactive because watching an otherwise healthy 2 year old suffer an asthma attack was just as painful as watching him squirm and complain while being forced to sit at the nebulizer.

He’s just about all grown up now and in the last 8 years he has had one incident that required a nebulizer about a year ago. I think that’s pretty good considering that he initially would have to nebulize daily on regular intervals.

Lesson I Learned

Finding optimal health is a matter of making the best out of the deck of cards dealt to you. Sometimes it’s a combination of traditional medicine supplemented with common sense and good nutrition. Asthma isn’t anything to play around with. Before you throw away your traditional asthma relief methods, in favor of a natural approach, do extensive homework and keep your doctor in the loop.

A few shots from an inhaler and some nebulization may help with the symptoms, but it doesn’t change the underlying causes. That’s where nutrition and healthy choices come into play.

Yes, the title of this post is “Natural Cure for Snoring.”  I hope it works as well for the snorer in your life as it did for mine.

A Little Background on Our Snorer

My hubby is what I would call a “professional” snorer.  There are those who snore every once in a while as a result of exhaustion or overeating or over drinking.  My hubby didn’t need any such encouragement to snore.  After many years of marriage, it got worse each year (or should I say it reached Olympic athlete status).

We all gain a “little” weight as we get older so I attributed the snoring to that and a sedentary lifestyle.  It got so bad that he decided to see medical attention.

A Little Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)  Background

While the snoring was going on, I got into the habit of taking organic apple cider vinegar.  The various reasons why I take it is a subject for another post, but for the purposes of this post, suffice it to say that I take it when I have a cold or a runny nose.  I give it to the kids for that reason also. It’s a quick fix for the sniffles.

Bright Idea

After listening to my hubby snore during the night and make other attractive nasal sound during the day, I finally convinced him to take organic apple cider vinegar to help his daily nasal condition (I got really sick and tired of hearing the rather unattractive nasal sounds so I started to ride him like a horse to take the cider vinegar).  To stop me from nagging him, he decided to take it once or twice a day (I was aiming for three times a day, but I was happy with once or twice).

Surprise Surprise

Over a period of a couple of weeks, I noted that we slept better.  When I say “we,” I’m talking about the entire household.  My hubby no longer snored.  We were all amazed.  Not wanting to leave well enough alone, we decided to test the boundaries of his non snoring.  I would ply him with food and a glass or two of wine a few hours before going to sleep to see if it would induce the snoring…nothing!

We then did extensive yard work.  We did enough yard work that would exhaust even the most in shape athlete.  I knew for sure that the exhaustion would bring on a thunderous night of snoring…silence!  Not a single snore!

Credit the Apple Cider Vinegar

We give the lack of snoring credit to the organic apple cider vinegar.  Nothing else in my hubby’s lifestyle changed.  He didn’t lose a pound, he didn’t start an exercise program and he didn’t even change the way he eats (much to my chagrin).  All he did was begrudgingly take two shots of apple cider vinegar a day; a small price to pay for a quiet restful night’s sleep.

He even admits that he feels more rested when he gets up in the morning.

Give it a Shot

I’m a fan of the pungent, tart tasting cider vinegar.  In posts to come, I’ll share other victories won as a result of daily ACV consumption.  If you or someone in your life is a heavy snorer, give it a shot.  What do you have to lose?