Living with Asthma : Vitamins , Minerals, & Supplements that may Help You!

1. Living with Asthma: Vitamins, Minerals, & Supplements that may Help You! Deena M Toben Bachelors Capstone Unit 4 Kaplan University

2. What is Asthma? In one word- INFLAMMATION

3. When the tracheobronchial tree over reacts to stimuli (Frazier & Drymkowski, 2008, p.98) • The airways produce more mucus • The muscles around the airways become constricted (lung.org, 2013), and the air sacs are shrunken (p.98). Lungs and Inflammation

4. What happens to cause an asthma attack? • There is chronic inflammation within the lungs (lung.org, Learning More About Asthma, 2013). • Bronchoconstriction occurs • There is mucus overproduction • The result at this point is the airways are narrow causing an asthma attack. • This is very serious and can be life threatening (mayoclinic.com, asthma, 2013). Asthma Attack

5. Symptoms and Signs can be (Frazier & Drymkowski, 2008, p.98): • Shortness of breath • Wheezing and keep in mind not all people who suffer with asthma wheeze. • Tightness in chest • Hard to breathe in and out • Coughing, and sometimes vomiting mucus • Some physical findings are • Shallow and rapid breathing • Rapid pulse • Pallor • Diminished • Breath sounds • Trying to constantly catch your breath Symptoms and Signs

6. There are many asthma “triggers” • It depends on the individual • It is up to the patient and doctor to work together to find what triggers the asthmatic symptoms and signs leading to an asthma attack • Keep a journal: this can help you Identify your triggers Know the “triggers” What Triggers Asthma ?

7. The most common triggers are: • Allergens: like mold, pollen, household dust. (lung.org, avoiding asthma triggers, 2013) • Irritants: like second hand smoke (Frazier & Drymkowski, 2008, p.98), perfumes, certain cleaners. • Infections: for example sinus infections, bronchitis, or pneumonia. (lung.org, avoiding asthma triggers, 2013). • Behavior: exercise or crying a lot (lung.org, avoiding asthma triggers, 2013) • Gerd: acid reflux, other gut issues, the diet should be considered (Thompson & Manore, 2009, p.103). • Possible nutrient deficiencies The “Triggers”

8. Physical exam: This is important to rule out any other serious conditions. With a respiratory infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease one can easily display symptoms and signs of asthma (Mayoclinic.com, Asthma, 2013). • The patient’s doctor will ask a number of questions concerning their breathing. If someone is wondering if they have asthma there are online resources that can help them take the first step, even after using online resources it is important to bring concerns to a doctor as there may be other health issues. At asthma.com one can find a questionnaire “Do I Have Asthma?” (Asthma.com, Diagnosing Asthma, 2013). Diagnosing Asthma

9. Peak Flow: The patient will breathe out quickly into a very easy to use device, this device helps measure how hard one can breathe out (Mayoclinic.com, Asthma, 2013). If the patient’s peak flow reading is low this is one indication that he/she’s lungs are not working as well. Diagnosing Asthma

10. Spirometry Test: This test can be given at your doctor’s office or at the hospital. The patient will breathe into the device as hard as they can. The device then measures the rate and volume of air flow into and out of the lungs (Asthma.com, Asthma Treatment Options, 2013). Diagnostic Test

11. Image testing: The doctor may want to see an x-ray of the chest and/or a CT scan of the lungs and sinus area to look for any infection and structural abnormalities that may be causing the symptoms and signs (Mayoclinic.com, Asthma, 2013). • Sputum eosinophils: Checking the saliva and mucus for certain white blood cells. Diagnostic Test

12. There are many prescription medications to treat an asthma patient’s signs and symptoms. We will touch base on these medications. Most importantly, we will look at various Vitamins, Minerals, & other Supplements for Asthma PatientsAlways talk with your physician about any supplements and medications you plan on taking or have started to take. These are recommendations for adults. Please talk with your licensed physician for use with children. Some are suitable and other supplements may not be.

13. An Asthma patient may be prescribed certain medications by their Doctor. Medications1: • Quick-relief medication: Short- Acting Beta 2- Agonists • Long term control medication • Combination of both Prescription Medications

14. Long Term Control Medications1 Anti-Inflammatory Medications: Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICSs) Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists (LTRAs) Mast Cell Stabilizers IgE Inhibitors Bronchodilators: Theophylline Prescription Medications

15. Vitamin C and other bioflavonoids can help reduce inflammation and protect lung tissue (p. 224). Vitamin C works well with quercitin and bromelain to help reduce inflammation and boost the immune system. • Vitamin C aids in tissue growth and repair and adrenal gland function (Balch, 2006, p. 23). Antioxidants are important to keeping the body healthy. • Calcium and Magnesium are minerals that work together to relax muscles and may help to stop acute asthma attacks (p.224). Vitamins & Minerals

16. Can’t afford all these vitamins and minerals? Eat them! Some food sources for Vitamin C are berries, citrus fruits, and greens. Shop fresh, local, and organic when possible. Calcium is found in dark leafy greens, almonds, asparagus, broccoli, seafood, and more! Many people go to dairy for calcium needs, but dairy is a common trigger for asthma and allergy patients. Magnesium is found in fish, seafood, apples, avocados, ad the list goes on! Another tip: Find a quality Multi-Vitamin and Mineral Natural Supplements

17. Quercitin and bromelain have an anti-histamine effect, and reduces inflammation (Balch, 2006, p.224). • Quercitin is a bioflavonoid that is wonderful to prevent asthma symptoms (Balch, 2006, p. 28). It is found in plants and foods, such as onions, green tea, apples, and more. • Bromelain works with Quercitin. Bromelain is an enzyme found in fresh pineapple. It can help reduce swelling and inflammation (Balch, 2006, p. 432). • Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation (Mayoclinic.com, Asthma and Alternative-medicine, 2013). Natural Supplements

18. Quercitin, Bromelain, and Omega-3 fatty acids all help reduce inflammation. • These can all be found in food a food source • Adding onions, apples, green tea, pineapple, quality fish, healthy oils and various nuts and seeds can all aid in reducing inflammation. • Purchasing supplements can become expensive, staring with our diet to obtain the benefits of quercitin, bromelain, and Omega-3 essential fatty acid is a good place to start. We all need to eat, so eat healthy! Natural Supplements

19. It is important to treat the gut for any issues. Gut issues are linked to inflammation in the body and allergies. • Probiotics: Replace good bacteria • Digestive enzymes: Aid in food digestion • Betaine Hydrochloride: Combats issues in the stomach and malabsorption (p.224). This should be prescribed by a licensed physician. • Gut issues can lead to allergic responses or further intolerances which will than induce even more inflammation. This is why the there is a need for probiotics and digestive enzymes for those suffering with asthma. Natural Supplements to help the gut

20. Including these Complementary and Alternative Modalities in my opinion and in my experience have greatly helped me control my asthma and has helped my 5 year old son with asthma control. • Exercise, yoga, breathing techniques, and acupuncture can all help relieve stress (Mayoclinic.com, Asthma and Alternative Medicine, 2013). • Chiropractic Care: This can help improve overall immune system function, lower cortisol levels, relieve tighten muscles and more2. • Using food as medicine, an anti- inflammatory diet is a crucial foundation for controlling any kind of inflammation in the body. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in the diet (Mayoclinic.com, Asthma, 2013). CAM for Asthma

21. It is important to talk with the doctor about an asthma action plan. Including Complementary and Alternative Medicine at this time would be a good idea. • Take medications prescribed to by the doctor • Take nutritional supplements • Keep a journal to track asthma “triggers” • Proper nutrition is most important. Identifying any food triggers, eating for proper gastro-intestinal system health, and eating a diet that aids in lowering inflammation are all important. • Always communicate with your physician about how you feel, medications, complementary and alternative treatments, and any other concerns you may have • Asthma that is left untreated can lead to distress in the body and asthma attacks can lead to death. . Living with Asthma

22. References