38, mild asthma getting worse...

[Mummylou22]

I was diagnosed at 6, prescribed blue and brown inhalers. Ive had loads of different ones over the years but recently have become interested in more natural treatments. I’d like to decrease my inhaler usage and concentrate more on diet and eating the right foods as inhalers and lifestyle are causing further health issues. I’m interested to talk to people who have had successes and failures as we learn from both. I’m also a hay fever sufferer and am allergic to fur. I have a nutritionist friend to talk to next week but would be good to go armed with some info, even if only anecdotal. Looking forward to hearing from some of you.

[Krcz]

Ok, think overhauling your diet gives you a very good start. Giving up dairy is the best place to start. If you eat meat, try incorporate more meat free days. And there is a fantastic supplement called pycnogenol from company called Pharma nord. Not cheap but it's best thing you can take/supplement with. Good for so many things. Have a look into it. It's has so many health benefits. Don't go for other brand than Pharma nord, as they won't be as good quality. Even my hairdresser was asking what I was doing as my hair has improved tons, and I am bleaching my dark hair for about 10 yrs now. People who took this drastically cut back on inhalers and some stopped using them completely. Guess depends on severity of asthma. Cost about 45 for first month after I think about 25 or a bit less

[Hidden in reply to Krcz]

There is no proof giving up dairy will make any difference to asthma unless you are allergic or sensitive to dairy.

It is important to eat a balanced diet with a leaning to vegetables a fruit and keeping the weight down will probably help slightly, although there is no proof giving up meat makes any difference to asthma.

There is no proof pycnogenol has any any effect on asthma and if it were some kind of wonder drug there would be trials and its use would be widespread. I have been involved in 3 clinical trials and there are thousands every year for hundreds of drugs.

[Krcz in reply to Hidden]

I wasn't saying it's a wonder drug. What works for one might not work for the other. It has helped me/ improved my health and someone who has asthma in my family.

[Mogget in reply to Krcz]

Interesting! I'd not heard of the supplement before but I just Googled it and found a report of a trial where it reduced allergic asthma symptoms: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2...

[Krcz in reply to Mogget]

There's loads you can find about it, I have a complete book regarding pycnogenol. Research says if taken long term it can reduce severity of symptoms and it is supposed to be very good for hayfever sufferers. But not a single medicine in the world or supplement has a guarantee it will work for every single person.

[Gareth57]

I would try things in stages, rather than making a bunch of changes to your diet and lifestyle all in one go, but 2 things to start with are, get fit/keep active and eat a good balanced healthy diet. Keeping fit will strengthen your lungs and help to clear out the mucus so you can breath, a good diet strengthens the immune system and your ability to your ability to ride out infections. When you’ve done these and gauged the improvements you can consider cutting food groups or taking supplements, but try 1 thing and give it time. There is no magic pill or the doctors would prescribe it!

[Clamdigger]

Look up Diet Doctor it is free for one month and you can cancel any time for free... Wheat causes asthma problems Corn is another one... I found my OA and FM went away after giving up wheat.. But I was still having problems and some one mentioned corn looked that up and it does cause asthma problems.... If you have allergy's your nose will run after eating the food ,,and it goes into your lungs and it causes infections.. My Dr told me to go on Paleo diet.. I was hiking a 16klm hike it took, 6 puffs to get through the hike ... After a month on the diet I took one that was just before I started.. My friend pointed it out.that I didn't take my puffer once on the hike....... To me,, its our food.... We come from pure foods like hunting and gathering. and today They spray our foods they changes our foods there loaded with chemicals ... The Dr. told me No wheat . no dairy . no bad oils like corn oils. No package foods...... Look into what is your allergy's.. Stop eating bread and all bread products for two days... Eat some see if your nose runs.... Take note when your eating when your nose runs,, it acts up your asthma ... Long term not dealing with it is ........ COPD small airways disease that is what happen to me .. Never smoked....... Lung infections all my life do to allgery's.It was all the foods I was eating like corn wheat , dairy and other allgery's I have......... Let us know how you made out.... But just look at your problem form a different view point.. I wish I was told years ago before I messed up my lungs.....

[Hidden]

over the years I have tried all the food elimination options and other things too. But the thing that made the difference for me was Seretide. Seretide 50 2 puffs twice a day. I was so bad with my asthma that I had a nebuliser by my bed and used it twice during the night before Seretide. I started on Seretide 250. Removing carpets and avoiding other environmental allergens also made a big difference.

[Mummylou22]

Thanks people. I was quite active the last few years as I had an active job, but in February this year I got a new job in a small office which meant I wasn’t moving as much through the day. I had been walking to work but since I got ill a month ago I’ve been driving because I was feeling rough, and now I feel really tired and lethargic-I had put it down to the illness but maybe now it’s jusy laziness and I got out of the habit... I had a look at the Pycnogenol and it’s got the same chemical as something I was recommended for my sons allergies, quercetin. I’ve also jumped on YouTube and looked for beneficial herbs, and looked at Dr Axe...

Seretide 125 is what ive been on for years, but I’ve recently been given a dry powder inhaler to try since that wasn’t working as well as it used to - I feel that the dry inhaler just ends up sticking to the back of my throat, I’m not sure any of it is going in my lungs!!!

I’m not sure if I have any food allergies but I know I feel ill at the moment. I’m going to cut the crap out of my diet, try to exercise more (but more difficult now as the weather is colder and that hurts my lungs) and see what supplements my friend thinks are a good idea, and take it from there.

Thanks all for your comments and to those who shared what works for them