Asthma and Allergies
Asthma reactions are becoming more and more common, at present about 500,000 New Zealanders and 2.500,000 Australians have been diagnosed with it. That’s 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 7 children, and it is the most common reason for hospital admissions in children.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lungs which causes narrow, swollen airways, increased mucus, shortness of breath, chest tightening, coughing and wheezing. During an asthma attack, spasms in the muscles surrounding the bronchi (small airways in the lungs) constrict disrupting the outward passage of air. An attack can last for a few minutes or several hours.
There are two types of asthma, allergic and non allergic. Allergic asthma is caused by an allergy to a particular substance like food. Non-allergic is not caused by an allergy but may be triggered by other factors. Asthmatic lungs are sensitive and overreact to stimuli usually harmless to others such as allergens like pollen and dust, air pollutants like smoke and chlorine and can even be triggered by strong emotions, changes in temperature and humidity. For asthma sufferers, winter can make their symptoms worse due to the cold dry air that irritates their airways and the increase in mucus that occurs.
Asthma isn’t always a chronic condition, you can get acute flare ups from upper respiratory tract infections, exercising in cold dry air and exposure to airborne allergens like mold or pollen.
Intrinsic (viral induced) asthma
Sometimes an infection of the airways, heavy cold or flu can cause asthma to happen for the first time. When the body faces a viral infection, the body sends an inflammatory response to attack and defend. This can cause swelling and increased sensitivity of airway cells as well as excess mucus production. Post infection your symptoms should dissipate, but you may be susceptible to getting it again if you get another respiratory illness. (1)
Persisting COVID symptoms are common in people with asthma. COVID and the immune response it triggers can damage the walls and lining of the alveolar and capillaries. This is why long term lung damage occurs in some people even after the acute illness is over. A study published in 2022 suggested that patients with asthma post COVID had worsening of asthma control after they recovered from COVID. COVID can also affect lung health and function even if previously healthy. (2)
Allergic asthma
Environmental triggers
Allergen exposure can temporarily increase the inflammation of your airways making you more susceptible to an attack. Common allergic airborne substances are mould, dust, dust mites, grass, pet dander and cockroaches. When these substances are inhaled the body can perceive them as being a danger to the immune system and cause an allergic reaction. Your airways may constrict, produce more mucus and become red and swollen. This will cause you to experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.
Two thirds of asthmatics have been found to have environmental allergies, especially from irritation from mould spores both inside and outside the home which is generally worse during the winter months. A study done with 181 patients with asthma were tested for mold allergies. 76% of patients with severe asthma tested positive for at least one mould species allergy, and 50% tested positive for multiple mould species allergies.
Also, cockroaches may not be on your radar as a trigger for asthma but they can often cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive. The allergens produced by cockroaches are concentrated in their fecal matter, saliva and fragments of their body parts. On inhalation, the proteins present inflame and constrict the airways leading to asthma symptoms. These tiny particles form dust and become airborne, contaminating your home. They are in the highest amounts in the kitchen but the most common way to inhale cockroach allergen is to breathe in dust that has collected on pillows, bedding or other dust-trapping fabrics.
Reactions to dust, dust mites, mold, cockroaches or animal dander can also trigger nocturnal asthma. When lying down in your bed, you could be inhaling these substances and develop allergic asthma symptoms after a few hours. The worst time is 2am – 3am, when there is a natural decrease in circulating corticosteroids and epinephrine substances in the body, which can trigger coughing.
Food additives
Food additives have been known to cause attacks, especially the artificial colours tartrazine (orange), sunset yellow, amaranth (red), coccine (red), pate blue and the food preservatives benzoates, sulfites and MSG.
It is also important to note that some asthma medications contain sulfites which can trigger bronchospasms. Sulfites are naturally occurring in some foods, but are also widely used as a food additive to preserve colour and prevent food spoilage. They are most often found in soft drinks, cordials, dried fruit, wine fermented foods, almost all processed foods including potato and corn chips and processed meats like sausages and hamburgers. The food additive numbers are 220-224 and 226 – 228.
It is estimated that between 5 to 10% of people with asthma have adverse reactions to sulfites. There is no clear understanding of why inhaled sulfites trigger this to happen but it is speculated that it forms sulfur dioxide within the airways which affects the airway mucosa and activates the allergic antibodies IGE and bronchoconstriction. Isoproterenol and Isoetharine contain sulfites in sufficient dosage to trigger bronchospasm in some patients with asthma.
Food triggers
Dairy products – Dairy is the most common food allergy/sensitivity that can trigger an asthma attack. It has been shown to trigger asthma symptoms in up to 80% of children who are allergic to it. Dairy contains the protein casein which can be inflammatory for some people. It is also mucous forming so can exacerbate clogging of the lungs. When more mucus accumulates in the lungs than can be expelled asthma attacks develop. Common dairy products include are milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, sour cream and ice cream.
Eggs – When eggs are eaten in some people they may produce antibodies to the egg proteins. These antibodies can cause symptoms such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Shellfish – Can be trigger for asthma attacks as they contain high levels of histamine which can cause inflammation of the airways and sulfites are often added to prevent the shellfish discoloring.
Fish – Fish can also be a trigger for asthma because it contains a type of protein called parvalbumin which is known to cause allergies in some people and cause an attack.
Peanuts – Peanut allergies have been thought to come about from the unusual way they grow (3). It flowers above ground but its seed containing pods grow underground. This exposes the growing pods to soil borne pathogens and pests which can also create openings for opportunistic fungi like Aspergillus to infiltrate the pod. Because of this predation the seed protein has evolved to act as part of the plants defense system so when interacting with the pathogens the proteins modify and damage the cells membranes, interact with immune receptors and modulate signaling pathways. When some people ingest, or even inhale these proteins an immune response occurs with the production of specific IgE leading to various symptoms depending on the person’s sensitivity.
Tree nuts – Although different species – peanuts are actually not a nut, but a legume. They contain a protein that is similar to the protein in peanuts that can cause an inflammatory response in the airways, leading to asthma symptoms.
Wheat – Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease caused directly by eating gluten (5). It is also a chronic inflammatory condition that doesn’t just affect your gut. Inflammation can occur all over the body. Gluten triggers a cascade of events that lead to the release of leukotrienes which are inflammatory molecules produced by the immune system which are also released during asthma attacks. They cause wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Children with celiac disease have a 2 times higher risk of developing asthma.
Salicylates
Salicylates are a family of food chemicals that occur naturally in plants, which can triggers reactions in asthmatics. They act as a natural pesticide and protect plants from insects, fungi, bacteria and disease. They are present in fruits, especially if unripe and in the skin, vegetables, nuts, spices, herbs, james, honey, tea, coffee, yeast extracts, beer, wine, and natural flavorings. They are also created synthetically and can be found in perfumes, cleaning products, washing powders, botanical oils, and medications. Salicylates have an cumulative effect over time and the tolerated amount varies from person to person.
Aspirin induced asthma is due to a type of salicylate, salicylic acid, present in medications like aspirin, NSAIDS and beta blockers, which can trigger asthmatic symptoms from over production of pro inflammatory leukotrienes.
Managing asthma symptoms
Supplementation
Asthma is an inflammatory condition in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. In particular mast cells, eosinophils, T lymphocytes, neutrophils and epithelial cells all which are involved in allergic reactions and the immune system. Supplements aimed at reducing inflammation and keeping the immune system strong are important factors in reducing asthmatic attacks.
With many beneficial vitamins and minerals, it’s best to follow the guidance of a qualified Naturopath who has done a holistic assessment of your symptoms.
Managing stress
Stress causes a surge of stress hormones. This causes our body to become tense, increases our heart rate, and makes our breathing become shallow and fast. This change in breathing pattern can trigger a flare up. Working on toning your vagus nerve can help reduce bronchoconstriction associated with asthma.
Buteyko breathing technique
This is a very successful programme that teaches you how to control your symptoms through breathing techniques and lifestyle guidelines.
We recommend Janna Kremez from FunBE (Functional Breathing and Education), who offers a holistic breathing and orofacial myology (aka orofacial myofunctional therapy) practice for all ages located on the Gold Coast, Australia as well as offering services online via telehealth.
Natural Allergy Treatment
At Health & Wellness Australia & Auckland (HWA), we use a technique called muscle testing (or kinesiology) to help identify reactions to food and environmental substances that may be triggering or exacerbating your asthma symptoms.
Following testing, you can work with your qualified Naturopath to address the reactions to your food and airborne skin triggers using a natural allergy treatment called Positive Association Technique (PAT).
Get in touch
- Call us on 1300 853 023 / 09 479 5997 (NZ) to chat to our friendly staff
- Send us your question HERE
- Request a Free PAT Information E-PACK HERE
Written by our expert PAT Naturopath – Jenny Bates
Jenny (Adv Dip Naturopathy, Dip Nutrition) has been a Naturopath performing PAT since 2004. Over that time, she has worked with countless clients in both our Sydney and Auckland clinics, and now trains and mentors PAT practitioners all over Australia and New Zealand.
Please note that this blog post contains general information only. Always consult your health care professional before changing your diet, starting new supplements or regarding any medical condition.
