Center For Family Wellness

Asthma

Approximately 15 million people in the United States suffer from asthma. Five thousand asthma sufferers die every year. In 1990, the direct cost of asthma for drugs, physician visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations was $3.6 Billion. An additional $2.6 Billion were lost due to absenteeism from work and school.

Asthma is a hypersensitivity reaction causing bronchospasm, or constriction of the airway passages, swelling of the mucous membranes, and increased bronchial mucous secretion leading to respiratory distress. The airway obstruction that occurs is reversible in the vast majority of patients. The irritability that is associated with asthma increases the airway=s sensitivity to a variety of airborne as well as non-airborne stimuli. It can be very frightening to go through an episode, especially for a child.

A noxious substance enters the lungs and airways irritating the mucous lining. The result of this irritation is bronchospasm which constricts the airway passage. The degree of constriction seems to be directly related to the amount of inflammation. Mast cells (specialized white blood cells) seem to be more involved in the response to the inhaled allergens, while eosinophils (specialized white blood cells), which actually contain proteins that have been shown to damage the airway passages, are more associated with overall allergic sensitivity.

Traditional treatment includes agents or methods that cause bronchodilation (dilation of the airway passages) and reduce the body=s natural immune response. Typically, Beta-adrenergic stimulators (medications such as albuterol, Maxair, Proventil, Tornalate, and Ventolin) are very effective chemical bronchodilators; however they do not significantly reduce inflammation and they do have side effects that we must be aware of (tumor production, abnormal growth of the fetus during pregnancy, and tremors). Steroids (Beclovent inhaler and prednisone) are often utilized to minimize damage when the immune system produces a large number of eosinophils and masts cells in the lung tissue.

Common Triggers for Asthma

Triggers will initiate the asthmatic attack. There may be many triggers that cause an individual episode. The key is to understand them and to minimize them as much as possible.

Allergic Triggers
animal dander cat hair and saliva cockroaches dog hair and saliva dust mites food additives	foods medications mold pollen preservatives ragweed
Non-Allergic Triggers
additives air pollution chemical odors coal smoke cold air cold drink cooking fuel emotional stress weather changes	exercise heart burn increased intestinal permeability (poor digestion) nutritional deficiency paint fumes scents tobacco smoke upper respiratory infection wood smoke

Functional Medicine Approach

The Functional Medicine approach to asthma is to address the underlying causes and to eliminate these as much as possible without the use of drugs. Additionally, lifestyle changes should be incorporated to maintain proper balance of those organ systems which are affected. Finally, triggers for the asthma which cannot be completely eliminated should be avoided as much as possible B part of the process of healing is learning about your body.

The main driving forces in asthma are:

irritation from allergies
inflammation
bronchospasm

Treatment of Allergies

Testing for allergies can identify allergens, both airborne and food related, that increase the allergic load in the body and therefore make it more sensitive to stimulants. Also, decreasing the allergic load in turn decreases the mast cell and eosinophil load on the body. Eliminating the agents that produce allergic reactions will decrease the major exciting cause for asthma and significantly decrease the inflammation within the airways. As inflammation decreases over time, the body becomes less hypersensitive and bronchospasm response becomes less. Allergy testing performed should be the blood test, not the skin scratch test, and should be performed for both the IgE and IgG4 pathways. The blood test gives much more accurate results.

Chiropractic Treatment

Often, spinal manipulation of the upper-to-mid thoracic vertebrae help correct improper nerve impulses to the muscular lining of the bronchioles and airway passages. There is a special nervous system called the Autonomic Nervous System which is comprised of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. These nerves supply tone to the muscles of the airways. Balancing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system can result in bronchodilation and easier breathing.

Additional Diagnostic Work-Up

A general SMAC or blood chemistry is helpful to determine what other organ systems are doing and if they need nutritional attention. Additionally, Lung Capacity Testing should be performed to determine the extent of the obstructive airway disease and to measure change to determine treatment efficacy. If there are digestive problems present as well, a complete digestive stool analysis can provide much information as to how you are assimilating your foods and if there is any toxic build-up in the bowels that may contribute to allergies.

Dr. Smith has had much success treating people with asthma, both adults and children. If you are interested in further information, or perhaps a consultation with Dr. Smith, please call our office.