More than 50 million Americans suffer from asthma and allergies. Of these, 17 million have asthma, a potentially life-threatening disease that affects airflow when breathing muscles squeeze, swell or are blocked by excess mucus.
More than 70% of asthma sufferers also have allergies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the prevalence of asthma has increased dramatically in recent years, up 75% in just 14 years, between 1980 and 1994. Experts theorize the increased amount of air pollution is responsible for at least part of this increase.
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| Signs Of Yeast Allergy |
CDC statistics also show that 9.1% of women suffer from asthma, and 5.1% of men have the disease.
SYMPTOMS
In an acute episode, the following symptoms are most frequently present:
- wheezing
- coughing
- shortness of breath
- constriction of the chest muscles
- sputum production
- excess rapid breathing/gasping
- rapid heart rate
- exhaustion
- chronic nighttime coughing
- chest pain
- chest tightness
- insomnia due to shortness of breath
- acid reflux disease
- sensitivity to medications, especially NSAIDS (such as ibuprofen) and beta-blockers used to treat heart disease and migraines
- intolerance to the smell of chemicals
- allergens, including food allergies
- viral or sinus infections
- exercise
- emotional anxiety
- air pollutants such as tobacco smoke and airborne chemicals
- workplace allergens, dust, vapors or chemical fumes
- strong odors or sprays such as perfumes, household cleaners and chemicals
- changing weather conditions
Standard treatment of asthma involves continuous use of medications to prevent airway inflammation. Among them are:
- corticosteroids, both inhaled and taken orally.
- anti-inflammatory medications, such as cromolyn or nedocromil, that prevent lung inflammation and stop inflammation if it occurs.
- rescue medication taken to stop an attack in progress, including beta-agonists and theophylline.
- anti-leukotrienes that fight the leukotrienes responsible for airway inflammation.
In his 2001 book, Asthma Survival, Dr. Ivker included more than 35 pages about the relationship of Candida albicans to asthma. In discussing his own observations in practice, Dr. Ivkea" said:
... the overuse of antibiotics has contributed to a gradual weakening and dysfunction of the immune system that facilitates the survival and growth of these supergerms, in addition to causing an overgrowth of yeast organisms, or candidiasis. In fact, a 1999 study performed in New Zealand at the Wellington School of Medicine, found that antibiotic use in infancy may be associated with a significantly increased risk of developing asthma.
In at least two-thirds of asthmatics, there is a history of recurrent sinusitis. Almost every one of these sinus infections is treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. In the first Sinus Survival Study, completed in March 2000, the 10 participants each had moderate to severe chronic sinusitis that had not responded to conventional treatment - antibiotics and, in several instances, surgery. All of them scored above 180 on the Candida Questionnaire, four had asthma besides the sinusitis, and each was treated with the antifungal (candida is a type of fungus) drug Diflucan 200 mg./day for six weeks in addition to the entire Sinus Survival Program.
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Following this course of treatment, nine of the 10 participants experienced a dramatic improvement in their sinus symptoms (many were feeling better than they had in years), while three of the four asthmatics reported similar results with their asthma - much less difficulty breathing, along with a significant reduction in their need for their inhalers ... This study provides evidence supporting the findings of the 1999 Mayo Clinic study. They reported that an immune system response to fungus rather than bacterial infection is the cause of most cases of chronic sinusitis. To find out more, you can check out Signs Of Yeast Allergy.