Asthma

Asthma is a chronic (long-lasting) inflammatory disease of the airways. In those susceptible to asthma, this inflammation causes the airways to narrow periodically. This, in turn, produces wheezing and breathlessness, sometimes to the point where the patient gasps for air.

Nut products during pregnancy increases asthma risk in children

This study provides evidence on the relationship between maternal diet during pregnancy and longitudinal development of childhood asthma. Daily consumption of nut products increased the risk of asthma outcomes during the first 8 years of life. – Expectant mothers who eat nuts or nut products like peanut butter daily during pregnancy increase their children’s risk of developing asthma by more than 50 percent over women who rarely or never consume nut products during pregnancy, according to new research from the Netherlands.

First-born babies’ have higher asthma and allergy rates

First-born babies’ higher asthma and allergy rates due to pregnancy conditions. Allergic reactions are programmed during pregnancy and then effect the disease in later life. – First-born children are at higher risk of developing asthma and allergy because of different conditions they experience in the uterus, revealed by researchers.

Purple passion fruit peel reduces asthma symptoms

Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma – Passion fruit peel can significantly improve the symptoms of asthma. Patients given an extract from the Purple passion fruit’s peel had reduced wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath, due to anti-oxidant, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties of Purple passion fruit.

Asthma in obese more severe

A new research from University of Otago revealed that the obesity can worsen the impact of asthma and may also increase its severity, published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. – Obesity can worsen the impact of asthma and may also increase its severity, according to new University of Otago research.

Gene variant CHI3L1 increases risk of asthma

A tiny variation in a gene known as CHI3L1 increases susceptibility to asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and decline in lung function, researchers report early online in the New England Journal of Medicine. – A tiny variation in a gene known as CHI3L1 increases susceptibility to asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and decline in lung function, researchers report early online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Aspirin reduces asthma risk in women

Randomized aspirin assignment and risk of adult onset asthma in the women’s health study. – Aspirin in small quantity on alternate days can cut the risk of developing asthma among women, suggests a large study, published ahead of print in Thorax from UK.

Skin prick tests identify asthma risk for toddlers with eczema

Toddlers with eczema who have a positive skin prick test for allergy have almost triple the risk of developing asthma than those with a negative test. – Toddlers with eczema who have a positive skin prick test for allergy have almost triple the risk of developing asthma than those with a negative test, says an Australian study.

Childhood asthma from mothers stress

Maternal distress in early life plays a role in the development of childhood asthma, especially if distress continues beyond the postpartum period. – Evidence is emerging that exposure to maternal distress in early life plays a causal role in the development of childhood asthma. Children whose mothers are chronically stressed during their early years have a higher asthma rate than their peers, regardless of their income, gender or other known asthma risk factors.

Diesel exhaust fumes affect people with asthma

This is the first study to investigate in a real-life setting, outside of the laboratory, if traffic fumes make symptoms worse for people with asthma. Two thirds of people with asthma believe this to be the case.
– Diesel exhaust fumes on polluted streets have a measurable effect on people with asthma, according to the first study looking at exhausts and asthma in a real-life setting, published on 6 December in the New England Journal of Medicine.