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Among the most affected were children, 9.6 percent of whom had asthma, and especially poor children, of whom 13.5 percent had it.
While 7.7 percent of adults were found to have asthma, the rate was higher among women (9.7 percent) and among poor adults of both sexes (10.6 percent).
It's curious to me that women are getting asthma, allergies and autoimmune diseases more than men. Connection to estrogen-mimicking toxic chemicals out there? Poor people too - probably from polluted, dense neighborhoods, poor indoor air quality, and possibly less access to healthy food.
Researchers are investigating several potential causes for the increase in asthma, including exposure to various allergens, traffic exhaust fumes, pesticides and certain plastics, as well as factors like obesity and diet that may play a role, said Dr. Rachel L. Miller, director of the asthma project at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
“There’s no easy singular explanation,” Dr. Miller said. “The more we study this, the more it raises a lot of questions. It’s not a straightforward puzzle at all.”
I notice they don't mention air pollution from corporate emmissions like coal-burning power plants. Traffic exhaust? Could that have changed drastically in the last 10 years? Cars burn cleaner now, and don't emit lead-tainted fumes. Unless ethanol is giving out some potent supertoxin. Diesel contaminants maybe?
I'm afraid even if they find the answer in some laboratory or population study, industry will do everything they can to supress the results, and we'll all be in the dark as usuall.
Diesel emissions could be a factor, since the use of diesel engines has skyrocketed in the last 30 to 40 years, (as has the burning of jet fuel in aircraft engines - every cross-country flight requires thousands of gallons of fuel), but I have a hunch that the primary culprit, by far, is the negative effect on the immune system of the fetus, caused by an inadequate vitamin D level in the mother, during gestation. Of course, it could be a combination of vitamin D insufficiency, and certain chemical influences during gestation, but IMO, the damage is done during gestation, in the form of a compromised immune system.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex,
You are probably right. I had forgotten the critical gestational period as a primary factor in our misfiring immune systems. Someone should be studying the levels of industrial chemicals in pregnant women, and then tracking the possible effects on their offspring.
Of course there's the whole "allergic march".. eczema in babies, followed by allergies and asthma later on. I believe this march is often triggered by formula feeding and the food intolerances it causes (namely to cow's milk). My hubby had all 3 after becoming allergic to formula in his first weeks of life. Yet milk intolerance symptoms can be very mild in some people. Constipation, maybe rashes or excess mucous. Not enough to suspect...
Then again, are toxic moms also polluting their kids with toxic breast milk? Has anyone studied how much of mom's toxic burden is excreted in her milk?
And then there's the early immune system assualt of vaccines...
Zizzle wrote:Has anyone studied how much of mom's toxic burden is excreted in her milk?
I don't know about "toxic burden" in general, but research shows that the two most common mycotoxins to show up in mother's milk, are aflatoxin and ochratoxin, and these create major problems in many areas of the world. Mycotoxins can be found in many foods, but the cereal grains are by far the worst offenders. Zearalenone is an important oestrogenic toxin that often can be found in cereals, along with toxins that are produced as byproducts of fusarium fungi which grows on cereals. In addition to these, corn can also contain fumonisin, and wheat can contain vomitoxin, and of course, there are many less important mycotoxins that could be a factor.
So probably, immune system compromises occur prior to birth, and these "defects" are exploited by both naturally-occurring mycotoxins, and synthetic chemicals, (in the form of additives), in our food, and our immune system is additionally unnaturally assaulted by antibiotics and vaccines, and these all combine to promote food sensitivities. That's wild speculation, of course, but certainly possible.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I think that stress plays a greater role than we know sometimes, especially in women's health. Women are nurturers, and are supposed to be taken care of so they can take care of the children and the home. When women are not "taken care of" whatever that means to them, it leads to stress. And I don't mean just financial care but emotional care, and security.
A problem I have with some homeschoolers (as a 20-year veteran homeschooler I have the right to say what I want ) is that they don't prepare their girls to take care of themselves. They think that they will get married and live happily ever after. And I am sure that many will. But in my family, my daughter-in-law's family, and most homeschooling families I know, the happy ending is not expected, only anticipated. Bad things happen, including Prince Charming never making an appearance. Wow, this must really be on my mind as we are starting the college talk with our 16-year-old.
Anyway... I know that stress has played a major role, probably a predominant role in the development of my disease. And yes--on top of everything else, I do struggle with asthma attacks from time to time. As I have become reconciled to the fact over the last several years that a major traumatic experience in my husband's life means that I must help provide for our family, and I have begun to do that in a way that little impacts my primary roles as wife and mother, my stress level has decreased. I can tell that not only is my MC better, but my hypothyroidism, and my blood pressure. And this is the first time in years that I have not had to deal with asthma attacks for some time after having a head/chest cold.
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
I agree with you that stress can certainly help to "trip the trigger".
Incidentally, vomitoxin is aptly named - believe it or not, the primary clinical symptom is exactly what the name suggests.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
myself and my siblings all had asthma from early childhood, and allergies to grasses and animals. Prior to this Asthma had not been an issue on either side of the geneology.
Both my parents had considerable exposure to DDT during their childhoods.
-my brother and I both have 'minor birth defects' (me the absence of ligaments to hold my bowel in place)
- my Father and his only sibling his brother both died of brain tumors that were located in the same quadrants of their brain. My father was 51 when he passed and his brother was 55. Their mother is still alive aged 99.
There is also the prevalence of indoor pollutants and an increase in a sedimenrtary lifestyle. Kids and adults are spending more time indoors with reduced physical activity. If we couple this with increase indoor toxins from the synthetic materials that are on the rise we have a situation where the individual faces two problems, reduced physical activity and increased exposure to airborne contaminates from plastics like PBA's and formaldehyde from building materials.
Here is a good write-up to this effect that discusses indoor chemical exposure and the prevalence of asthma
Titled:
Indoor residential chemical exposures as a risk factor for asthma and allergy in infants and children
What an interesting thread! I agree with what "all of y'all" have proposed. Zizzle, I am very anti-cow's milk and have been for a long time. No other animal on the planet drinks milk after infancy - just us humans. And why do we assume that human infants should drink what baby calves do? It makes no sense to me at all. (Do you think this is sour grapes because I have a dairy sensitivity? LOL!)
Dr. Cannell recently gave credit to the researcher who discovered that optimal blood levels of vitamin D need to be at least 50. He discovered this in a clever way.......by determining what blood level of vitamin D in a mother was needed to provide the level of vitamin D in her breast milk that would be needed by her infant.
I truly believe, like Tex, that vitamin D deficiency underlies many of the illnesses in this country. Sigh. My own hubby recently had a vitamin D level done by his internist at my request. It came back "undetectable". And then, his doc prescribed 50,000 IUs of vitamin D once a month for 3 months as the treatment. Geesh - the body normally uses about 5000 IUs per day. I have had Scott taking an additional 6000 IUs per day for 3 mo. now. The level has come up to 30, but we still have a long way to go.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Joe,
Very interesting. My house remodel is creating a "green home" which will qualify for energy star designations and the like. We are using geothermal heating and cooling, mostly cellulose insulation (shredded newsprint), low VOC paint, all wood flooring, etc. but I walk around the jobsite sometimes and look at the various building and drywall adhesive tubes laying around...lots of chemicals in those. I suspect my house will be "off-gasing" for some period of time after we move in. Of course it will be the dead of summer in the mid-atlantic, so leaving the windows open will not be an option. The house will be so airtight, it requires a special airhandler that completely replaces the air in the bedrooms with fresh air every 8 hours. I've always been a fresh air/windows open person, but having a husband and daughter with SEVERE pollen allergies, I'm being reconditioned to avoid contact with the outdoors. Of course we're not doing too well with allergen avoidance, but it's always on our mind. Next up will be trying to afford modern furniture that isn't made with formaldehyde-laden MDF.
Polly,
It's good to hear a pediatrician who isn't pushing cow's milk as the most essential nutrition for kids!! My lactose-intolerant son is loving coconut milk but still eats lots of yogurt and cheese. My husband and daughter, the allergy and sinus sufferers, would probably benefit most from cutting dairy, but so far, no-go. Thanks for the reminder that our otherwise "healthy" hubbies need to have their D levels checked too. At least mine is taking 2,000IU/day with me. Next time he sees a doctor I'll insist on a test. His docs listen to me now...I saved his life once by suspecting rocky mountain spotted fever and insisting on early antibiotics (his doctor was incredulous but complied and offered the rx). Had he waited one more day, he would have gone straight into an ICU.
Polly,
Are you aware of any docs prescribing Oral Sublingual Immunotherapy for kids with allergies? My daughter would be the first in line for this treatment. It seems to me tens of thousands of kids could benefit and we could possibly reduce the number of new asthmatics.
SCIT has been shown to be capable of modifying the natural history of the disease (i.e. the onset of asthma in rhinitis patients) and of preventing the onset of new sensitizations. Moreover, a long-lasting effect of SCIT after discontinuation has been repeatedly seen in several clinical trials.
I had asthmatic bronchitis as a child (my mother smoked??) sometimes so severe I had to get adrenaline shots. I outgrew that but developed hayfever in my teens shortly after a tonsillectomy (coincidence?). The hayfever got so bad (I couldn't smell or taste from May until October) that I opted for allergy shots for about five years in my early 20's. The shots were very effective for me and I have very little seasonal allergies anymore. Grass, tree, mold, dust, and pets were my major triggers. I don't know if the oral treatments are as effective as the shots but I'd certainly try it if I needed it.
Deb,
My sister and I had weekly allergy shots as young girls in Costa Rica. We think it was for mold allergy (my mom can't remember!!). The Saturday morning trips to the pharmacist's back room for a shot in the butt were absolutely agonizing. I remember them like it was yesterday. I can't possibly do that to my 4 yr old daughter, so the idea of sublingual therapy is very interesting. I wonder if raw local honey, eaten daily throughout the year, might have the same effect? To the extent that local honey includes small amounts of the allergen? I wonder if there is homeopathy that can accomplish the same thing? Desensitization through daily or weekly exposure to small amounts of the allergen throughout the year?
My brother and I had allergy shots, too - I was the big sis, so went first to show him it wasn't so bad. It worked on me; I don't remember it with nearly the dread you describe, Z!... though he howled every single time, as I remember it ;)
Pets and normal levels of dust are OK with me now - molds are iffy but not threatening (I can go into a musty basement, if I have to). I still get seasonal allergies, but it's not nearly so horrible now (we'll see how this year treats me, with all the MC ups and downs). I have used freeze-dried nettles from Eclectic Institute - and they really help, but I am nervous now about mast cell implications. They come in a powder form as well as capsules - and it's basically a green vegetable, so I have always considered it benign. I mention the brand because other brands helped some, but this one was noticeably superior (for me, anyway). There may be other good ones, too.
My local/raw honey is even more local to you - and it is delicious. It's called Really Raw Honey, from Baltimore (reallyrawhoney.com) and I think it helps. (But I might just be justifying an awesome sweet treat.) I don't take it all year, but try to get a few weeks' headstart on the allergy season with it, and also with the nettles. I find that the nettles don't smack-down an allergic sneezefest the way drugs like Benadryl do - but taking them consistently turns down the volume on my reaction to a very tolerable level. On bad days I'll also do a neti pot or salt water gargle, but that seems like too much to ask of your 4yo.
I hope you find something that helps your girl. Are you seasonal allergies still troublesome?
Zizzle, my sister swears that local honey helped her. Allergy shots would certainly be a problem with a four year old. Mine were in my arm not in the butt.
I still have mold and dust issues but it's not as debilitating as the grasses and trees were. Even old books can trigger an effect on me. I like a neti pot
too for colds and allergy symptoms.
) is that they don't prepare their girls to take care of themselves. They think that they will get married and live happily ever after. And I am sure that many will. But in my family, my daughter-in-law's family, and most homeschooling families I know, the happy ending is not expected, only anticipated. Bad things happen, including Prince Charming never making an appearance. Wow, this must really be on my mind as we are starting the college talk with our 16-year-old.
