Health Center - Allergies and Asthma
If you or someone you love suffers from allergies or asthma, you know firsthand how difficult it can be to manage symptoms such as difficulty breathing, itchy eyes or a runny nose. Educate yourself and get tips to improve your quality of life in our Allergies and Asthma Health Center. Allergies Guide Asthma Guide
Allergy and Asthma Relief
by Pamela M. Peeke, MD, MPH
One of the best things you can do when you feel overwhelmed or under stress is close your eyes (assuming you're not driving at the time) and visualize a calming, relaxing place. It could be a tropical resort, a peaceful room lit only by a single candle or a field covered in wildflowers.
Now breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, making a humming sound as you breathe out. This is called percussive breathing, and it not only serves to center you and stem the release of stress hormones, but helps release the tight feeling around your chest that can lead to an asthma attack.
By combining environmental changes with preventive medication, a healthy diet, weight loss and stress management tools, I'm sure you'll find that you're better able to control both allergy and asthma symptoms.
Heartburn and Asthma
If you have asthma and frequent heartburn, the two may be related. Studies show that as many as 70 percent of people with asthma also have gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, in which stomach acid washes up through the esophagus.
We're not quite sure why the two co-exist, but suspect the asthma somehow contributes to a relaxation of the esophageal sphincter, the muscle that is supposed to keep stomach contents in the stomach.
It may also be that GERD contributes to asthma in some way, since at least one study finds that anti-reflux surgery can significantly improve asthma symptoms in patients with both. You don't have to go the surgical route, however. Try to avoid acidic or fatty foods that exacerbate GERD, like tomatoes, chocolate, fast food and fried food. Also avoid peppermint or spearmint candies or herbs. And, as mentioned earlier, losing weight can help with both conditions.
