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Saturday 27 June 2020
Breathing Hard

By: Carlos M Viana, Board Certified who are able, to breastfeed as
Clinical Nutritionist long as possible. This is the single
SANTA CRUZ - A sudden difficulty in most important thing a mother can
breathing with a tight feeling in the do for her baby. Introducing milk
chest including coughing was de- other than breast milk to infants
scribed by the Greeks as “azein.” younger than 4 months old increas-
This is the word that asthma comes es the risk of asthma and a predis-
from. These symptoms are consid- position to certain allergies. Babies
ered a disease of the respiratory given bottle milk before their fourth
system and are sometimes caused month are 25% more likely to be
by allergies. diagnosed with allergies than are
There are two types of asthma, ex- children who received only breast
trinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic asthma milk during their early months. The
is caused by allergies that can af- length of exclusive breastfeeding
fect the lungs, skin, and mucous is less important, though longer
membranes. Intrinsic asthma does breastfeeding has been associ-
not stimulate the body’s immune ated with less asthma and allergy.
system and is a reaction to such Childhood respiratory problems,
things as cold air, exercise, infec- including asthma, may be linked
tion, chronic inflammation, emo- to inhaling the mixture of chemi-
tional upsets, and irritating smells. cals emitted from disposable dia-
About 34 million North Americans pers. Studies show that chemical
have been diagnosed with asth- emissions of some disposable dia-
ma, and the number is expected pers had immediate health ef-
to rise dramatically. According fects in animals. Cotton dippers
to the Center for Disease Control now come in convenient to clean
in the United States asthma is “a and use styles, so there is no ex-
more severe disease than before, cuse not to go natural. Actually,
despite modern drug treatments; it is wise to avoid all chemicals if
from 1982-1992, the death rate possible. Read the labels of the
from asthma in the United States products you use on you child or to
increased by 35%.” These statistics clean their clothes and your home.
are flattering to neither the phar- Choose non-toxic, biodegradable We know that antibiotics are linked recommend using sea water and
maceutical giants nor convention- options, and do not be fooled by to asthma and allergies many sunshine for many viruses.
al doctors. the word “natural”. Natural may times causing production of ex- Many people including doctors
Children younger than ten suffer only be part of a product full of un- cess mucus and breathing prob- are unaware or ill informed when
the most from asthma. Researchers natural additives. lems. A Canadian study found chil- it comes to the profound impact
in Finland have found that children Another huge problem with dren treated with antibiotics under that diet has on most allergies.
delivered through modern medi- breathing is that children who live the age of one are twice as likely We have seen patients improve
cal childbirth interventions appear in a home where people are pollut- to develop asthma in childhood. dramatically with strict dietary
to be at greater risk for developing ing the air with secondhand ciga- Early studies suggested antibiotics changes. Cow milk, including in
childhood asthma than children rette and cigar smoke are prone to and other drugs could affect the baby formula is one of the most
delivered naturally. Babies deliv- more respiratory infections, includ- way the immune system works. Ex- offensive, mucus producing foods
ered by Cesarean Section have ing ear, nose and throat. Luck- perts believe they kill off beneficial today. As a clinical nutritionist, af-
a 38% increased risk of develop- ily, many offices are smoke-free bacteria in the intestine and that ter eliminating most milk from the
ing asthma, Vacuum Extraction a today, but we have many adults this may lead to changes in the diets of anyone suffering from asth-
32% increase, and Forceps Delivery come to us with lung and respira- way the body deals with disease. ma or allergies, I suggest healthier
have a 114% increase. tory problems from working in a Most mild asthma does not surface calcium rich foods like rice milk or
Professionally, I encourage all smoky environment. until the body is compromised with dark green vegetables for growing
healthy, expectant mothers to use And these are not the only prob- an upper respiratory viral infection. and maintaining strong bones and
a midwife and promote all women lems linked to breathing problems. Antibiotics do not to fight viruses. I teeth.q