Asthma-Stress Connection. How to manage it

 By Dr. Richard Firshein

My life was severely affected by asthma and allergies.  For many years I needlessly suffered, not fully understanding the underlying causes of my condition. Later I spent many years learning everything that I could about natural treatments for asthma. What I found was both exhilarating and frustrating( because I knew how many people were suffering as well). I also learned painful lessons about the side effects of medications. I put the information I learned into my first book "Reversing Asthma"( which is now in its thirteenth printing). But for those who have never experienced  an asthmatic attacks, it can be terrifying.

Imagine suddenly being unable to breathe, as if something invisible were suffocating you. Or what if you were severely allergic to pollen, and inhaling a warm spring breeze might threaten your life? Or think of yourself as a child whose parents monitor your every breath in an effort to keep you out of the emergency room. Welcome to the lives of the 20 million Americans now suffering from asthma.

There was a time when asthma was thought to be primarily a psychological disorder, the result of dysfunctional relationships between parents and children. Asthma is not, in fact, psychological in origin. However, there is a supremely important mind-body connection. Asthma is a chronic condition, putting such a stranglehold on daily life that it often produces profound, lasting psychological damage.

Asthma, particularly when it starts in childhood, can disturb and derail families' normal functioning, as well as deeply undercut patients' belief in their capabilities and safety. When my asthmatic patients recall trips to the emergency room as children, they often say these visits were the start of seeing life as a series of health crises and reprieves from crises.

Asthmatics live in a world that constantly seems to challenge them. A 1997 study in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology shows that young adults with a history of asthma perceive stress more than their non-asthmatic counterparts. A study in the Journal of Asthma found that in southwestern Australia, where nearly 18% of teens suffer from asthma, patients reported feeling lonely more often than their healthy peers. Another study in the same journal found that asthmatic children scored much higher in depression and lower on self-esteem than children with diabetes or cancer.

Asthma's toll extends beyond patients to families. A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics judged that 52% of families with asthmatic children were dysfunctional; their levels of intimacy and their ability to adapt to stress were significantly below average. Only 12% of families with healthy kids were considered dysfunctional.

But this cloud has a silver lining. Asthma teaches resilience. Patients find themselves drawn to challenging situations and ultimately accomplish a great deal. Witness the triumphs of Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who has battled asthma all her life.

To help control asthma, use stress-reducing techniques like meditation, visualization and biofeedback. Special breathing exercises can also increase your respiratory function, as will regular aerobic exercise.

Sound nutrition can also be useful. I recommend foods like fish, vegetables and fruits, and supplements such as magnesium, vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids as natural treatments for asthma. Various antioxidants may also be helpful.

The success of such measures can be seen in "Breath of Life", a program I created(honored by the American Medical Association), for a severely affected school in NYC- that has one of the highest rates of asthma in the country. We taught  children simple breathing exercises, visualization and meditation as well as good nutrition. Over a period of two years, there has been a 70% reduction in their days missed from school, along with improvement in their respiratory function, reduced use of medication and increased self-esteem and confidence.

Asthma  teaches us a great deal about the mysterious dialogue between mind and body - and the necessity of an integrated approach to healing. But this discussion is only made to re-enforce the many factors that need to be taken into consideration when considering treating someone with asthma.

For more information on Breathing Exercises, Exercising techniques for people who experience asthma, Nutrients to treat and prevent asthma, and Dr. Richard Firshein's Comprehensive Asthma Prevention Program read: Reversing Asthma by Dr. Richard Firshein.

For more information about making an appointment contact the Firshein Center 212 860-0282 or go to www.Firsheincenter.com

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by Dr. Richard Firshein