(NaturalNews) Children delivered by cesarean section (c-section) are significantly more likely to develop asthma and allergies later in life than children delivered through natural, vaginal birth, according to a study conducted by researchers from National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in Bilthoven, the Netherlands.

A c-section is a procedure in which a child is surgically removed through a mother’s abdomen, rather than emerging naturally through the vaginal opening. It is medically recommended only in cases where vaginal delivery would seriously endanger the life of infant or mother, but is becoming more common as many women’s preferred method of childbirth.

Researchers compared the rates of asthma and allergies among 2,917 eight-year-olds, comparing the rates between those who had been delivered vaginally and those who had been delivered by c-section. They found that the risk of asthma was 79 percent higher in those delivered by c-section compared with those delivered vaginally. The correlation between c-section and asthma risk was even higher among children born to one or more parents with allergies.

“Our results emphasize the importance of gene-environment interactions on the development of asthma in children,” the researchers wrote. “The increased rate of cesarean section is partly due to maternal demand without medical reason. In this situation, the mother should be informed of the risk of asthma for her child, especially when the parents have a history of allergy or asthma.”…read more here…

Warning Given on Use of 4 Popular Asthma Drugs, but Debate Remains

WASHINGTON — Two federal drug officials have concluded that asthma sufferers risk death if they continue to use four hugely popular asthma drugs — Advair, Symbicort, Serevent and Foradil. But the officials’ views are not universally shared within the government.

The two officials, who work in the safety division of the Food and Drug Administration, wrote in an assessment on the agency’s Web site on Friday that asthma sufferers of all ages should no longer take the medicines. A third drug-safety official concluded that Advair and Symbicort could be used by adults but that all four drugs should no longer be used by people age 17 and under.

Dr. Badrul A. Chowdhury, director of the division of pulmonary and allergy products at the agency, cautioned in his own assessment that the risk of death associated with the drugs was small and that banning their use “would be an extreme approach” that could lead asthmatics to rely on other risky medications.

Once unheard of, public disagreements among agency experts have occurred on occasion in recent years. The agency is convening a committee of experts on Wednesday and Thursday to sort out the disagreement, which has divided not only the F.D.A. but also clinicians and experts for more than a decade.

Sudden deaths among asthmatics still clutching their inhalers have fed the debate. But trying to determine whether the deaths were caused by patients’ breathing problems or the inhalers has proved difficult.

The stakes for drug makers are high. Advair sales last year were $6.9 billion and may approach $8 billion this year, making the medication GlaxoSmithKline’s biggest seller and one of the biggest-selling drugs in the world. Glaxo also sells Serevent, which had $538 million in sales last year. Symbicort is made by AstraZeneca and Foradil by Novartis.

Whatever the committee’s decision, the drugs will almost certainly remain on the market because even the agency’s drug-safety officials concluded that they were useful in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, nearly all of whom are elderly.

Dr. Katharine Knobil, global clinical vice president for Glaxo, dismissed the conclusions of the agency’s drug-safety division as “not supported by their own data.” Dr. Knobil said that Advair was safe and that Serevent was safe when used with a steroid.

Michele Meeker, a spokeswoman for AstraZeneca, said that the F.D.A.’s safety division improperly excluded most studies of Symbicort in its analysis, and that a review of all of the information shows that the drug does not increase the risks of death or hospitalization.

Dr. Daniel Frattarelli, a Detroit pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’s committee on drugs, said that he was treating children with Advair and that his committee had recently discussed the safety of the medicines.

“Most of us felt these were pretty good drugs,” Dr. Frattarelli said. “I’m really looking forward to hearing what the F.D.A. committee decides.”

About 9 percent of Advair’s prescriptions go to those age 17 and under, according to Glaxo. Ms. Meeker could not provide similar figures for Symbicort.

In 1994, Serevent was approved for sale, and the F.D.A. began receiving reports of deaths. A letter to the New England Journal of Medicine described two elderly patients who died holding Serevent inhalers. Glaxo warned patients that the medicine, unlike albuterol, does not work instantly and should not be used during an attack.

In 1996, Glaxo began a study of Serevent’s safety, but the company refused for years to report the results publicly. In 2001, the company introduced Advair, whose sales quickly cannibalized those of Serevent and then far surpassed them.

Finally in 2003, Glaxo reported the results of its Serevent study, which showed that those given the medicine were more likely to die than those given placebo inhalers. Glaxo said problems with the trial made its results impossible to interpret.

Asthma is caused when airways within the lungs spasm and swell, restricting the supply of oxygen. The two primary treatments are steroids, which reduce swelling, and beta agonists, which treat spasms. Rescue inhalers usually contain albuterol, which is a beta agonist with limited duration. Serevent and Foradil are both beta agonists but have a longer duration than albuterol and were intended to be taken daily to prevent attacks.

Advair contains Serevent and a steroid. Symbicort, introduced last year, contains Foradil and a steroid. In the first nine months of this year, Symbicort had $209 million in sales.

The problem with albuterol is that it seems to make patients’ lungs more vulnerable to severe attacks, which is why asthmatics are advised to use their rescue inhalers only when needed. The long-acting beta agonists may have the same risks.

But drug makers say this risk disappears when long-acting beta agonists are paired with steroids. The labels that accompany Serevent and Foradil instruct doctors to pair the medicines with an inhaled steroid.

Surprisingly  the alternative to these medications are newly patented devices with the same “generic medicine” inside them. The result is patients will have to pay more money for the basic asthma rescue medicine, albuterol.  My personal opinion is that this has more to do with money and little to do with a hole in the ozone layer.

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Ozone-Depleting Inhalers Being Phased Out

FRIDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) — Asthma inhalers that contain the drug albuterol to relax the airways also contain chemicals that harm the ozone layer. And these inhalers won’t be available after this year, so U.S. health officials are urging patients to switch to alternative inhalers now.

Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are widely used to propel inhaled drugs into the lungs. However, products containing CFCs are being phased out, because the chemicals damage the Earth’s protective ozone layer. CFC inhalers are being replaced by inhalers powered by HFAs, or hydrofluoroalkanes, which are ozone-friendly.

The change to HFA-powered inhalers has been in the works for several years, but the FDA issued an advisory on Friday, urging patients still using CFC inhalers to switch now. Inhalers containing CFCs will not be available after Dec. 31.

FDA officials said people with respiratory problems, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, may need some time to acclimate to HFA-based inhalers.

“There are 52 million prescriptions written for albuterol inhalers each year in the United States,” Dr. Badrul Chowdhury, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Division of Pulmonary and Allergy Products, said during a teleconference. Albuterol is used to treat shortness of breath in people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he noted.

Chowdhury said that approximately 65 percent of inhaler users have already switched to HFA inhalers.

“These new handlers may taste and feel different than the current CFC inhalers,” he said. “In addition, HFA inhalers may feel softer than CFC inhalers.”

Also, patients using HFA inhalers will have to prime and clean them to prevent the buildup of albuterol in the inhalers’ nozzle. This buildup could block the medicine from reaching the lungs, Chowdhury said.

Each HFA inhaler has a different priming mechanism and cleaning and drying instructions. So, users should carefully read the instructions before using the inhaler. And HFA inhalers may cost more, because there’s no generic HFA inhaler available yet, Chowdhury said.

Three HFA-propelled albuterol inhalers have been approved by the FDA: Proair HFA Inhalation Aerosol; Proventil HFA Inhalation Aerosol; and Ventolin HFA Inhalation Aerosol. Also, an HFA-propelled inhaler containing levalbuterol, a medicine similar to albuterol, is available as Xopenex HFA Inhalation Aerosol, the agency said.

Dr. Ira Finegold, chief of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City, doesn’t see much difference in the effectiveness of the two types of inhalers. “The end result — if you need it, does it open up your lungs? Yes, it does,” he said.

However, the changeover will involve some patient education, he said. “The old medication, CFC albuterol, was really a very nice product, because the propellant got in your body and came out of your body — it wasn’t absorbed. And remarkably, it is a cleaning agent, so the device was self-cleaning.”

The new HFA propellant is safe in the body but can clog the inhaler, Feingold said. “So, after use, these inhalers need to be rinsed out or they are not going to work correctly,” he said.

“In addition,” Feingold added, “each of the four new inhalers on the market is different in the number of times you have to prime it. There is also a little difference in feel and taste.”

The discontinuation of CFC-propelled inhalers is the result of the U.S. Clean Air Act and an international treaty known as the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Under provisions of this treaty, the United States agreed to stop the production and importation of substances that damage the ozone layer, including CFCs, according to the FDA.

More information

For more on inhalers, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

SOURCES: May 30, 2008, teleconference with Badrul Chowdhury, M.D., Ph.D., director, Division of Pulmonary and Allergy Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Ira Finegold, M.D., chief, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York City

Allergies and Asthma  are conditions that are usually triggered by “trigger factors” that can be found both indoor and outdoor environments.  Prevention of an asthma attack or allergy exacerbation can be controlled by controlling exposure to the below triggers.  If avoidance is not possible, minimizing exposure is vital.

Common triggers include:

• tobacco
• smoke
• perfumes
• dust
• dust mites
• pet dander
• pet hair
• chemicals (lysol and other household cleaning chemicals)
• paints
• new carpets and the glues that they admit
• cold viruses

For in home allergy prevention, HEPA filters, non HEPA air cleaners and home allergy cleaning supplies can all be helpful.  Austin Air HEPA filters and Blue Air HEPA filter  units are among the industry leaders when it comes to indoor air HEPA filters. These units are doctor recommended for those with allergies and asthma. 

  How Allergic Reactions Are Triggered

ScienceDaily (2008-01-17) — In demonstrating that a group of calcium ion channels play a crucial role in triggering inflammatory responses, researchers have not only solved a longstanding molecular mystery regarding the onset of asthma and allergy symptoms, but have also provided a fundamental discovery regarding the functioning of mast cells.

A group of immune cells found in tissues throughout the body, mast cells were once exclusively known for their role in allergic reactions, according to the study’s lead author Monika Vig, PhD, an investigator in the Department of Pathology at BIDMC and Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Mast cells store inflammatory cytokines and compounds [including histamine and heparin] in sacs called granules,” she explains. “When the mast cells encounter an allergen — pollen, for example — they ‘degranuate,’ releasing their contents and triggering allergic reactions.”

But, she adds, in recent years, scientists have uncovered numerous other roles for mast cells, suggesting they are key to a number of biological processes and are involved in diseases ranging from multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis to cancer and atherosclerosis. … > read full article

Visit www.eHealthSupplies.com for Allergy and Asthma Relief Products

Mediterranean Diet In Pregnancy Helps Ward Off Childhood Asthma And Allergy

ScienceDaily (2008-01-16) — Mums to be who eat a Mediterranean diet while pregnant could help stave off the risks of asthma and allergy in their children, suggests new research. The findings are based on 468 mother and child pairs, who were tracked from pregnancy up to 6.5 years after the birth.

What the mothers ate during pregnancy and what their children were eating by the time they were 6 years old were assessed using food frequency questionnaires.

The results were then scored from 0 to 7, according to how much of their food intake matched a traditional Mediterranean diet of vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, fish, dairy products and olive oil.

A score of 4 to 7 indicated a high quality Mediterranean diet, while a score of 3 or less reflected the opposite. … > read full article

For Allergy and Asthma Prevention Products, visit www.eHealthSupplies.com

Dust, air, water sources of lead

              Air Purifier Comparison Information

Air Purifiers/Air Cleaners  are a common appliance in homes throughout America. Late night infomercials have helped sell more air purifiers over the last 10 years than ever anticipated.   Air purifiers are used to help treat many conditions from allergies to asthma.

An air purifier’s goal is to remove airborne particles from the air you breathe, leaving you with filtered and  purified air.  In a time when we are exposed to hundreds of  thousands of airborne pollutants and chemicals, air purifiers have been a helpful tool for those with allergy and asthma problems.  

 The EPA estimates that indoor air pollution is a common problem and in many cases, more dangerous than outside air pollution. Air purifiers hope to minimize these issues while  minimizing our exposure to common household pollutants.

There are many types of air purifiers on the market and which type to buy can often be confusing.

The main types of air purifiers are HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air),  Negative Ionizers and Ozone Generators.    Of these 3, HEPA filters are the most popular and usually the ones your physician may recommend.  Below, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

1. HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air)are the most common type of air purifiers around.  They were invented during World War II  as a means of protecting troops from airborne germs and particles.  Unfortunately, they are also the most expensive when one takes into account costs of replacement air filters. These air filters rely on the filtration of polluted air through a filter and the emission of purified filtered air. These filters are generally charcoal based.  To be considered a HEPA filter, an air purifier must filer 99.7% of pollutants in the air that are 0.3 microns in size or larger.  Some of the leading manufacturers of HEPA filters include Austin Air HEPA filters ,  Blue Air,  Honeywell and Soleus Air.
    

2. Ionizers- also know as air ionizer, negative ionizers and ion generators. A pure negative ionizer works primarily by emitting negative ions. These ions are charged particles which when in the air, attract the positively charged particles in the air and together, form a complex which then falls to the ground. Regularly vacuuming can help keep the room allergy free. Ionizers have many other benefits in addition to cleaning the air. First, they are inexpensive as they do not require replacement filters. Most ionizers have either a collection pad which collects dust, or metal grills which work similarly. Second, negative ions have been shown to have other beneficial effects on human health. They have been shown to help one sleep better and help prevent SAD, seasonal affective disorder.  Popular ionizers include the Wein VI-2500 High Intensity Negative Ionizer and the Sharper Image Ionizers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

3. Ozone generatorsare perhaps the most controversial of the air purifier types. Ozone has become household term over the years.  To many, it represents all that is bad in the air since smoggy days have higher levels of ozone. To others, ozone is nature’s air purifier that eliminates odors and kills microorganisms. When used appropriately, they can be very beneficial at eliminating household odors and germs. Caution should be taken however to avoid prolonged exposure as in some people, ozone can cause respiratory difficulties. Popular brands include Lightning Air and Ecoquest.

PARIS (AFP) – Women who follow the famous Mediterranean diet while pregnant may also be shielding their baby from childhood asthma and allergy, a study published on Tuesday says.

More than six years later, they examined the women’s children for asthma and wheezing and carried out a skin-prick test to see if the youngsters had a response to six common allergens.

The investigation found that the children’s dietary intake at this age appeared to have little impact on whether they had these problems.

What made a difference, though, was what their mothers had eaten while pregnant.

One third of the mums-to-be had a low rating on the Mediterranean Diet Score, a measurement of consumption of fruits and vegetables, olive oil, fish, wholegrain cereals, legumes and nuts. Two-thirds had a high score.

Children from the “low score” group were between three and four times likelier to develop asthmatic symptoms than counterparts from the “high score” group, and almost twice as likely to develop allergies.

Consumption of vegetables more than eight times a week, fish more than three times a week, and beans or peas more than once a week seemed to be especially protective.

But consumption of red meat more than three or four times a week seemed to boost the risks.

The paper, published in the specialist British journal Thorax, points to two key components of the Mediterranean diet: antioxidants — vitamin compounds that mop up damaging molecules called free radicals — and polyunsaturated fatty acids, typically found in olive oil and fish oil.

Antioxidants are known to have a protective effect against asthma in young children, while the fatty acids shield against inflammation, a key factor in the complex problem of asthma, say the authors.

The Mediterranean diet, which is also associated with longevity, also incorporates moderate amounts of red wine.

Alcohol consumption is prohibited in pregnancy and was not included in the study.

The research was headed by Leda Chatzi, a doctor at the Department of Social Medicine at the University of Crete, Greece..

 This report came from Yahoo News

A 2005 study in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)  showed that long term exposure to air pollution can raise the risk of heart disease, also known  as cardiovascular disease. In addition to other well known risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, tobacco use- air pollution has joined the list.  The smaller the air pollution particle the worse the risk according to the study. The mechanisms appears to be due to increased oxidation via the production of inceased reactive oxygen.

Apparaently, traffic related air pollution sources are among the most dangerous.  The study was done primarily in rats but the mechanism of action  likely affects humans the same way. In the study,   intravascular inflammation and increased vasomotor tone  worsened, both predictors for heart disease.  Carotid intimal thickening, a surrogate measurement for heart disease, also worsened.

The study went on to conclude that periods of short term  exposure to particulate air, like that we are exposed to during rush hour, is enough to  promote progression to atherosclerosis and eventually heart disease.

The EPA has also ranked indoor air pollution a serious problem.  Where does this come from?  Our furnitures, cleaning supplies, synthetic glues (i.e in carpet), radon, etc. can all contribute to indoor air pollution. In addition, most homes todays are designed with an air tight seal in order to be energy efficient. Unfortunately, this also allows indoor air pollution and chemicals to build up resulting in worsening of allergy and asthma symptoms.  Discuss with your doctor if a HEPA filter could be beneficial  to your allergies or asthma.

Source: The Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA  Vol 294, No 23. Pages 2935-3048

My  Recommendation- Obviously, avoid air pollution to the greatest extent possible. However, in the meantime,  Auto Ionizers and indoor air purifiers  may help minimize exposure to both indoor air pollution and outdoor pollution. Some quality brands of HEPA filters include Austin Air HEPA filters and Blue Air HEPA filters.  Many new cars are now coming equipped with HEPA filtration and negative ionizers. www.eHealthSupplies.com has a variety of solutions for this problem.  Also, open your windows to your home in order to allow fresh air in.