Asthma

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Health101.org

presents

Asthma

by Roe Gallo, M.A.

http://health101.org/art_Asthma.htm

 

More and more babies, children and adults are suffering from asthma. More than

17 million Americans have asthma. The number of cases increased by 75% between

1980-1999; it continues to increase. According to the just-released report from

the Pew Environmental Health Commission at Johns Hopkins School of Public

Health, " America is in the middle of an asthma epidemic -- an epidemic that's

getting worse, not better. "

What is asthma? The word asthma originates from an ancient Greek word meaning

panting. Essentially, asthma is an inability to exhale. When you inhale, you

breathe oxygen into your lungs through progressively smaller airways called

bronchioles. Your lungs contain millions of bronchioles, all leading to alveoli:

microscopic sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. Once the

exchange is made, you breathe out carbon dioxide.

While inhaling oxygen, you are also breathing in other airborne particles, which

I'll refer to as " irritants. " In the body's natural survival system, the lungs

respond by constricting when exposed to any irritants. If the body is working

properly, the irritant is either coughed or sneezed out or the bronchioles relax

so that the irritant can be released with carbon dioxide. People with asthma are

unable to relax the bronchioles; the breath gets trapped and the panting begins.

Because the bronchioles cannot relax, they become inflamed. This signals the

immune system to deliver white blood cells and other immune factors to the

airways. These so-called inflammatory factors cause the airways to swell, to

fill with fluid, and to produce thick sticky mucus. This not only makes the

breathlessness and the inability to exhale properly worse, it also creates a

phlegm-producing cough and wheezing. If the breath cannot get out, you suffocate

and die.

Twenty-five years ago, when I was told I was going to die because of this

disease, I did research on the cause, treatment and cure of asthma. I found that

the cause was unknown. The triggers were pollutants (air and household), animal

dander, emotions, hormones, and food allergies. The treatment was usually oral

and inhaled corticosteroids and there was no cure. Twenty-five years later, I

find that the cause is still unknown to orthodox physicians and researchers. The

triggers are still pollutants (air and household), animal dander, emotions,

hormones, food allergies and everything from thunderstorms to cockroaches.

Researchers attribute the escalation of the disease to the increase of

pollutants in the air.

 

The treatment is still oral and inhaled corticosteroids along with one or more

of the following: antileukotrienes, cromolyn sodium, nedocromil, inhaled

beta2-agonists, methylxanthines, and anticholinergics. And there still is no

cure. Interesting! I had asthma. I had allergies to animals, dust pollen --

almost everything. I spent most of my younger years in bed or visiting the

doctor. I couldn't run and play with the " normal " kids because my asthma was so

bad my chest would constrict with pain and I would wheeze and gasp for breath.

After 25 years of trying to cure me, the doctors gave up and admitted that the

drugs that were keeping me alive were also killing me. Dissatisfied with the

results of my own research, I studied how the human body works. I found out the

facts about health and disease. I discovered that most disease is preventable

and that the cause of most disease is toxicity. The only diseases that are not

preventable are rare degenerative genetic conditions. Common diseases and

conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, asthma, and the rest,

are pervasive, preventable and totally unnecessary. I also found that the mind

and emotions play a large part in the overall health of the body. I knew the

first thing I had to do was believe I could get better. It took only two weeks

on a water fast for my body to clean up most of the toxins. I can still remember

the first deep breath I took without pain. I cried. Now I eat mostly organic

fruit because fruit provides

the organic nutrients supplied by nature, without toxins. Also, learning to

breathe properly is a must. I used yoga and visualization. My friend Anita

worked with the Boteyko Breathing Method and has had incredible results. Taking

responsibility for my body was the most frightening thing I have ever done,

because it went against everything I was told. Remember that the research told

me there was no cure and the doctors told me I was going to die. But I made

changes, and the rest is history. I'm alive today, I'm healthy--and I have two

dogs!

Do you have asthma? You can choose to be part of the epidemic or be free of this

crippling and scary condition by taking responsibility for your body, cleaning

out the toxins, being positive and trusting yourself.

Visit Roe Gallo's web site at www.roegallo.com

Don's Comments:

Getting all dairy products out of the diet, and being properly hydrated (with

water) are two key factors in the elimination of asthma.