How to Control Asthma Attacks

Asthma is a major chronic inflammatory disease of the airways to the lungs and the most common chronic condition in children. According to the World Health Organization, in 2019, approximately 292 million people worldwide were affected by asthma. Typical asthma symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.

The root cause of developing asthma is a combination of complex genetic and environmental interactions that are not fully understood. Although asthma is often a lifelong condition, effective medical management can assist people in controlling asthma attacks.

Avoiding allergens is a very effective approach to reducing asthma attacks other than the use of medications. The first thing to avoid is tobacco smoke exposure. Strong emotions like anger, crying and excitement can trigger asthma too. Breathing techniques, relaxation exercises and meditation can help you deal with strong emotions.

Being vegan could be beneficial for asthma prevention and treatment according to a paper on asthma and diet published in Nutrition Reviews. Researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine conducted a meta-study drawing from 150 studies related to asthma and nutrition, and the results suggest that a vegan diet can help decrease the risk of developing asthma and manage symptoms.

A plant-based diet is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, which reduce systemic inflammation that can worsen asthma. In a 2004 study, children that had eliminated dairy and egg intake for 8 weeks experienced a 22% improvement of their peak expiratory flow rate - a measure of how fast a person can exhale.

Rob Dube, an American entrepreneur and athlete, was diagnosed with severe asthma and eczema at the age of eight. In 2011, after watching the documentary Forks over Knives that examines how a plant-based diet can help one avoid and reverse serious chronic diseases, he decided to try a vegan diet. Soon, he noticed his asthma and eczema symptoms had lessened, and eventually he stopped using the medications that he had relied on for 33 years.