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Clobber that cough with healthy greens

28/ 1/2005

Look good and stay healthy with Zahida Abbas

Asalamu alaykum readers. Wishing you all a happy Eid Mubarak and welcome to the New Year. I am going to kick-start the year with tips on how to make this a healthier year for you if you suffer from asthma.
Asthma is on the increase and it effects young and mature people alike.
Some people are more at risk to this than others, but there are precautions one can take to lessen the effects. Although there is no identifiable cause for some cases of asthma, others are probably related to increased air pollution and other factors that irritate the lining of the lungs. A common early symptom is persistent cough and a little wheezing, especially at night.
In extreme cases medical treatment will be required. There are steps one can take to lessen the effects.

Removal of irritants

Asthma sufferers should not smoke and should avoid smoky atmospheres. The use of vacuum cleaners with special filters will prevent build up of dust and dust mites in the house.

Prevention

Inhaled steroid drugs go straight into the lungs where they reduce the sensitivity of the lung lining, thus preventing an attack or reducing the effects of one.

Acute treatment

Drugs called bronchodilators act directly on the walls of the airways forcing them to relax and opening up the airways. These drugs are prescribed and can be taken in a variety of forms i.e. inhalers, injections or tablets.

Asthma and diet

Although some people with asthma believe that allergies to particular foods can trigger their attacks, most doctors believe this applies to no more than two-three per cent of people with the condition. A true allergy is one which produces a measurable response from the immune system and while this may be relatively rare, food may sometimes affect people with asthma in other ways.

You should aim to follow a healthy eating programme, making sure that you eat a good variety of fruit and vegetables every day.
This will ensure a good intake of the anti-oxidant vitamins A, C and E, which help to fight free radicals. These chemicals are formed in the body in response partly to cigarette smoke and other pollutants and can play a part in triggering inflammation in the airways.
Vitamin C may also promote good lung health and help the airways to resist narrowing.
Magnesium found in broccoli and other dark green vegetables may help relax the airways. Asthma sufferers with low levels of this mineral may be more susceptible to attacks.
Dark green vegetables, courgettes, peas, fish and sunflower seeds are good sources. You are more likely to have asthma attacks if you are overweight because your muscles increased demand for oxygen and the strain on your organs may make breathing in sufficient oxygen more difficult.

Try this health juice recipe to help with asthma.
You need; 7oz carrots (scrubbed and sliced), 1 apple (de-cored and sliced) and one half-pinch piece of fresh root ginger (peeled and sliced).
Place all the ingredients into a juicer and juice. Pour into a glass, add some ice cubes and drink immediately.

Remember if you have any information on diet or recipes you would like to share, please call or write to me at Asian News, Observer Buildings, Drake Street, Rochdale, OL16 1PH or e-mail to: asiannews@gmwn.co.uk