Asthma treatments vary depending on the triggers and
the severity and frequency of symptoms. Jana Nalbandian,
a naturopathic doctor at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in
Seattle, suggests eliminating environmental triggers, as well.
When patients come in with asthma, “I try to verify whether
there are any environmental or food allergies,” she says. “What
you probably have is mildly inflamed airways, and then you put
the exercise on top of it, and you get an asthma attack.” She
recommends a skin-prick test or blood test, along with elimination and provocation diets to help identify certain foods as
possible allergy irritants.
“Once you know the underlying triggers, you are equipped
to avoid them,” Nalbandian says. Simple housekeeping
changes, such as more frequent vacuuming and laundering of
bed linens to remove aggravating dust mites, can help.
Having exercise-induced asthma doesn’t mean you should
reduce activity or quit playing sports. Many formidable athletes,
such as former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis
and Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, have asthma but
keep it well under control. In fact, Elward says, by gradually
improving your conditioning, the likelihood of an attack may
decrease along with the severity of symptoms.
Learning proper breathing techniques also helps. “Most
people breathe using the upper part of the chest,” Nalbandian
says. “There are exercises that teach you how to use the
diaphragm and stomach muscles to expand your lungs
properly.”
Finally, make sure you’re getting enough fish oil, which is
rich in omega- 3 fatty acids and may reduce the inflammation
that contributes to asthma. “You could add fish to your diet,
or take a fish oil supplement,” Nalbandian says.
These natural strategies can alleviate asthma, but they
aren’t a substitute for medication, says Nalbandian. “I have
patients ask, ‘Do I have to keep using my inhaler?’ And I say
yes. But then [after naturally treating their asthma], they come
back to me and say, ‘I don’t need to use my inhaler as much.’
That’s what I’m hoping for!”
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