I have really bad allergies and it causes me to get asthma when my allergies are bad. I hope you will get your son tested for allergies as you stated. Try first to put plastic on his matteress, you can always top that with a cotton topper to make it feel better. Do this with his pillow too. Wash all of his bedding each week in very hot water. My guess is he has allergies to dust mites for one. I have this typical allergy. Don't allow him to sleep with any stuffed toys. Once you get him tested, if he does have this allergy then you can read up more on what to do to help him as you get drops/shots to help him.
Will you post back and let us know what you learn? Thanks and good luck to you.
Hi Gymdandee/Zoe,
Thanks for the advise, I will be trying these.
My son went for observation (general), and they ended up not knowing what the issue was. They thought it could be GERD or VCD, but couldn't be sure. We are looking now at improved diet and looking out for allergies. However this does not improve the night-time wake up's or day time episodes where he ends up not being able to breath for 10-30seconds. I am hoping over time this will improve. Last night was particularly bad episode that lasted about 1-2min of gasping.
Just to add a note on the magnesium, I heard that if you should take ( adult) 500 with 1500 calcium ...not sure if just at night or divided dose, but the calcium will help so you don't get the loose stools.
A Holistic Approach To Asthma Treatment
good hydration can have very positive effects for those with asthma. One of the hallmarks of asthma is mucous production that clogs the airways. What is the best known mucolytic agent, something that breaks down mucous? The answer is easy — water. At the first sign of wheezing, drink an eight-ounce glass of water mixed with ¼ teaspoon of unrefined salt.( SEA SALT )
This combination of water and salt helps break down mucous and relax the airways. Water helps break down and thin the mucous of the airways. Salt (and only unrefined salt) contains minerals such as magnesium that are very relaxing to the smooth muscles of the airways. When you start wheezing the first thing to do is reach for the watersalt
combination. if you ingest this combination early, It often overcomes the wheezing.
It is very important, too, to be hydrated before participating in sporting events. Many people with asthma experience wheezing with exertion. mixture before beginning an exercise regimen. Those who have to use an inhaler before exercise often find they don’t need to use their inhaler as long as they maintain good hydration.
Children are notoriously dehydrated. They drink too much soda and juices and not enough water.encourage all children to drink water as their primary source of liquids. Soda and juices dehydrate the body, and drinking them can promote asthma symptoms in those predisposed to it.
Dairy Makes Asthma Worse milk Pasteurized milk products stimulate mucous production in many people. Increased mucous production is present in all asthmatic episodes.
milk allergy is prevalent in asthmatic patients. Conventional milk products should be minimized or avoided and water should be the beverage of choice. There is very little good nutrition in conventional dairy products. Magnesium is an important element that is
deficient in our food supply. It is the eleventh most abundant element by weight in the
human body. Every cell in the body depends on adequate levels of magnesium to function optimally. More than 300 enzymes in our body require magnesium to function, and the body needs it to make energy. magnesium deficiency is relatively common. It is estimated that less than a third of the citizens of the United States ingest the recommended
daily allowance for magnesium. The RDA for magnesium (or RDI, recommended daily intake) is approximately 300 to 400 mg/day.
Eating refined foods results in low levels of most nutrients, including magnesium. Good sources of magnesium include pumpkin seeds, barley, buckwheat flour, nuts, beans, seeds, fish, and spinach. Magnesium is known as nature’s muscle-relaxing agent. In asthma, the smooth muscles around the airways can become hyper-reactive. The prescription medications Singulair, Advair, and Serevent all work, in part, by dilating the smooth muscles around the airways. However, all of these medications
are associated with a host of serious side effects. Magnesium, however, can result in the dilation of the smooth muscles around the airways with no serious adverse effects and much less cost. The most serious adverse effect with magnesium is diarrhea. If you get diarrhea or loose stools with magnesium, just lower the dose. How much magnesium do you need? It varies but generally 100 to 400 mg/day is adequate
for most asthmatic patients. Magnesium is a very calming and is best taken around bedtime. Researchers have reported that sun exposure during pregnancy reduces the risk of developing asthma in kids. They looked at the vitamin D intake of 2,000 pregnant women in Scotland and the development of asthma in their children. Those in the highest group of vitamin D intake compared with the group with the lowest intake had a greater than 50 percent lowered risk of wheezing in their children at 5 years of age. those mothers with the lowest vitamin D intake in pregnancy were associated with a decreased response
to asthma medication in their children. People are inappropriately afraid of the sun. We use sunscreen in ever-increasing amounts. The result of this sunphobia mentality is vitamin D deficiency, which is occurring at pandemic rates. Vitamin D supplementation can be an important part of nearly any holistic regimen, including the treatment of asthma. Adults generally require 2,000 to 10,000 IU of vitamin D per day and children smaller amounts. Any lab can measure vitamin D levels easily with a routine blood draw.