Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes swelling and narrowing of airways, and hence breathing difficulties. Asthma patients experience symptoms that range from breath-shortness, coughing, and wheezing. These symptoms are commonly referred to as an “asthma attack,” and could range from mild to fatal in different patients. Though asthma has no cure, its attacks are manageable and prevented through regular medication, proper dieting, and generally healthy living.
Although asthma has no specific diet, patients must know certain avoidance foods that may trigger specific asthma attacks:
1. Milk and dairy products
Milk and dairy products lead to the production of much thicker mucus by the lungs. The mucus membrane is called ‘phlegm’ and is produced in the lungs spreading to the lower part of the human respiratory tract. Since asthma patients have narrower and swollen respiratory tracts, thicker phlegm production results in worsened coughing. As a result, more viscous phlegm results in severe coughing and may worsen coughing symptoms to asthma patients.
2. Peanuts
Peanut allergies are globally known to top world food allergies given to their fatal reactions, specifically to asthmatic children. A study in the US indicated that asthmatic children experience similar symptoms to peanut reactions. The Mercy Children’s hospital study revealed that 53% of the victims were unaware that they had peanut allergies. As a result, children allergic to peanuts are likely to develop fatal asthma attacks at a younger age. Besides, asthmatic children with peanut allergies tend to develop allergic reactions to grass, tree-pollen, cats, among others.
3. Salt
Research indicates that high salt intake increases the rate and severeness of asthmatic attacks. What’s more, a high salt diet is associated with decreased functioning of the lungs. On the other hand, patients with low salt intake had stable functioning lungs.A study of lung sputum indicates that high salt intake increases the rate of inflammatory cells to asthma patients by three. It also doubles the concentration of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and leukotrienes. As a result, it is healthy to avoid high salt quantities in the diet.
4. Shellfish
Shellfish diets such as crabs, oysters, and squid are known to lead to severe allergic reactions, especially to kids. During the preparation of shellfish such as scraping and steaming, shellfish proteins are released to the air. The airborne proteins are known to cause asthma allergic reactions when they enter the lungs.
On the other hand, chemical products used in the processing of shellfish products cause respiratory reactions.
5. Coffee
Coffee intake could alter the test result of how asthmatic a patient is. Coffee contains caffeine, which has similar effects to the bronchodilator medicine known as theophylline. Theophylline is known to clear respiratory airways hence improved breathing. As a result, coffee reduces the real symptoms of asthma. This may lead to doctors prescribing weaker medicine that may lead to more health problems for the patient.