Rising Crisis of Asthma and Obesity -- Coincidence? /But the ANTI's tell us SHS is to blame!!!

Web MD ^ | Michael Smith , MD

[SheLion]

Two already common medical problems -- obesity and asthma -- continue to affect more children in the U.S., and the simultaneous rise may not be a fluke, according to a new study.

Previous medical research has implicated our growing waistlines as one cause behind the increasing problem of asthma. And now, researchers are getting closer to pinpointing the exact cause behind this link.

Harvard researcher Scott T. Weiss, MD, and colleagues studied more than 7,000 4- to 17-year-olds and looked at several factors that have previously been linked to asthma, including the children's weight.

They found that kids who were overweight were almost twice as likely to develop asthma as normal-weight kids.

But how does obesity actually cause asthma?

In people with asthma, wheezing and shortness of breath occurs when the airways in the lungs begin to close, becoming smaller and not allowing enough air to get down into the lungs. The airways may also become inflamed, which leads to mucus blocking the airways.

Although this will be the focus of future research, the researchers suggest that excess weight may put more stress and pressure on the airways in the lungs, thus causing them to close. In addition, it's possible, they say, that obesity increases the body's reaction to substances in the environment that cause asthma, thus leading to more mucus production.

The increasing problem of obesity in the U.S. is well known. And the list of medical problems linked to obesity continues to grow:

Heart disease -- through excess stress on the heart and high cholesterol

Arthritis -- especially of the knee, due to extra weight and wear and tear on the knees

Diabetes -- from inability of the hormone insulin to keep blood sugar levels down

Sleep apnea -- when breathing stops temporarily during sleep due to excess weight on airways

Asthma -- possibly from added pressure and increased inflammation on the airways.

It's unlikely that overweight people need another reason to shed some unwanted pounds, but studies such as this serve as a great reminder of how problems that are ignored might come back to haunt them in ways never imagined.

[LarryLied]

most children live in such sanitized homes, their immune system has not battles to fight, so it just sits there and gets weak.

That was the gist of the article. Ashtma cases are increasing in cities even though the air is cleaner than it was a few decades ago. Kids are not out playing in the dirt with cats, dogs and other carriers of disease.

[tiki]

I've just recently had to apply for a new health insurance and because I'm not overweight it's really pretty cheap. I even told the truth about smoking! The last time I applied (15) the agent actually lied about my smoking.

It seems kind of funny but fat is the in anti thing now but that could just be because no one actually thinks anyone smokes anymore.

[MasonGal]

I had many, many asthma attacks as a child and teenager. I was rather thin--but very active. I do remember, as a baton twirler, marching in a parade a couple of times--having to quit marching due to attacks - but that didn't happen very often, at all. My dad smoked, by the way. I am also VERY allergic to most animals - which brings on many of my attacks. The last attack I had was about 5 years ago--while spending Thanksgiving with my folks - who have cats. Eating the turkey made the asthma attacks worse - really - there's something to that. My grandfather(who died 3 years ago) was also there - had been both police and fire chief for 20+ years. He called the life squad and we had about 5 squad cars, ambulances, etc. there - waiting to take me to the hospital--within about a minute, I think. :))

My youngest son - age 10 - has had a few asthma attacks. He hasn't had an attack for quite some time now, so I am very thankful for that. He is very thin and tall, full of energy - loves playing tennis, baseball, and basketball. We homeschool, too, which was mentioned in one of the replies on this thread.

[WillaJohns]

Don't you hate it when you say something funny and nobody notices?

Thank you. I feel much better now.

[WillaJohns]

Eating the turkey made the asthma attacks worse

Thank you for this. I've noticed in recent years that a family member who has a problem with asthma gets sick at Thanksgiving--after dinner. Never considered it was the turkey.

BTW, stay AWAY from shell fish. All of it.