Asthma Tied to Immune System and Digestive Tract Dysfunction

The incidence of asthma has risen dramatically in recent years, and according to the article posted today, it may have everything to do with what and how we eat, as well as the overall health of the flora in our digestive tract. Research highlighted in this study indicates an association between GERD, the immune system, and asthma.

Natural health practitioners have long stated that "life and death originate in the digestive tract," and there are very sound reasons for this belief. If the digestive tract is not operating efficiently, many illnesses, including GERD, can result. But beyond that, we are learning that the gut is very actively related to the function of the immune system, and can influence allergic reactions such as asthma and others as well. The health of our digestive system has widespread effects, either positive or negative, throughout the body. This is the most important reason that total digestive tract cleansing or colon cleansing with an oxygen-based cleanser should be performed on regular basis in order to keep this important area of the body moving and clean.

I saw another study recently that linked the bacterial population in the digestive tract to asthma. It appears that a balance of flora in the gut is necessary in order to prevent many reactions such as asthma and others. Thus, it is essential that we use a natural, quality probiotic product to restore the balance of bacteria in the bowel that is often decimated by the use of antibiotics and other risky behaviors of modern life. It is important for any family or individual dealing with the challenges of asthma to understand the holistic implications of the disease.


Link Found Between Asthma and GERD
Common Form of Indigestion May Raise the Risk of Asthma

By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Health News
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

July 25, 2008 -- Chronic heartburn may alter the immune system and raise the risk of asthma, according to a new study that helps explain why so many people with asthma also suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Researchers say the link between asthma and GERD has been a mystery for years. Previous studies have shown that 50%-90% of people with asthma also suffer from gastric reflux, but until now the relationship between the two conditions was unclear.

The study shows that inhaling small amounts of stomach acid back up into the esophagus and lungs, a hallmark of GERD, slowly produces changes in the immune system that may lead to the development of asthma.

"This does not mean that everyone with GERD is going to develop asthma, by any means," researcher William Parker, assistant professor of surgery at Duke University Medical Center, says in a news release. "But it may mean that people with GERD may be more likely to develop asthma. If there is an upside to this, it is that developing GERD is something we can pretty much treat and control."

Asthma-GERD Link Explained

In the study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers mimicked the effects of GERD in laboratory mice by inserting small amounts of gastric fluid into their lungs for eight weeks. They then compared how the immune systems of these mice responded to exposure to allergens, a key factor in the development of asthma, to the immune response of normal, healthy mice.

The results showed that the GERD mice responded very differently to allergens. Specifically, they developed an immune response similar to that found in people with asthma by releasing a specific type of infection-fighting T-cell. Healthy mice responded in a more balanced manner releasing two types of immune cells.

Researchers say rising rates of reflux and GERD may be driving increasing rates of asthma, but many of the risk factors behind this phenomenon may be modifiable.

They say people who already have GERD can minimize gastric reflux and reduce their risk of developing asthma by following these tips:

* Eat smaller meals
* Eat several hours before going to bed
* Raise the head of the bed a few inches
* Maintain a healthy weight
* Limit fatty foods, coffee, tea, caffeine, and alcohol because they can relax the esophageal sphincter and make reflux more likely.

"People should avoid the risk factors for GERD. We strongly believe that the rise in asthma, particularly among adults in the country, is in large measure due to lifestyle choices that can be changed," Parker says.

http://www.webmd.com/asthma/news/20080725/link-found-between-asthma-and-gerd?print=true