Asthma: a common chronic disorder of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper responsiveness (bronchospasm), and an underlying inflammation. The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute
Perhaps Asthma is no longer on list of popular diseases at least in terms of awareness and severity. Maybe it never was. However, the chronic disorder is still highly prevalent and is now estimated to affect a quarter of the children currently residing in urban areas. In fact, Asthma affects seven percent of the U.S. population, 300 million around the globe and is responsible for up to 4,000 deaths annually. Surely, you can remember at least one childhood friend that was forced to employ the short-acting beta-2 agonist or corticosteroid inhalers to treat acute asthma attacks? If not, you must've known someone who had to stay inside avoiding seasonal allergens. It's true. Asthma is one giant inconvenience to the imagination of many kids around the world. But, there is good news for the parents of children with early asthma diagnosis. Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have found a link between low levels of vitamin D and increased severity of asthma. The report stems from a study conducted by Juan Celedon, MD, Phd, and his colleagues in the central valley of Costa Rica. It involved measuring serum markers and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 616 kids.
According to "Asthma Severity in Children Associated With Low Vitamin D Levels" by Dayna Dye in the August 2009 issue of Life Extension, "Twenty-eight percent of the children were found to have insufficient vitamin D levels of less than 30 ng/mL. Lower vitamin D levels were associated with increased allergy markers IgE and eosinophils. Those with higher vitamin D levels experienced a reduction in the risk of being hospitalized for any cause or using anti inflammatory medications during the previous year."
Need we say more? Once again, vitamin D steps in to help. Supplementation with this very small thing can actually expand the possibilities of childhood a very large and important thing indeed.
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