Asthma got a lot of press just after the election as the Prime Minister Elect, Steven Harper, headed to emergency to ward off a chest infection that may have exacerbated the asthma he has had since childhood. Certainly in my office I am seeing the possible effects of pollution on lung health including lung cancer, asthma, allergies and recurrent chest infections. Asthma does not have a good track record here in Canada. Asthma rates amongst North American children are four times greater than they were 20 years ago! Exposures in early childhood when the lungs and the immune system are not yet fully developed raise concerns that children may respond more adversely than adults and that children are uniquely susceptible and vulnerable to environmental risks. 2.5 million Canadians suffer from asthma, and 20% of boys and 15% of girls aged 8-11 years have been diagnosed with asthma. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing, exercise intolerance and frequent colds and coughs that don't go away. Other contributing factors are second hand smoke, wood smoke, environmental allergens including pet dander, dust mite antigens, molds, pesticides, gases or aerosol in the home and school. Asthma is the most common chronic disease afflicting North American children and is a major cause of child hospitalization.

Joey is a 4 year old boy with asthma. His mom, Mary, brought him into my office to see if naturopathic medicine would help reduce his usage of inhalers and his yearly trip to the hospital for an acute asthma attack. I explained to Mary that the first step to preventing asthma starts three months before pregnancy where both parents should follow a preconception care program to improve their health and thus their offspring! Once women are pregnant prenatal care should consist of a good quality multivitamin as well as purified cod liver oil to provide EPA and DHA, essential fats, for optimal digestive and lung health. Breast-feeding for at least one year is critical for optimal health of the intestinal tract along with the strict introduction of foods during the first year of life to avoid food allergies resulting in asthma. Those with asthma often have too much mucous and restricting cow's milk may prevent this as well as helping to prevent colds and flus. I switched Joey to almond milk along with a tasty chewable calcium magnesium supplement and he soon lost his severe craving for milk! He really loved the lemon flavoured cod liver oil and would often ask his mother for it if she forgot to give it to him. The essential fats of fish oils are anti-inflammatory and are well studied to help asthmatics. I also used homeopathic remedies and herbal tinctures. Within a few months Mary noticed Joey coughed a lot less and needed his puffers less often to get through his very active day. Time will tell if the colds and flus will be prevented but if he does get sick Mary will no doubt notice that Joey's chest infections are less severe, and he recovers quickly. There are many naturopathic treatments for asthma along with recommendations for cleaning up the air quality of the home, for example, by eliminating carpets and animal dander. Controlling the air quality outside is a much harder, more political issue that perhaps the Green Party addresses the best. If only we could get them on the National Political Election Debate www.info-greenparty.ca/petition/ , next time, then they might get a single seat and help form the consciousness we need in the House of Commons to get the environment as a topic of discussion more often. If we don't endeavour for a cleaner environment, we won't have our health either!