Do you have asthma? Do you just love your salty or pre- prepared foods? Well, there’s good news and bad news. On the negative side, an intercontinental study review has concluded that you could worsen your asthma by taking in too much salt (a.k.a. sodium). On the positive side, it seems that cutting back on this food additive could improve your symptoms related to the breathing problem.
Asthma is lung disease in which a person’s airways constrict for various reasons; mainly an allergic reaction, exercise, pollution, stress, or cold air cause it to occur. It’s also classified as chronic inflammatory condition that can have acute phases, which are called “asthma attacks.” If you have it, you’ll know that the sensation of not being able to breathe is quite frightening. Such an attack, if not treated immediately, can be life threatening. Most asthmatics carry medication, which is used in the event of an attack (e.g. bronchodilators, a.k.a puffers); some take additional daily medications to keep their condition under control and prevent attacks.
Asthma is a very common disease — according to the American Lung Association, in 2004 20.5 million Americans had the condition. Moreover, in 2003, there were 4,099 fatalities due to asthma. It can be very mild — only popping up once in a while — or it can be severe, limiting people’s day-to-day activities and affecting their ability to work. Another major problem is that asthma can limit the ability of sufferers to get outside, stay active and exercise — and we all know how crucial these factors are to living a healthier and longer life.
Because of the prevalence of asthma in our society, a great deal of research has been done on the topic. Recently, a team of researchers from the U.K. and the U.S. looked into a whole bunch of studies in order to see if it could be concluded that there was indeed a link between salt intake and lung function.
The results of the various studies were mixed; however, overall, a greater consumption of salt seemed to lead to more severe asthma in people already suffering from the disease. According to the research team, asthmatics following a low-sodium diet for two to five weeks could expect see better lung function and fewer attacks.
Obviously, more salt in the diet seems to have the opposite effect, worsening an asthmatic’s condition. In other findings, sticking to a low-sodium diet for one to two weeks could cut down on the number of asthma attacks induced by physical activity. It’s not yet known to what extent long-term diet changes could impact an asthmatic’s condition.
The research team is calling for a larger, good-quality study on the subject of salt reduction and asthma in order to put the issue to bed once and for all. Further study into whether salt in the diet could actually cause asthma is also warranted.
However, since reducing salt is already recommended for other health benefits (e.g. preventing high blood pressure), it makes perfect sense for a person suffering from asthma to cut amount of this stuff in their diet. Be warned — it’s not just a matter of reducing the amount of salt you sprinkle on your food or add to your own cooking. The pre-prepared foods that you find on the grocery store shelves can contain vast amounts of sodium.
Everything from crackers, to tinned soups, to sauce mixes, to frozen dinners. . . they are all a potential salt mine. Many food manufacturers are working on reducing salt in their products, but it’s safest to avoid as much of this stuff as possible. Stick to the basics: fresh and unprocessed fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish are your best bets for avoiding a salt-heavy diet. Remember to advise your doctor of any dietary or lifestyle changes you make. Happy breathing!
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Tags: blood pressure, exercise
