A group of chronic illnesses includes asthma and other respiratory diseases. For many people these problems seem to cluster together. It has been speculated that this pattern is established someone how in childhood.
One very large study found a meaningful connection between respiratory infections during early childhood the incidence of asthma. In fact, for those children who experience more than a single infection that impacted the function of the lungs in the lower quadrant a significant increase in the incident of asthma occurred. Obviously, avoiding these types of infections can be one way to protect a child from developing this problem.
The disease croup in particular created a greater likelihood of asthma occurring later, often before by age10 for any child. Some of the researchers believe that croup occurs due to excessive activity in the lower lungs and basically creates a predisposition to problems later. In the past it has been believed that these kinds of infections and some type of allergic reactions with young children served to almost “inoculate” them from future problems. This has been a long-held belief with statistical tendencies found in earlier studies. Thanks to at least one study that included over 2,000 subjects it was possible to see the opposite is actually true.
Many people find that an allergic reaction can lead to a respiratory infection. This occurs most often with reaction triggered in the respiratory system. As can be expected, all allergic response is an immune trigger and can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system.
You might be surprised to learn that sleep apnea is also a chronic respiratory disease. The also share a strong connection. As with many of these chronic conditions they seem to happen together whether this develops over time or being diagnosed simultaneously. The majority of sleep apnea cases related to a physical block to the function of breathing while asleep.
Apparently the important link between asthma and apnea is related to the function of smooth muscle tissue in the esophagus and breathing passages. Some doctors consider it important to treat asthma patients with the standard intervention of a CPAP machine regardless of known apnea problems. It has been proven to improve the function of this muscle tissue and reduce the presence of immune markers for asthma attacks. A common link also relates to chronic bronchitis and asthma.
Many people who have chronic bronchitis will develop related asthma problems. The opposite is often true. When your ability to breathe is restricted for either reason, adding another issue is obviously not beneficial for anyone! With all these interrelations between asthma and other respiratory diseases it’s more important to notice and address problems promptly.
Whether it’s working with your doctor as needed, seeking out alternatives such as Cordyceps, licorice or other treatments, or biofeedback techniques, putting together a plan to get and stay healthy in the face of these challenges is essential for your quality of life.