New treatment may tackle virus-induced asthma
Inhaling antiviral proteins could prevent severe attacks caused by the common cold.
No one likes a cold, but the virus is especially dangerous for asthma sufferers, in whom it can trigger severe asthma attacks. Now research published in Nature Medicine1 shows that asthmatics' low levels of particular antiviral proteins are to blame. The finding suggests a new way to treat virus-induced acute asthma attacks: let the patient inhale the relevant proteins.
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Comments
Simplest way to controll allergic asthma is to take probiotics. Soil bacteria may also help in controlling asthma. In Tamilnadu (India) when children drink untreated water containing soil bacteria, their asthma is controlled. Of course, more studies will be needed to prove this. Some people's asthma may respond to SSRI drugs. These people may benefit from including milk and banana in their diet. (This is my own observation. To see any positive effect on asthma, milk and banana should be consumed on daily basis).
Posted by: Swati Thomas | August 16, 2006 06:16 AM
Great to see studies done addressing viral asthma. it really is quite different from allergic asthma. It is not very effective to treat with steroids and albuterol due to the level of inflammation and mucous present during the virus/cold, so new therapies would be so welcome. I have had good results treating my 3 year old with a variety of natural medicines aimed at reduction of systemic inflammation on a daily basis, as well as immune enhancement such as probiotics. We are clearing most illnesses throughout the year now without any asthma symtpoms.
Posted by: Colleen Madden | May 17, 2007 03:18 AM