Asthma is considered a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, however the airway obstruction in asthma is reversible. Also, in asthma only the bronchi are affected and not the alveoli. Asthma may interfere with daily activities, such as walking, getting up and down the steps or any activity that requires strength and endurance. Asthma symptoms may be seasonal and be connected to very specific trigger factors, which often differ between patients.

Asthma symptoms vary from patient to patient and fall on a spectrum from mild to severe. There exist two asthma states: chronic asthma (steady-state) and the acute asthma (attack), each state has different signs and symptoms.

Chronic asthma (steady-state) is characterized by these signs and symptoms:

• shortness of breath (only at exertion)
• nighttime coughing
• a frequent throat-clearing cough
• wheezing (not always present)

Symptoms may be present during certain parts of the day, may gradually decrease or get worse.

Acute asthma (attack) symptoms are:

• shortness of breath (sometimes even when resting)
• wheezing
• tightness in chest

The symptoms of an asthma attack may be so severe that they become life threatening. Asthma attacks are often treated with a rescue inhaler containing short-acting beta-2 agonists. Long-term treatment of asthma include inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-2 agonists and even monoclonal antibodies such as omalizumab and mepolizumab. The best way to take care of asthma in the long run is to identify and prevent exposure to trigger factors (see below), lower emotional and physical stress and by using prescription medicine (as discussed by you and your doctor).

Asthma Causes
Asthma has both genetic and environmental causes (triggers). Many asthma patients have family members who have lung conditions. Environmental trigger factors include bad air quality (often found in urban areas), high ozone levels in the atmosphere, other air pollutants including cigarette smoke, allergens such as pollen, mold, dust, dust mites, pet dander or rapid temperature changes. In addition, asthma can also be triggered by exersise. Recently, some researchers have suggested that the rise in asthma prevalence can be connected to the rise in acetaminophen pain killer use.

Additional Asthma Causes
Some studies have suggested that asthma may be linked to GERD, Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease. It may be possible that the chronic aspiration of gastric acid results in a worsening of inflammation in the lungs. To establish a relationship between GERD and the presence of asthma, pH esophageal monitoring has to be performed.

Natural Remedies That May Help Asthma Symptoms
Although no natural asthma remedy exists, supplements, vitamins and herbal extracts are available that could help reduce the severity of asthma symptoms:

• Vitamin C: low levels of vitamin C have been linked to decreased lung function. Taking vitamin C may improve lung function and protect against exercise-induced asthma
• Vitamin B: In particular vitamin B-complex is able to help the body cope with the effects of stress and could therefore be beneficial to asthma
• Green Lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus): Endemic to New-Zealand, this bi-valve mollusc (in extract form) is able to inhibit the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, which is responsible for the formation of leukotrienes. This may help curb the inflammatory processes

Eneli, I., Sadri, K., Camargo, C. and Barr, R.G. (2005). Acetaminophen and the risk of asthma: the epidemiologic and pathophysiologic evidence. Chest 127: 604–12.

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Chances are that you’ve heard a lot of claims about the health benefits of adding Omega-3 to your diet. In fact, you could be forgiven for thinking that Omega-3 is either a miracle or extremely over-hyped. In this article, I’ll cut through the hype and present some of the current medical science findings about the health benefits of adding Omega-3 to your diet. I’ll begin by listing conditions for which there is strong scientific evidence for the benefits of Omega-3, followed by lists of conditions with good and unclear evidence of Omega-3-related benefits.

No supplement will work the same in different people and Omega-3 is no exception. For example, if you have high cholesterol, Omega-3 may not help you despite being known as a good cholesterol treatment. On the other hand, if you have cystic fibrosis, then Omega-3 supplements may help you tremendously despite having unclear evidence that it works for that condition. Also, remember that medical science and formal studies for just about any supplement may lag behind the anecdotal evidence from people who have started taking that supplement. This is one reason why you should consult your doctor before adding any supplement to your diet.

Some of the benefits of
Omega-3 are dose-related, meaning that higher doses offer a larger benefit. Large doses of Omega-3 may have some side effects. Here’s another great reason to talk with your doctor before adding Omega-3 or any other supplement to your diet.

Omega-3 Benefits with Strong Evidence

There is strong scientific evidence that adding Omega-3 to one’s diet can help with the following conditions:

• High blood pressure: Omega-3 is known to cause small reductions in blood pressure, especially at high doses.

• Cholesterol: Omega-3 dramatically lowers blood triglyceride levels, especially at higher doses.

Omega-3 Benefits with Good Evidence

Good evidence shows that adding Omega-3s to your diet can help with these conditions:

• Infant health: Omega-3s may help infant brain and eye development and is also important for healthy pregnancies.

• Inflammation: Omega-3 may help prevent heart disease by reducing inflammation.

• Nutrition: Patients with Crohn’s disease or people being tube-fed after abdominal surgery may benefit from added Omega-3 in their diets.

• Heart disease: In some people, Omega-3 significantly reduces the risk of death from heart disease.

• Rheumatoid arthritis: Omega-3 can help with rheumatoid arthritis after people take it for about 3 months. Omega-3s may also increase the effectiveness of other ibuprofen and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Omega-3 Benefits with Unclear Evidence

Unclear evidence means that benefits have been reported; however the benefits may be limited to certain people and/or there may not be enough evidence to show a conclusive benefit. There is unclear scientific evidence that adding Omega-3 to one’s diet can help with the following conditions:

• Age-related eye disorders: Macular degeneration may be helped by Omega-3.Angina-related chest pain maybe relieved by Omega-3.|Omega-3 may reduce angina-related chest pain.[/spin]

• Asthma: Asthma sufferers may benefit from Omega-3.

• Atherosclerosis: Omega-3 may help reduce or prevent plaque buildup in the coronary arteries.

• Psychiatric disorders: Omega-3 may help with some psychiatric disorders, including ADHD and its related behavioral and learning problems, bipolar disorder, dementia, depression, mood and impulse control, and schizophrenia. Benefits may include both helping with the disorder itself and/or helping with the side effects of certain psychiatric medications such as Haldol.

• Cancer: Some studies report that Omega-3 may help prevent or slow the growth of breast, colon and prostate cancer.

• Heartbeat: Omega-3 may help reduce irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), which may reduce heart attacks.

• Other conditions: Omega-3 may also help with such conditions as cystic fibrosis, menstrual pain, eczema, epilepsy, immune system function, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), osteoporosis, psoriasis and others.

Another Consideration

Americans (and many Western societies) eat a lot of meat, grains and processed foods that are very high in Omega-6. Low doses of Omega-6 are essential for good health, but too much of a good thing can be deadly. High levels of Omega-6 are linked to heart disease, asthma, certain cancers, arthritis and depression. A good ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 is 4:1, that is, 4 Omega-6 fatty acids to one Omega-3 fatty acid. The typical American diet can contain 11 to 30 times as much Omega-6 as Omega-3. The average American may be literally eating him or herself to death. Grass-fed beef is high in Omega-6 while the corn-fed beef most people eat is high in Omega-6, and this is just one example. In fact, the heavy presence of corn across so much of the typical American diet may also be another major contributor to the levels of Omega-6 in our diets.

Correcting this imbalance is as easy as cutting back on Omega-6 intake while boosting Omega-3 intake.

Not All Omega-3 is Created Equal

Plenty of foods such as fish oil, flax oil, nuts, soybeans, etc. have Omega-3. Of these, fish oil is considered the best source but is not without its problems. Contamination is a key problem with fish-based Omega-3, which can contain heavy metals, PCBs and even fire retardant. Some companies purify their fish oil using a process called molecular distillation. This process is very effective… but making sure your sources are pure to begin with is even better.

The primary types of Omega-3 are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). All have health benefits but ALA can worsen conditions helped by DHA and EPA. Taking Omega-3 supplements that are rich in DHA and EPA with little to no ALA can eliminate this problem and also reduce potential side effects.

Perna canaliculus, the New Zealand green lipped mussel, grows in pristine ocean waters. It is naturally high in DHA and EPA and is naturally contaminant-free. New Zealand is taken the lead in protecting its coastline and fisheries, with 70% of its coastline under protection from environmental harm (compared to about 2% of Mediterranean coastlines).

Add powerful antioxidants from the organically grown sauvignon blanc grape to green lipped mussel extract and you have MOXXOR… one of the world’s strongest Omega-3 and antioxidant supplements. The power of MOXXOR comes from its unique blend that delivers powerful benefits without the high dose. MOXXOR has no known drug interactions and avoids most if not all of the side effects of fish-based and other sources of Omega-3.

In Conclusion

Omega-3 has the potential to help with many different conditions. It can help treat conditions and may also help prevent them from occurring in the first place. In short, if you have one more conditions listed in this article (or if you want to lower your risk of getting them), then you should strongly consider adding New Zealand green lipped mussel-based Omega-3 to your diet. Just remember to consult your doctor before adding any supplement to your doctor. The US FDA regards Omega-3s as generally safe.

Anthony Hernandez

Anthony Hernandez is a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Business Association Coach and author of Guerrilla Marketing Success Secrets with over 20 years of successful self-employment experience. He is proud to be a co-founding member of the MOXXOR WORKS Team.

Sources
• Mayo Clinic
• American Heart Association
• University of Maryland Medical Center
• King Corn
• BBC
• Moxxor

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