There are currently more than 26 million people living with asthma in the U.S.
Half of people with asthma have at least one asthma attack each year, and more than 3,500 people die of asthma.
This is what an asthma attack feels like:
“They’re struggling to breathe, pulling at their neck, coughing and wheezing, and having some chest pain or feeling almost like their chest is being squeezed,” described Dr. Jeffrey Ewig, a pediatric pulmonologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
The most common asthma triggers include indoor allergens, mold, infections, and weather.
While things like pollen and pet dander may be common asthma triggers, experts say food can be as well, leading them to experience:
“Congestion, or runny nose, or sneezing, itchy, watery eyes,” explained Dr. Priya Patel, an immunologist at CHOP.
Foods that contain sulfites can also trigger asthma. They are common in wines, dried fruits, pickles, fresh and frozen shrimp, and bottled lemon juice.
Chemicals that are naturally found in coffee, teas, spices, herbs and anti-inflammatory pills, like aspirin, can make it hard to breathe if you have asthma.
Also, loading up on vitamin D can strengthen your immune system’s response against asthma triggers and could lessen swelling in your airways.
“The main effect that we’re talking about in vitamin D really has to do with the immune system,” said Dr. Ivan Castro, an internal medicine specialist at Private Health MD.
Castro said you can get vitamin D from:
- Mushrooms
- Salmon
- Halibut
- Herring
- Milk
- Eggs
Or you can go outside and get some vitamin D from the sunshine.
Foods with omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna and sardines can help with asthma symptoms as they help lessen the amount of immunoglobulin E, or IGE, your body makes. IGE is an antibody that causes breathing problems in some people with asthma.