Asthma

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We've all heard plenty of warnings about the dangers of fast food and how it's at least partly to blame for our childhood obesity epidemic. But a new international study shows that kids who eat fast food three or more times per week are at risk for more than just a little extra weight: Those chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers have now been linked to higher rates of asthma and eczema in kids.

Related: The Five Worst "Healthy" Fast Food Meals for Kids

The study, published Monday in the medical journal Thorax, used data from more than 319,000 13- and 14-year-olds in 51 countries, along with 181,000 6- to 7-year-olds from 31 countries. All of the participants were also involved in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, a collaborative research project made up of nearly 2 million children from 100 countries.

WATCH: Human Guinea Pigs Paid Thousands to Eat Fast Food Every Day

The participants' parents were asked about whether their kids experienced wheezing, rough or patchy skin, and rhinoconjunctivitis (a combination of stuffy or running nose with itchy and watery eyes) in the past 12 months. They were also asked about how frequently their kids ate certain foods, including meat, fruits, vegetables, bread, rice, nuts, milk, eggs, and commercially prepared fast food.

Learn more about the potential relation between fast food and asthma after the jump.

Are you concerned about a persistent night-time cough, or shortness of breath that appears when your child runs? Asthma is a leading chronic illness in children, affecting as many as 10%-12% of kids in the United States. And although asthma can begin at any age, most children experience their first symptoms before the age of five. Here we've rounded up the basics on the condition, including asthma risk factors, triggers, signs, and diagnosis. 

Risk Factors and Triggers

Several risk factors have been identified for childhood asthma, including a family history of asthma or allergies, frequent respiratory infections, exposure to tobacco smoke before or after birth, and nasal allergies or eczema.

According to the U.S. Library of National Medicine, asthma triggers may include allergens (such as mold, pollen, or animals), air-borne irritants like cigarette smoke or air pollution, cold air or changes in weather, exercise, and infections like the common cold or the flu.

Signs of Asthma

While not all children exhibit the same symptoms of asthma, according to WebMD the following symptoms are all common signs of asthma.

1. Frequent coughing spells, which may occur during play, at night, or while laughing or crying
2. A chronic cough (which may be the only symptom)
3. Less energy during play
4. Rapid breathing (intermittently)
5. Complaint of chest tightness or chest "hurting"
6. Whistling sound when breathing in or out — called wheezing
7. See-saw motions in the chest from labored breathing. These motions are called retractions.
8. Shortness of breath, loss of breath
9. Tightened neck and chest muscles
10. Feelings of weakness or tiredness 

Diagnosing Asthma in Children

A child is often diagnosed with asthma based on the symptoms parents notice and describe to the child's doctor, her medical history, and a physical exam. However, as Circle of Moms member Joanne C. notes of her daughter, many physicians are hesitant to offer a diagnosis for young children since their respiratory systems are still developing: "I was referred to a pediatrician who diagnosed her, but was told also [that] doctors did not like labelling a child as asthmatic before the age of two, so i had to have follow ups every few months." 

Regardless of the whether an asthma diagnosis is given, the treatment will likely be similar. Jodi A. explains: "When my son was young, they wouldn't CALL it asthma, but called it bronchial asthma...and they treated him as if they would for asthma."

And as Dona P. relays, a young child may grow out of symptoms that seem like asthma: “My youngest son had symptoms when he was little, and the doctor told me that he may have exercise-induced asthma. However, he outgrew it and now has no signs of asthma.”

The information in this article is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

To connect with other moms who are dealing with an asthmatic child, visit the Circle of Moms community Kids with Asthma.

Image Source: viralbus via Flickr/Creative Commons

I'm not gonna lie, but this piece of news has me kind of sad: a small study is linking swimming in chlorinated pools to cancer. In the first of three studies, Spanish researchers looked at the effects of 49 healthy adults who spent 40 minutes swimming in an indoor chlorinated pool. Genetic indicators from blood and urine samples from the participants pointed to an increase in cancer risk and respiratory effects like asthma.

What's a gal to do, especially since cooler temps mean more indoor swim sessions? First off, researchers are not suggesting that we stop swimming. It's a new study in its beginning stages, so the long-term effects — if any — of swimming in chlorinated waters is still unknown. Chlorine is still the common chemical used to disinfect pools, but many fitness centers are starting to disinfect their pools with a low chlorination system. Also, be sure to shower with soap and water immediately after exiting the pool; this will wash off any residual effects that may be on your body.

Prenatal yoga has never sounded better. A new study by doctors at Boston's famed Brigham and Women's Hospital has discovered a link between stressful pregnancies and a child's risk of developing asthma. According to the research, a mama-to-be's stress level can influence the baby's immune system during the pregnancy, making the baby more likely to develop asthma after birth.

The study, which followed lower-income women from several major cities, found that umbilical cells of babies born to stressed moms had different reactions to stimulants than those of babies born to moms who found their pregnancies to be stress-free. Doctors say the next step is to develop programs to reduce the tension women feel throughout pregnancy, such as exercise programs, nutritional guidance, and birthing prep.

How did you handle stress during your pregnancy?

About half of FitSugar readers suffer from asthma, myself included, and it's great to hear that your condition doesn't stop you from working out. That said, there are ways you can make exercising safer and more pleasant, so check out my tips below.

• Exercise during times of the day when your breathing is at its best. If you tend to wake up not being able to breathe, then a pre-work run may not be the best idea for you.
• Don't forget the warm-up. Going right into a 10-mile bike ride may be too much for your lungs.
• Avoid exercise that makes you out of breath.
• Along the same lines, avoid extreme interval training, especially if you suffer from exercise-induced asthma. While moving at different paces is OK when it comes to your breathing, you don't want to move too fast so that you're huffing and puffing and taxing your respiratory system. Stick to consistent speeds, or if you like varying your speeds, just do so at a pace that your lungs can keep up with.
• Always keep water nearby to stay hydrated. It's also good to sip in case you start to wheeze or feel a tickle in your throat.
• Many people who suffer from asthma experience runny noses when exercising, so be sure to keep tissues on hand.

For other important tips read more