Asthma and other respiratory disorders

[yiostheoy]

Does the method of conception affect asthma?...

Fertility treatment 'asthma link'
5 December 2012 - Children born after fertility treatments, such as IVF, may have a slightly higher chance of developing asthma, research suggests.

In a study of more than 13,000 UK children, five-years-olds were about twice as likely to have asthma if they were not conceived naturally. The children were also more likely to need medication, which could be an indication of more severe asthma. The findings were published in the journal Human Reproduction. The researchers, at the Universities of Oxford and Essex, analysed data from children born between 2000 and 2002.

Researcher Dr Claire Carson said 15% of all the children in the study had had asthma at the age of five, but this proportion had risen to 24% among the 104 of them born through assisted-reproduction technologies. She said it was interesting that the pattern had emerged, but far too soon to say if IVF treatment resulted in higher rates of asthma. Other explanations, such as genetics, may explain the association. Dr Carson told the BBC that parents should not be put off IVF. "Assisted reproduction technologies offer a chance to become a parent when there isn't another option," she said. "For the majority of children asthma is quite manageable."

Malayka Rahman, from the charity Asthma UK, said: "This study suggests that there might be an association between IVF treatment and asthma developing in children, but the sample size for this study is small and currently the research in this area generally is not conclusive. "Those considering IVF should speak to their GP about the benefits and health risks in order to make an informed decision."

Source

See also:

Childlessness 'may increase likelihood of early death'
5 December 2012 - The study looked at data from couples who wanted to start a family

Involuntary childlessness may increase the likelihood of early death, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reports. The Danish study looked at more than 21,000 couples seeking IVF treatment. They found women who were unsuccessful in having a child were four times more likely to die prematurely than women who had been mothers. Critics stress that the risk of early death was low - with just 316 people in total dying over the 11 year study.

The authors of the paper also point out that their research suggests a link between childlessness and premature death and not a cause. They wrote: "Mindful that association is not the same thing as causation, our results suggest that the mortality rates are higher in the childless." The researchers based their findings on data obtained from various population registers in Denmark on births, deaths and IVF procedures from 1994 to 2005. During this time 21,276 childless couples registered for IVF treatment, 15,149 children were born and a total of 96 women and 220 men died.

Four times more likely

After analysis, the results suggested having a child cut the risk of early death, particularly among women. Childless women were four times more likely to die early from circulatory disease, cancers, and accidents than those with children- and men were about twice as likely. Critics stress it is hard to determine the underlying cause of the results seen.

Ingrid Collins, a consultant psychologist, said: "This is a very specific situation of people who are trying to have children - the study's findings cannot be used to generalise across the whole general population. "People having IVF tend to be desperate for a child, if they are unsuccessful they may be depressed- it may even be this rather than childlessness that is playing a part. One can only guess. "It is complicated and many factors play a part in death rates- people with deep spiritual belief, being married, having a higher social class - these can all help in living longer."

People 'hang on'

I'll bet the Hershey Bar Road does not cause it.

 

[DGS49]

Something is going on here that doesn't add up.

The air quality today is better than it ever was. With fewer people smoking and those who do being generally more considerate of others, exposure to second-hand smoke is less than it has been for generations.

I suspect this is one of those things like campus rape, autism, and hyperactivity disorder: you change the definition and find that it occurs more often. It is an illusion of an increasing problem where that is not really the case.

 

[Muhammed]

Asthma rates could be increasing, or it could be that they are simply being diagnosed more, like ADHD.

 

[waltky]

Outbreak of 'thunderstorm asthma' in Australia...

Four killed by rare 'thunderstorm asthma' in Melbourne
Thursday 24th November, 2016 - Four people have been confirmed dead from a rare condition known as thunderstorm asthma that sent hundreds of people to hospital in Melbourne.

The wild thunderstorm caused rain-sodden ryegrass pollen to explode and disperse over Australia's second-largest city on Monday night, and the pollen caused asthma attacks in patients who had never suffered from the condition before.Ambulance Victoria spokesman Mick Stephenson reported a six-times larger caseload because of the asthma attacks.

Ambulance Victoria reported a six-times larger caseload because of the asthma attacks​

Professor George Braitberg, head of Royal Melbourne Hospital's emergency department, likened the scene in the hospital on Monday night to a war zone. He said seven asthma patients had been transferred to the hospital's intensive care unit.

The latest death to be confirmed was Clarence Leo, a nightclub bouncer and father of two, who died at home early on Tuesday morning, his family said. Prof Braitberg said: "I've been an emergency physician for about 35 years, worked in a number of hospitals, and I can say, hand on heart, that I have not seen this before."

Four killed by rare 'thunderstorm asthma' in Melbourne - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[waltky]

Fish oil taken during pregnancy could lower child’s asthma risk...

Taking fish oil during pregnancy could lower child’s asthma risk
Mon, Jan 09, 2017 - Women who took fish oil during the last three months of pregnancy significantly lowered the risk that their children would develop asthma, a study in Denmark has found.

Among children whose mothers took fish-oil capsules, 16.9 percent had asthma by age three, compared with 23.7 percent whose mothers were given placebos. The difference, nearly 7 percentage points, translates to a risk reduction of about 31 percent. But in the study released on Dec. 28 last year, the researchers say they are not ready to recommend that pregnant women routinely take fish oil.

Several salmon, taken in Maine​

Before doctors can make any recommendations, the study should be replicated, and fish oil should be tested earlier in pregnancy and at different doses. Doctors are eager to find ways to prevent asthma, a chronic disease that causes wheezing, coughing and breathing trouble, and that sends many families to the emergency room again and again.

The incidence has more than doubled in developed countries in recent decades. Previous research had suggested that fish oil might help prevent asthma. The idea is plausible, because inflammation in the airways and lungs plays a major role in asthma, and fatty acids in fish oil are thought to prevent inflammation. The richest sources in food include fish like herring, sardines, mackerel, eel and salmon.

Taking fish oil during pregnancy could lower child’s asthma risk<br /> 懷孕時攝取魚油可降低孩童罹患氣喘風險 - Taipei Times