Asthma: What is The Functional Medicine View
Asthma is a growing concern for many in the United States. More than 8% of Americans, that’s more than 26.5 million people, have asthma. The estimated cost of asthma is about $56 billion annually, which more than 11 million doctor visits, as well as more than 1.3 million hospital visits a year. The most predominantly prescribed medications for asthma are inhaled corticosteriods. With so many people living with this condition, what could be the reasons for its prevalence?
what is asthma
First, let’s talk about what exactly asthma is and how it affects the body. Like many chronic conditions in the body, asthma is inflammation, specifically inflammation and swelling in the airways of the lungs. This often times leads to wheezing, chest tightness, and breathlessness. What are the triggers of asthma?
The list of triggers can vary for each person; however, there is a list of likely causes promoted by conventional medicine consists of:
pollutants
dust mites
mold
dander
pests.
functional medicine view of asthma
While asthma effects the respiratory system, it is thought that the root cause of this issue may not necessarily be from the lungs themselves. Conventional medicine, as illustrated above, looks for the triggers to be those that only would directly effect the lungs and provides a means to control and calm down the attacks. However, in Functional Medicine the root cause of the chronic illness is what is sought after.
Because each of us is unique, the circumstances that surround someone’s development of asthma is different and unique as well. However, throughout the years some common root causes have become the focus of those that may be asthmatics.
Chris Kresser, M.S., believes that the root cause for asthma is immune dysregulation. And as we know, most of our immune system is found in the gut, so it makes sense when he says that the gut is one of the best places to look for those that may have asthma. Dr. Mark Hyman shares this view point that the gut does play a role in asthma conditions as well.
What could be potential triggers for someone with asthma? Four possible triggers for an asthmatic could be one of the following:
Food Intolerances, such as gluten, dairy, or other food issues
Digestive Problems, such as H. Pylori, SIBO, leaky gut, or other possible dysbiosis
Environmental Toxins, such as chemicals in personal care products, mold, etc.
HPA Axis Dysregulation, such as stress and out-of-sync circadian rhtyhm.
next steps
If you or someone you know has asthma, it may be prudent to look to their diet, or perhaps if they are exposed to any kind of toxins that may be overwhelming their systems. As always, I recommend seeing a Functional Medicine doctor near you to start diving into what the cause may be for your case. Each of us is different and needs to find the root cause to what is presenting with these symptoms. Once that is determined, you can always contact a health coach to help you to start making the recommended lifestyle changes. It’s always easier when you have a great health coach for support in your health journey.