Thursday, September 09, 2010
Have Asthma? Vitamin D May Help
From American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)
Supplement your asthma action plan with Vitamin D and you may experience improved asthma control according to an article published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
“There is a possible cause-and-effect relationship between vitamin D deficiency and uncontrolled asthma,” said allergist Manbir Sandhu, MD, lead author and ACAAI member. “Evidence suggests that vitamin D has a number of biologic factors that are important in regulating key mechanisms in asthma.”
“Vitamin D can complement your prescribed asthma treatment plan as it has been shown to have some anti-inflammatory properties, but should never be used as an alternative to prescribed medication,” said allergist Thomas Casale, M.D., co author and ACAAI Fellow. “Asthma is a serious and sometimes life threatening disease and needs to be treated that way. Always discuss use of supplements with your allergist.”
Consumers and patients can take a simple online test to gauge their asthma symptoms and obtain a personalized plan on how to get relief at .
“It’s important to know that if you have asthma, you should be able to feel good, be active all day and sleep well at night,” said Dr. Casale. “If you’re not, make an appointment with your allergist for a ‘tune-up’ visit.”
Read the full article here.