Here are 24 Asthma facts.
1-5 Asthma Facts
1. Psychiatric disorders are more common among those with asthma, however, it is not known if asthma causes psychological problems or if psychological problems lead to asthma. – Source
2. An asthmatic boy died in a severe asthma attack because the school forbid asthma inhalers; while the boy was dying, the inhalers sat in a safe at the principal’s office. – Source
3. One of the reasons your lungs feel refreshed when walking through a pine forest is because of an anti-inflammatory compound called α-Pinene, found in conifers. It is used as a bronchodilator in the treatment of asthma and abundantly present in marijuana. – Source
4. Asthma inhalers containing ozone damaging CFCs were banned in 2008 in spite of their small environmental impact. Drug companies have greatly benefited from the ban because they can change more for HFA inhalers that are still patented. The drug has not changed, only the delivery mechanism. – Source
5. When Teddy Roosevelt was a young child, doctors prescribed him whiskey and cigars to relieve his severe asthma. – Source
6-10 Asthma Facts
6. A study showed that children whose parents placed the children’s pacifiers in their own mouths before giving it to the child were less likely to develop allergies like asthma later in life. – Source
7. Amy Van Dyken, a 6-times Olympic gold medalist swimmer, has been an asthmatic her whole life, proving that children with asthma can grow to be Olympic-level athletes. – Source
8. Every year thousands of Indians swallow live fish under the belief that it will cure asthma. – Source
9. Propylene glycol, the chemical in e-cig vapor, is used in asthma inhalers and has had decades of research done on its safety. – Source
10. Caffeine can help reduce asthma symptoms. – Source
11-15 Asthma Facts
11. Numerous studies have shown that living in a farming environment during childhood has lifelong protective effects against the development of atopic diseases i.e., asthma, eczema, etc. – Source
12. Babies born via C-section appear more likely to develop allergies and asthma; believed to be due to delayed development of the gut flora. – Source
13. Asthma medications may cause positive testing results for drugs like meth and ecstasy. – Source
14. The bleach smell in the air at public swimming pools is caused by the chlorine reacting with human urine. The chlorine gas it releases, the same gas released when mixing bleach and ammonia, is dangerous and chronic exposure can cause atopic asthma. – Source
15. A half-mushroom-half-caterpillar called Yarsagumba lives in the mountains of Nepal. It’s basically a caterpillar that turns into a fungus in the summer. It is used as an aphrodisiac and as a treatment for asthma and costs around $18,000 per KG. – Source
16-20 Asthma Facts
16. Laughter can induce an Asthma attack to more than half of people with the condition. – Source
17. Having asthma in the 16th century was pretty tough. Tudor doctors prescribed asthmatics to swallow buttered live frogs or spiders to clear their throats. Alternative methods included crushed human skull powder or a blend of black cats’ blood and cream. – Source
18. There are functioning bitter taste receptors in the lungs that could be used in treatments for asthma and COPD. – Source
19. There is an experimental therapy called “Helminthic therapy“, which involves the use of parasitic worms such as hookworms, whipworms, and threadworms that can be used to cure asthma. – Source
20. Cats and dogs can suffer from asthma and have to use inhalers. – Source
21-24 Asthma Facts
21. In the 1970’s several Uranium mines were reopened and marketed as “health spas”. Claimed benefits from inhaling the Radon gas inside included asthma, pain, sinus, and arthritis relief. – Source
22. There’s such a thing as “thunderstorm asthma”, asthma induced by very particular and rare thunderstorm conditions. – Source
23. One giant Container Ship can emit almost the same amount of asthma-causing chemicals as 50 million Automobiles. – Source
24. Hawaii has a high incidence of asthma due to VOG (volcanic fog). – Source
Featured Image Credit: humanproofdesigns.com
The “Bleach Smell” at the pool IS the chlorine and has nothing to do with Urine. There is not enough ammonia in urine to instigate a significant reaction nor can enough build up as the water is constantly filtered.