Buteyko Clinic USA

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As a mother of two, I’ve been through the never-ending cycle of children’s ear infections, colds, runny and or stuffy noses, and persistent coughs.  My sick-leave days were used completely, I contended with  sleepless nights, frequent visits to family doctors and specialty and Urgent Care clinics. Does this sound familiar?

Antibiotics, nasal sprays, cold syrups and most of all, Tylenol, occupied space in my medicine cabinet.  I am sure that’s how it is for many parents. And considering that asthma is the most widespread, chronic condition among children in the US, many families would add asthma inhalers and allergy medications to the above list.

Now, according to a new research review of previously published studies by Canadian researchers, the pain and fever reliever acetaminophen is linked to an increased risk of asthma in children and adults.

After eliminating studies that weren’t scientifically sound enough, the researchers focused on 19 studies. Overall, they found that acetaminophen users were 63% more likely to have asthma than nonusers. Other findings include:

• The risk of asthma in children given acetaminophen in the year before their asthma diagnosis increased by 60%.
• The risk of asthma in children who used acetaminophen in the first year of life was 47% higher than in those who didn’t use it.
• The risk of asthma in adults who used acetaminophen was 74% higher than in those who did not.
• Prenatal use of acetaminophen boosted the risk of wheezing by 50% and the risk of asthma by 28% in children.

The researchers concede that children with severe asthma may be more likely to get acetaminophen for viral or other infections that may actually be due to asthma or may precede an asthma diagnosis.

 The finding of acetaminophen use and asthma is an association, they say, but not necessarily a cause and effect. ( http://www.webmd.com/asthma/news/20091105/acetaminophen-may-be-linked-to-asthma-risk?ecd=wnl_aaa_111609)

 Whether or not the study is correct, the truth is that our children are showered with drugs from a very early age, often unnecessarily, just because parents don’t know of better options. That, in turn, weakens the children’s immune system and produces more allergic reactions and susceptibility to recurrent infections. Therefore, a vicious circle starts.

I’ve entered this circle with my children too, long before I knew that by adopting a few simple principals of healthy breathing, any child’s health can be improved significantly. 

Observe healthy infants breathing. You’ll never see their chest moving, only their little tummies push gently in and out. They only breathe through their nose. Even during colds when their noses get stuffed, they become very upset and begin crying, but they do not open their mouth to breathe. They instinctively know it is not a natural, healthy way to breathe. As babies grow in modern society, they pick up habits and associations quickly from our unhealthy environment. Overeating, overdressing, reacting to their parents and their own stresses, developing wrong beliefs about healthy breathing, overusing medications, and a lack of physical activity are some major factors leading to the development of chronic hyperventilation so early in life.

The Buteyko Clinic Method, as taught at its Russian birthplace, stresses out that no child can be successfully taught the technique unless the parents are actively involved in the process and learn the Method themselves. They insist that a child’s health is directly connected to the parents’ health.

We parents, whether we like it or not, are setting an example by subconsciously transferring our behavior and our set of beliefs to our children. If we are obese, our children will likely also be obese. If we are sedentary, our children will also likely be less active.

 If we insist every day on healthier food choices for family meals, even though it seems like a struggle to feed veggies to a seven-year old, if we persist (and if we ourselves also make those same healthy eating choices), the children will likely copy that behavior when they mature, and eventually model that same behavior for their children.

If we, as parents, are aware of the health benefits of correct breathing, if we can recognize early signs of chronic hyperventilation and know how to teach children to resist bad breathing habits, the results may be a welcome surprise.   The cause and effect will become obvious. 

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Buteyko Clinic USA offers unique breathing rehabilitation programs that result in long term drug free control over asthma, allergies, COPD, rhinitis, chronic cough, snoring, sleep apnea, anxiety, panic, chronic hyperventilation syndrome and other chronic conditions. Contact us today for a free consultation.