See http://health.yahoo.com/centers/asthma/158

"Doctors think there are two ways that GERD can cause asthma symptoms:

   * People with GERD may breathe the droplets of digestive acid from
the reflux into their lungs without realizing it. The acid irritates
the sensitive lining of the lungs and causes spasms in the small
airways, or bronchi. The result is constriction of the air passages and
the possible onset of an asthma attack.
   * Frequent bouts of acid reflux that accompany GERD may cause the
acid to dissolve the lining of the esophagus and expose segments of a
major nerve that affects the lungs. It is thought that the irritation
of the exposed nerve endings also triggers constriction of the bronchi,
increasing the risk of an asthma attack."  Regards, Richard Friedel

This could be related to the viscosity of the blood .. in that when one
consumes a 'typical' high-fat meal the viscosity of the blood
/ thickness of the blood is increased ..

They have already shown increased red blood cells / secondary
erythrocytosis IN asthma . When there is erythrocytosis they KNOW
there is hyperviscosity .. and so when one consumes a meal in which
hyperviscosity is KNOWN to be increased .. DUE TO .. the meal .. then
.. what would happen .. ?

Increased viscosity UPON .. increased viscosity ..

They say theophylline is not used in asthma to lower the red blood cell
count therefore decreasing viscosity .. when .. IN FACT .. the drug
theophylline is USED SPECIFICALLY for that purpose .. in other
diseases.

Blood Flow to Heart Hampered After High-Fat Meal
Mon Apr 1, 5:54 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While a lifetime of fatty meals can lead to
a heart
attack, a study released Monday suggests that chowing down on just one
high-fat
meal can interfere with blood flow to the heart in healthy young men.

In the study, 15 healthy men in their 20s or early 30s consumed a shake

containing a whopping 1,200 calories and 100 grams of fat--roughly the
equivalent of eating a fast-food meal plus dessert. All of the men
underwent a
heart test and had blood samples taken before and after consuming the
liquid
meal.

The researchers, led by Dr. Takeshi Hozuml of Osaka City University in
Japan,
found that 5 hours after the high-fat meal, the ability of heart
arteries to
expand and increase blood flow to the muscle--a measure known as
coronary flow
reserve--dropped by 18%.

In addition, five men underwent the same tests after consuming a
low-fat 1,200
calorie meal that contained only 10 grams of fat. In that case, the men
did not
have a drop in coronary flow reserve after consuming the meal,
according to the
report in the April issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The findings suggest that coronary microcirculation--the tiny blood
vessels
that provide oxygen-rich blood to heart muscle--can be impaired by a
high-fat
meal. Although the study did not include people with heart disease, the
results
could explain why those with heart disease-related chest pain, known as
angina
(news - web sites), can have increased pain after a high-fat meal. The
pain of
angina is thought to be due to a reduction in blood flow to the heart.

The heart, the body's blood pumping organ, requires its own blood
supply to
function properly. Coronary arteries are the main blood vessels that
supply the
blood to the heart, and if a blockage occurs the surrounding vessels
compensate
by expanding in size to keep the proper amount of blood flowing to the
heart.

Doctors have know that a high-fat meals, which increase the amount of
fatty
substances in the blood such as triglycerides, can over time lead to
artery
clogging and eventually heart attacks. In the new study, the
investigators
found that triglyceride levels jumped from 140 milligrams per deciliter
of
blood (mg/dL) after the high-fat meal, but only 10 mg/dL after the
low-fat
meal.

While the researchers were not able to determine if the increase in
triglyceride levels was responsible for the decrease in the heart's
blood flow
reserve, the authors say the findings suggest implications for patients
with
heart disease.

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine 2002;136:523-528.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A good swig of the chocolate syrup bottle should clear this right up ..