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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / December 2005Antibiotics key to asthma epidemic
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBr and=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED05%20Sep%202005%2019%3A02%3A17%3A360 06 September 2005 07:21 New research suggests the asthma epidemic among British schoolchildren is caused by over-use of antibiotics which upset the body's immune system by killing off beneficial, infection-fighting bacteria - and the problem is worsened by unhealthy diet. Britain has some of the highest asthma rates in the world, with more than a quarter of children requiring inhalers or showing symptoms while hay fever and allergic skin conditions like eczema have also become extremely common. Scientists now believe one of the key underlying causes is over-use of antibiotics, commonly prescribed for colds and minor infections. This can seriously compromise the body's immune system by destroying beneficial bacteria or microflora . "Our 40-year experiment with antibiotics and diets high in refined foods appears to now be proving that if we alter our microflora we alter communication with our immune system. "In the absence of this communication, the 'dark side' of the immune system then takes control, resulting in uncontrolled allergies," Dr Gary Huffnagle, a leading world expert on allergies said yesterday. Estimates suggest there could be as many as 50,000 cases of asthma in Norfolk, with evidence to suggest an upward trend. In the Southern Norfolk Primary Care Trust area alone, with a population of around 207,000, figures show 13,988 people with asthma. Under new data, which illustrate performance of GP practices, asthma statistics will be collated as a matter of course by each surgery. However, Norfolk has the highest incidence of asthma in the country when broken down by Strategic Health Authority area. Figures for Suffolk show that more than 45,000 people in the county have asthma. Dr Huffnagle, a microbiologist at Michigan University, was presenting new research on allergies to the British Association for the Advancement of Science's annual conference in Dublin. "No one really knew what caused allergies or asthma - we thought maybe it was too many allergens inhaled into the lungs that was causing the immune systyem to change," he said. "It turns out that it is microflora which is found not in the lungs but in the gut which controls the growth of other micropes in our body and if you destroy them by taking antibiotics it upsets the balance." He said the problem was made worse by unhealthy, westernised diets high in processed foods and with insufficient fresh fruit and vegetables to put back beneficial bacteria. He added: "If you counted up all the microbes in our microflora, it would be about one hundred trillion which is that's ten times the number of cells that make up our body. " Basically you have to make the environment of the gut friendly enough to let microflora grow and do their job and you can do that with probiotic yoghurts, drinks or supplements." Among other yeast-containing foods that are good for boosting the immune system are brown ale, red wine, sauerkraut, sourdough bread and mature cheese. A survey published in February by Aberdeen University revaled that overall, 26 per cent of British children have suffered from asthma, 26 per cent from eczema and 19 per cent from hay fever at some point since birth. Copyright © 2005 Archant Regional. All rights reserved. Terms and conditions Members Log in Sign Up Forgotten password My asthma got worse after a new super highway opened up nearby. I've assumed, since then, that automobile exhaust was one of the culprits behind worsening asthma problems. I still feel that way. In fact, I feel that auto exhaust and other increased emmissions, caused by increased population, are responsible for many health problems. http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBr and=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED05%20Sep%202005%2019%3A02%3A17%3A360 06 September 2005 07:21 New research suggests the asthma epidemic among British schoolchildren is caused by over-use of antibiotics which upset the body's immune system by killing off beneficial, infection-fighting bacteria - and the problem is worsened by unhealthy diet. Britain has some of the highest asthma rates in the world, with more than a quarter of children requiring inhalers or showing symptoms while hay fever and allergic skin conditions like eczema have also become extremely common. Scientists now believe one of the key underlying causes is over-use of antibiotics, commonly prescribed for colds and minor infections. This can seriously compromise the body's immune system by destroying beneficial bacteria or microflora . "Our 40-year experiment with antibiotics and diets high in refined foods appears to now be proving that if we alter our microflora we alter communication with our immune system. "In the absence of this communication, the 'dark side' of the immune system then takes control, resulting in uncontrolled allergies," Dr Gary Huffnagle, a leading world expert on allergies said yesterday. Estimates suggest there could be as many as 50,000 cases of asthma in Norfolk, with evidence to suggest an upward trend. In the Southern Norfolk Primary Care Trust area alone, with a population of around 207,000, figures show 13,988 people with asthma. Under new data, which illustrate performance of GP practices, asthma statistics will be collated as a matter of course by each surgery. However, Norfolk has the highest incidence of asthma in the country when broken down by Strategic Health Authority area. Figures for Suffolk show that more than 45,000 people in the county have asthma. Dr Huffnagle, a microbiologist at Michigan University, was presenting new research on allergies to the British Association for the Advancement of Science's annual conference in Dublin. "No one really knew what caused allergies or asthma - we thought maybe it was too many allergens inhaled into the lungs that was causing the immune systyem to change," he said. "It turns out that it is microflora which is found not in the lungs but in the gut which controls the growth of other micropes in our body and if you destroy them by taking antibiotics it upsets the balance." He said the problem was made worse by unhealthy, westernised diets high in processed foods and with insufficient fresh fruit and vegetables to put back beneficial bacteria. He added: "If you counted up all the microbes in our microflora, it would be about one hundred trillion which is that's ten times the number of cells that make up our body. " Basically you have to make the environment of the gut friendly enough to let microflora grow and do their job and you can do that with probiotic yoghurts, drinks or supplements." Among other yeast-containing foods that are good for boosting the immune system are brown ale, red wine, sauerkraut, sourdough bread and mature cheese. A survey published in February by Aberdeen University revaled that overall, 26 per cent of British children have suffered from asthma, 26 per cent from eczema and 19 per cent from hay fever at some point since birth. Copyright © 2005 Archant Regional. All rights reserved. Terms and conditions Members Log in Sign Up Forgotten password > My asthma got worse after a new super highway opened up nearby. I've > assumed, since then, that automobile exhaust was one of the culprits behind > worsening asthma problems. I still feel that way. In fact, I feel that auto > exhaust and other increased emmissions, caused by increased population, are > responsible for many health problems. This may be politically correct but is not scientifically correct. Pollution has been lowered steadily since the 1970's. Walking 10 miles if you have a sprained ankle will make the ankle worse. This does not mean that walking 10 miles will cause a healthy person to develop a sprained ankle. Our ancestors used to burn wood, coal & oil indoors, and it did not make them get sick. A person in good health should be able to tolerate a moderate amount of pollution without any ill effects. Woody > > My asthma got worse after a new super highway opened up nearby. I've > > assumed, since then, that automobile exhaust was one of the culprits behind [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > This may be politically correct but is not scientifically correct. Politically correct? It has nothing to do with politics. After the super highway opened up, my asthma got significantly worse. The politically correct thing to do would be to say that "exhaust" based air pollution is harmless. > Pollution has been lowered steadily since the 1970's. Perhaps in the US. Worldwide there are tons of human waste and dangerous chemicals being pumped into our oceans every day. Test on most ocean fish show trace amounts, or more, of human feces and dangerous chemicals. Then there is the infamous Giant Brown Cloud, an enormous cloud of pollution that forms over the Indian Ocean and South Asia, which is having a harmful effect internationally, and is actually changing the weather patterns in different parts of this world. > Walking 10 miles > if you have a sprained ankle will make the ankle worse. This does not > mean that walking 10 miles will cause a healthy person to develop a > sprained ankle. Our ancestors used to burn wood, coal & oil indoors, > and it did not make them get sick. You don't know how many of our ancestors had chronic illnesses due to the misuse of fuels. Plus...... there is a big difference between exercise and having children breath toxic pollution 24 hours per day, week after week. I guess you consider it p.c. to equate exercise with pollution. > A person in good health should be > able to tolerate a moderate amount of pollution without any ill > effects. > > Woody If you think that breathing polluted air is good for you, that is your choice. If it is so good for you, does that mean that you spend your spare time bending down and sniffing the exhaust of cars stuck in traffic? I agree with CanDo. I think the air pollution especially the particles from diesel engines are to blame. Along with exposure to chemicals in cleaners, rugs, wood products, solvents, paints etc. I think some people have a genetic tendancy to be weaker to these substances and get asthma, allergies and sinus infections from exposure to them. 'Canaries in the coal mine'. Also consider that people didn't live that long prior to 1900 where the average life expectancy was under 50 years old. Probably the people with tendancies to get asthma, flu and sinus infections died in infancy or childhood after exposure to germs (no antibiotics or good treatments) and the cooking fumes, coal and heating sources of the time. So there were a lot fewer cases mentioned in the medical literature. sedum41, I agree with you. The humans of this earth are pigging up and destroying this planet. As we make our water less healthy to drink, and our air less healthy to breathe and our food less healthy to eat, the animal life on this planet will increasingly suffer. If we continue to parasite this planet by destroying and/or burning natural resources, animal life will increasingly suffer. Asthma and other allergic reactions, sinusitis, chemical sensitivities and all kinds of illnesses, will worsen and spread to more people. Those who are in denial, and who believe that pollution is harmless will learn the hard way, just the same as we all will learn the hard way. I feel sorry for future generations, who will be faced with the disastrous effects that come from, not only, pollution but the other significant damage we are doing to the Earth on a daily basis. I wonder how many more years before this planet is made unfit for animal life? > I agree with CanDo. I think the air pollution especially the particles from > diesel engines are to blame. Along with exposure to chemicals in cleaners, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > the cooking fumes, coal and heating sources of the time. So there were a > lot fewer cases mentioned in the medical literature. > sedum41, I agree with you. > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > allergies and sinus infections from exposure to them. 'Canaries in the > > coal mine'. Some environmentalists are saying that global warming has been accelerated by the global reduction of "brown haze" air pollution in the last 30 years. The brown haze composed of particulate matter used to mitigate the effects of CO2, by blocking the sun's rays. Reducing particulate pollution without reducing CO2, has worsened global warming, according to their argument. Woody MedPage Today Action Points * If patients come in with infected skin wounds, consider asking about exposure to ocean or brackish water. * If infection is due to Vibrio, treat patients promptly and aggressively. * Recommend that patients in the high-risk groups avoid contact with brackish water or be diligent about pursuing medical care rapidly if they do get cut under such circumstances. * This study was published as an abstract and presented orally at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary as they have not yet been reviewed and published in a peer-reviewed publication. Review SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 7 - Small cuts and scrapes contaminated with sea water can lead to Vibrio infections with serious illness, amputations, and even death, researchers reported here. In a CDC study of 3,344 Vibrio infections reported between January 1997 and June 2004, 813 (24%) resulted from infected wounds. Of those, more than half of the patients required hospitalization and 77 (9.5%) died, according to Amy Dechet, M.D., a CDC field epidemiologist. Most Vibrio infections in the U.S. are associated with eating raw or undercooked seafood, but of those studied, more than two-thirds of patients were infected while participating in recreational activities, such as boating, surfing, swimming, or walking on the beach, Dr. Dechet reported at a meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America here. In the CDC study, the strain V. vulnificus accounted for 39% of the infections and caused 87% of the wound-associated deaths. Of those infected with V. vulnificus, 24% died and 27% required amputation. Dr. Dechet speculated that the high rate of morbidity and mortality associated with the organism was due to its virulence and individuals¹ delay in seeking treatment because cuts initially resemble more minor infections. The other commonly detected strains in the study were V. alginolyticus (27%) and V. parahemolyticus (17%). In particular, surfers in California presented with ear infections due to V. alginolyticus. Treatment recommendations include washing wounds with soap and lots of fresh water. If a wound does appear to worsen, ³prompt and aggressive medical care should be sought,² Dr. Dechet said. Typical presenting symptoms were cellulitis and increased warmth or redness and pain at the site of the wound one to three days after exposure. ³It is important that physicians consider Vibrio as a source of infections,² she emphasized. Delaying treatment more than two days after the onset of symptoms increased the risk of death. Because contact with salty or brackish water was necessary for infection with Vibrio, Dr. Dechet advised physicians to ask about a patient¹s recent travel and recreational history when someone presents with infected cuts. People with liver disease or weakened immune systems and the elderly are at particular risk for Vibrio infections, and those risk factors correlated with increased severity of infection. However, 43% of those infected in the CDC study had no pre-existing medical condition, Dr. Dechet said. Although the majority of the infections in the study were the result of contact with warm Gulf Coast waters, infections occurred after visits to both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This is particularly relevant following Hurricane Katrina, said Walter E. Stamm, M.D., of the University of Washington School of Medicine and president of the Infectious Disease Society of America. Data are still coming in following Katrina, Dr. Dechet said, but already 30 Vibrio cases have been reported and six deaths. Unlike the Vibrio strain that causes cholera (Vibrio cholerae), the bacteria associated with these infections do not appear to be contagious, Dr. Dechet said. Primary source: Infectious Disease Society Meeting Source reference: Dechet, AM. Wound infections: an important cause of Vibrio morbidity and mortality United States 1997-2003. IDSA Meeting. 2005. Abstract 1094. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > MedPage Today Action Points > [quoted text clipped - 77 lines] > > Do you think such infections survive in the extremely dry sea salt product? Susan <snip> > Do you think such infections survive in the extremely dry sea salt product? > > Susan I would bet no but since there is question it seems easiest just to avoid it. I wouldn't think any of the extras in sea salt provide any benefit in your sinuses. > I would bet no but since there is question it seems easiest just to > avoid it. I wouldn't think any of the extras in sea salt provide > any benefit in your sinuses. I agree, I don't use sea salt for irrigating, but I do use it with meals. Susan > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Susan May I ask why? If you believe the theory that sea salt is contaminated, wouldn't it be harmful to ingest with your food? If you don't believe it, why wouldn't it be OK to use in irrigation? >> x-no-archive: yes >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >wouldn't it be harmful to ingest with your food? If you don't believe it, >why wouldn't it be OK to use in irrigation? You do not seem to understand much about the impurities inherent in sea salt and why they might cause irritation to tender nasal and sinus tissues. Perhaps you should read up a bit more on the topic before you rattle off like a teakettle all aboil. Boron > You do not seem to understand much about the impurities inherent in > sea salt and why they might cause irritation to tender nasal and sinus > tissues. Perhaps you should read up a bit more on the topic before you > rattle off like a teakettle all aboil. > > Boron Ha ha, Boron. Sorry for the late reply, but I just noticed this post (addressed to me) now. Could you please explain the impurities inherent in sea salt? Could you post a reference to a scientific analysis of sea salt, showing those impurities? I assume the FDA regulates the purity of sea salt in the US, same as it does with land salt. Are you suggesting that the FDA has weaker standards for sea salt purity than it has for land salt? If so, could you post a reference to verify that assertion? Also if you are suggesting that, why would they have different purity standards for different types of salt, depending on its origin? Also, as I asked, if sea salt is contaminated, as some here have asserted, why would you want to ingest it orally? The only place I have read about the so-called "impurities" in sea salt is on this newsgroup, which is probably the same as what you have "read on the topic". And nowhere in any of the posts that make such an assertion, have I seen any scientific evidence to back that assertion, no comparative analyses of the purity of sea salt vs. land salt, etc. So, it's not just a matter of "reading up a bit more on the topic". You and I have likely read the same posts on the topic, all in this NG. It's a matter of using your brains while you read, using a bit of critical analysis to think about what you are reading, rather than blindly believing any words that you read. It's so easy for anyone to write any nonsense on the Internet, and to get many gullible people to believe it. >>x-no-archive: yes >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > wouldn't it be harmful to ingest with your food? If you don't believe it, > why wouldn't it be OK to use in irrigation? I don't believe it's "contaminated." I just think it has extra minerals or stuff unmeasured and accounted for that I don't want in my sinuses. Susan > I would bet no but since there is question it seems easiest just to > avoid it. I wouldn't think any of the extras in sea salt provide > any benefit in your sinuses. I don't know that there are any "extras" in sea salt. I would think that they only consideration in buying salt, either for eating or irrigation, might be to avoid "extras"--additives added for smooth pouring, etc. (I don't know that those are harmful, but they might be safer to avoid, some might be sensitive to them, etc.) So no, neither kind of salt provides any "benefits"-- for sinuses, nose, on food, etc. Buy why would one want in particular to "avoid" sea salt? Because Dr. G says so? He has provided absolutely no evidence for his silly theory. On 10/9/05 6:49 PM, in article 3qtvkfFgtggbU1@individual.net, "Susan" <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote: > Do you think such infections survive in the extremely dry sea salt product? > > Susan Its not only this infection, there are other possibilities plus all kinds of products that could irritate the delicate nose. > On 10/9/05 6:49 PM, in article 3qtvkfFgtggbU1@individual.net, "Susan" > <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Its not only this infection, there are other possibilities plus all kinds of > products that could irritate the delicate nose. "All kinds of products"? Salt (both kinds) has been purified, so that only salt remains, not other substances. I'm sure there are FDA regulations concerning that. Just as many contaminants in the earth as the sea. I'm sure the regulations for purity of salt is the same, regardless for whether it comes from the sea or the earth. What are "other possibilities"? Just vague words, that you think will impress people? Dr. G, if you cannot provide some real proof of this theory of yours (an actual analysis of both types of salt, showing more contamination in sea salt), you really should stop propagating it, which could easily spread as rumors among gullible people, without any basis in scientific fact. My guess is that you would not present this theory (of sea salt being contaminated) at any kind of medical conference. You would not present such a theory in an article in a medical journal. The other doctors would laugh at such a theory, presented without any facts. Yet, one can easily spread unsubstantiated rumors on an Internet newsgroup. I don't think that's right. > On 10/9/05 6:49 PM, in article 3qtvkfFgtggbU1@individual.net, "Susan" > <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Its not only this infection, there are other possibilities plus all kinds of > products that could irritate the delicate nose. A pretty vague reply. What are "other possibilities"? What are "all kinds of products"? Please be more specific. Once again, Doctor, I'm sure you would never present this theory to a scientific or medical convention. Can you cite any analyses of sea salt and land salt sold as table salt, showing exactly what is present in them, comparing their purity? If not, why this strange unscientific theorizing about sea salt being more impure, getting gullible readers to believe it? Why would the FDA tolerate a higher amount of impurity in sea salt than land salt? > Do you think such infections survive in the extremely dry sea salt product? > > Susan Absolutely not. No chance of that. I think he must have some kind of aversion to the ocean. He has been asked many times for evidence regarding his theory that sea salt is more contaminated than earth salt, with no evidence presented of any kind. He comes across this article about wounds and sea water, and thinks we will accept that is evidence. It's malarkey. One could make the same case against earth salt--that it is contaminated by animal feces (including from cows infected with "mad cow disease"), snail dung, worms, pieces of poisonous plants, etc., etc.,etc. I'm sure any handful of earth is full of microorganisms, many of which would be harmful if ingested. That of course, does not mean they are present in earth salt. Same thing for sea salt. Murray, if you wish to prove your theory about sea salt being contaminated, then present an article from a responsible journal that does an analysis of sea salt and earth salt, and finds that sea salt is more contaminated. An article about wounds infected by contaminated sea water doesn't prove that in the least! > MedPage Today Action Points > > * If patients come in with infected skin wounds, consider asking about > exposure to ocean or brackish water. Not sure what this has to do with the thread it was posted in, about antibiotics and asthma. Nevertheless, it sounds like you are saying, because some people might have got infected skin wounds from exposure to contaminated sea water, that sea salt is unsafe and contaminated. That conclusion does not make sense. The contamination would be in the liquid. It would not remain in the purified salt. Also, why in the title do you write "for Hydro-Pulse irrigation", rather than just "for irrigation"? Is it OK to use sea salt for "non-hydro-pulse irrigation", only not OK with that particular machine? Or---a plug for your product?? <snip> > If you think that breathing polluted air is good for you, that is your > choice. If it is so good for you, does that mean that you spend your spare > time bending down and sniffing the exhaust of cars stuck in traffic? If you are already ill with chronic respiratory disease, as I am, you need to avoid air pollution, as well as humidity or dampness. However neither of these factors is the reason you are sick, and avoiding them won't make you well. As far as the UK "However, if you expect asthma black-spots to be in the polluted inner cities, you're wrong. The highest rate is on the Isle of Skye, which makes it clear that traffic fumes, commonly blamed for the asthma epidemic, are not solely responsible" http://www.norwichunion.com/health/health-news/news-story.htm?id=1084628048&c=43 0016191 "And the Isle of Skye? Well, the latest research suggests that burning peat blocks on the fire is the factor that pushes up the asthma rates of children here, and in other parts of rural Scotland, above the levels for the rest of Britain. Since this is an ancient form of heating, it is clear that changes in modern life have made these children somehow more vulnerable from their parents and grandparents" Exactly - Antibiotics. Isle of Sky is also cold and wet (but always has been cold & wet) > http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBr and=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED05%20Sep%202005%2019%3A02%3A17%3A360 > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > system by killing off beneficial, infection-fighting bacteria - and the > problem is worsened by unhealthy diet. <snip> I've posted it before and I'll post it again. I've made a marked improvement by popping acidophilus capsules. > I've posted it before and I'll post it again. I've made a marked > improvement by popping acidophilus capsules. What make, brand & dose? >> I've posted it before and I'll post it again. I've made a marked >> improvement by popping acidophilus capsules. > > What make, brand & dose? I've used all brands. Whatever is handy. I've also used the expensive refrigerated type. I take up to 16 capsules a day but most ofter about 8. I try to space them out. From everything I've read you cannot overdose however taking too much may waste money. I can afford what I am taking and I think it is helping so I'm not changing anything right now. On 10/5/05 11:00 AM, in article 1128535201.852944.320700@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "Woody Long" <woodylong30@hotmail.com> wrote: That was also demonstrated in Germany . In west germany kids got antibiotics with each sniffle. In East Germany they got sympathy. West Germany had the asthma. Now that they are united, asthma rates are about the same. Join ZAAP zaap antibiotic abuse personally. > http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&t > Brand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED05%20Sep%202005%2019%3A02%3A17%3A360 [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] > Copyright © 2005 Archant Regional. All rights reserved. > Terms and conditions |
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