More than 20 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma. Furthermore, 9 million American children suffer from the problem, making it the most prevalent chronic condition in children. But research into this breathing difficulty reveals that help is as close as the nearest sunlight. The vitamin D that your skin makes from the sun can improve the control of asthma.

Treating A Widespread Illness

The most often prescribed asthma medications range from short-acting beta agonists (such as albuterol) to inhaled corticosteroids (such as Asmanex and Qvar) to leukotriene modifiers (such as Singulair and Zyflo) to combination inhalers containing corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonists (such as Advair and Symbicort).

As is the case with most drugs, asthma medications come with attendant side effects. Some side effects brought about by asthma drugs are localized and appear in only one part of the body. These include reflex cough, bronchospasm, oral candidiasis or thrush, and dysphonia (hoarseness). Others are systemic and the effects are seen throughout the body. These include decreased bone density, poor growth, cataracts and glaucoma, adrenal gland suppression, Disseminated Varicella Infection (chicken pox that spreads to organs), and easy bruising. Continue reading →