Rapid Infant Growth Linked to Asthma in Study

chimp reported drunk to work today

I had a similar experience but not quite the same. One was breastfed and the other bottle fed because the doctors felt his health would be at a greater risk if I breast fed him because of jaundice. I should have done it anyways. Both of my boys developed asthma. The bottle fed baby gained weight fairly close to his brother but his asthma is worse, even as an adult while his older brother rarely has trouble with it. They both have allergies. Neither one of them have ever been overweight as children. If a child is allergic to something a nursing parent is eating it might be a problem? In most cases I feel breast feeding should at least be attempted instead of completely discouraged? We don't have very many asthmatics in my family so I didn't know how high the risk was? I wish I defied the doctors and breast fed my youngest, at least for a few months but that may not have made much of a difference if his immune system was already compromised. He was a big baby to begin with so size at birth really wasn't a factor. I really feel it was second hand smoke that contributed to their having asthma. My daughter doesn't suffer from asthma and still has allergies. I was not around my father who smoked during her pregnancy. I understand though that it still could have happened anyways? I just know that for the three of us, almost any type of smoke, if we get overexposed to a room with too much of it or too long in the direct path of smoke, we are more likely to have an attack than not. But other things trigger an attack as well.

There is a lot more that contributes to the onset of allergic diseases like asthma than just weight gain during the neonatal life. Research has shown genetics plays a big role. There are likely to be multiple factors (genetic, enviromental, etc) that must occur in a single child to have asthma develop.

How about the link to genetically modified foods. No one seems to mention the possibility these chemically modified foods cause rapid growth, overweight, asthma etc. Let's see a study on those.

While I agree that asthma rates have increased over the past 50 years, there are many, many things about our lifestyles and living environments that have changed over those 50 years. It is impossible to single out one of those changes and say "This one is the cause." Many people have tried to single out vaccines as one change that could be responsible for a host of health problems, others, like you, have tried to single out chemicals.

One could just as easily note that AIDS rates or diabetes rates have increased in the past 50 years and say that chemicals must be responsible for those diseases as well. The only difference with those is that we have a pretty good idea what causes both of those diseases and why the rates have risen - a mutated virus that migrated from animal populations to humans for AIDS, changes in eating and exercise habits for diabetes.

The truth is, we don't know what has caused the increase in asthma (and allergies, which seem to be related). Studies like this are needed to help us pinpoint the cause, especially since avoiding ALL chemicals is impossible. It could be a specific chemical used in toiletries or cleaning products or household goods. It could be a virus, or a parasite, or a fungus. It could be a food additive. It could be a vitamin deficiency. It could be air pollution. It could be a particular insecticide or herbicide. It could be vaccines. It could be a commonly used medication such as an antibiotic.

It can't hurt to avoid products with fragrances, but it can be very difficult to avoid things like paint, plastic, and carpeting. And to say that the cause is known could discourage people from continuing to support studies to determine the real cause.

Seriously, I got two thumbs down for pointing out that there's absolutely no scientific evidence for her claim?!

DeannaB,

Thank you for your reply. You pointed out that there are a lot of things that 'could' cause illnesses. That is true, but we do know that allergies and asthma are immunological disorders, not viral, not bacterial, but the body turning on itself. Now, what makes the immune system go balistic when there is no attack from an organism? Dealing with what we do know things like yellow dye is KNOWN by science and doctors to cause an allergic and/or asthmatic reaction in many children, yet it is in most asthma medications! So do not count on doctors and scientist to tell you things you need to know to make the right decision. In the tender development stages of a child from neo-natal to 6mo the assalt by harsh chemicals is causing many, many aliments that we know of, but because science can't show HOW the aliments are caused they will not come out and say that the chemicals are to blame, even though they observe the reactions and see the results. It is not a scientific statment but one of simple observation that with more air tight homes and a flood of chemicals dumped into the environment and food there is an definite connection between the steep asthma and allergy increases and severtity that we have seen. Do more reasearch and you will find that many, if not most doctors and scientist, admit the connection, but you have to read between the lines becasue they do not like to say something that would upset chemical companies without decades of studies and scientific proof to back them up for liability sake. It took 30 years for them to take lead out of plumbing products in the US even though they knew it was unsafe! Also, there are now paints and low VOC products that you can find because the makers are realizing they could be held liable in the future, there are even buildong codes in many communities that require low VOC products in builing like schools and day cares because the connection is well documented. So by parents realizing that it is life altering to have a chronically sick child and not waiting for 'scientific proof' to come along in twenty years but to react right away it can save literally a lifetime of hardships for their child. If you want to see where I am coming from type in Benzene and Phenyl into your search engine and find out what they are and what they can cause and what products they are in. If we do not at a grass roots level start to demand change corporations are going to continue to take the easiest most profitable route. But by us changing our buying habits and demanding safer products they will have to listen and come up with better, safer products AND THEY CAN, but only if it is profitable. it is a great effort, I know because I have severe autoimmune disorders, to find products and prepare better foods, but it can be done and in the long run it will be less effort than caring for a sick child.

And both mine were born via c-section. Still, no asthma. These findings don't hold a lot of water....

Same here Bonnie.

Doubtful that its chemicals and pollution or else everyone would have it. Youd be closer to the truth pointing youre finger at the medical community. Not that chemicals and pollution help.