Another major group of drugs used in the treatment are bronchodilator drugs. These drugs provide relief by dilating the bronchial tubes, and hence their name. They include

1. beta-agonists or adrenergic drugs like salbutamol and terbutaline,

2. xanthines   like   theophylline,   deriphylline   and aminophylline and

3. anticholenergics like ipratropium which is inhaled. Our nervous system, which controls all our bodily functions, has two main sub-systems—the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. These two nervous systems also control the bronchial tubes. The sympathetic system opens or dilates the bronchial tubes, while the parasympathetic system closes or constricts them. When the systems are in balance, air flows in and out of the bronchial tubes normally. Bronchodilatory drugs act through the sympathetic nervous system and dilate the bronchial tubes.

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I have had mild but chronic asthma for years. I won’t go into the boring list of medications I have swallowed over the years. While they relieved the symptoms, they did not prevent me from wheezing most days. I changed my diet after talking with a friend who said she had all but rid herself of her asthma after eliminating certain foods from her diet.

I was quite a big cheese eater and also drank a few glasses of milk a day. I cut out all dairy foods and within weeks my asthma had improved. My doctor, who is also a personal friend, says it is all in my head and does not agree that my diet has anything to do with my asthma. All I know is that I have experienced a significant decrease in coughing and wheezing since I cut out these foods. I reckon your body knows best, and now I don’t even miss these foods. I have also increased the amount of water I drink to about eight glasses a day. Maybe this is significant, maybe not, but I’m certainly enjoying life more since I’m dairy free and waterlogged!

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