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“Approximately 70 percent of mothers who said they experienced high levels of anxiety or depression while they were pregnant reported their child had wheezed before age 5,” researcher Marilyn Reyes of Columbia University says in a press release. “Understanding how maternal depression affects a child’s respiratory health is important in developing effective interventions.” http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/19/does-prenatal-depression-lead-to-childrens-asthma/

According to the study that was published in the July issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, researchers deliberate the connection involving depressed mothers and wheezing children in low-income, urban environments. Turns out no one breathes easy when the mother is depressed.

According to the authors, previous research has correlated maternal prenatal and postnatal mental health with the succeeding growth of asthma in children. On the other hand, this connection has not been examined in inner-city African Americans and Hispanics, populations at high risk for asthma.

This study could eventually guide to ways help easy prenatal depression and help kids breathe a little easier.

“(EndPlay Staff Reports) – Though it might not be time to ditch one of your favorite conveniences just yet, new evidence suggests that electromagnetic fields (EMF) such as those emitted by microwave ovens may increase pediatric asthma.” http://www.myfoxla.com/dpps/health/study-electromagnetic-fields-linked-to-asthma-in-children-dpgoh-20110803-fc_14411325

According to the study of the researchers of Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif who documented 801 pregnant women and their exposure to the so called EMFs, they found out that there is an increase risk of having asthma among children born by mothers who have exposed to electromagnetic fields as compared to those who don’t.

Each woman in the study were kept track by wearing a small meter for 24 hours to show her exposure to magnetic fields. The researchers also followed children through electronic medical records in a span of 13 years.

“The study found that 130 of the children born to these mothers developed asthma, with most being diagnosed by the age of 5, reported Bloomberg.com .” http://www.myfoxla.com/dpps/health/study-electromagnetic-fields-linked-to-asthma-in-children-dpgoh-20110803-fc_14411325

De-Kun Li, lead study author, told Bloomberg said that the later studies have shown that exposure to magnetic fields can lead to miscarriage, having poor semen and also immune system disorders. Pregnant women are advised to limit their exposure to magnetic field and keep their distance on it.

Savitz, who has studied also the health property of electromagnetic fields but was not involved in this study, warned against forming conclusions too swiftly.

He said that the report has been thoroughly studied and it is really questionable whether it really cause health hazards on any reasonable levels because it does not certainly into something to fall in category of known hazards.

According to the study results that are published in the July issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, anxiety, stress and depression during pregnancy may lead into a great risk of asthma in the child.

Marilyn Reyes, lead author of the study said that about 70 percent of the mothers reported that they experienced high level of anxiety or depression during their pregnancy period and their child had wheezed before the age 5. The understanding of the maternal depression affects the respiratory health in order to develop effective interventions.

“The study of 279 inner-city African-American and Hispanic women was conducted before, during pregnancy and after birth. The study results support growing research that the prenatal period is a time when children are particularly susceptible to asthma-related risks. While somewhat similar findings have been reported in non-minority populations, this study at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health is the first to report an association between stress and wheeze in minority populations.” http://www.news-medical.net/news/20110706/Maternal-anxiety-depression-may-increase-risk-of-asthma-in-children.aspx

Allergist Rachel Miller, MD, study senior author said that the symptoms of paediatric asthma can range from nagging cough that remains for days or week to abrupt and scary breathing emergencies. With the correct treatment, the child can sleep through the night, prevent missing time from day care or preschool and also, breathe easy.

This week, the research reported online that children who have asthma and required to have inpatient care during the influenza pandemic have an elevated risk for complications like pneumonia and intensive care.

The researchers of CDC and Fatimah S. Dawood, MD reviewed the data that was copied from the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program for children with asthma. They compared the influenza season from the month of October 2003 to April of 2009. During the pandemic period which is April 15 to December 31, 2009, they were able to identify 701 out of 2,165 children in the influenza years and 733 out of 1,660 children during the pandemic season.

“Based on the data, the researchers reported that 40% of children with asthma and seasonal influenza were diagnosed with pneumonia vs. 46% during the pandemic year. Among asthmatic children with seasonal influenza, 16% needed intensive care vs. 22% of those children who had the pandemic strain of influenza.” http://www.pediatricsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=84583

According to the researchers, the study have some limitations, noted that they had no data on tha treatment for asthma or the underlying severity of it that may foresee the complications. Researchers said that their findings highlighted the importance of the vaccine for influenza in the population that are at risk for severe complications from the influenza.

The researchers concluded that given the without fail low influenza vaccine coverage levels among children with asthma in the United States, their findings emphasize the significance of vigorously working to increase yearly influenza vaccination of children with asthma.

“Drinking milk, eating cheese and yogurt, getting moderate sun exposure and taking a daily vitamin supplement are all effective ways to get your daily dose of vitamin D, and new research has shown that this nutrient may help reduce the risk of asthma among children.” http://www.betterhealthresearch.com/news/vitamin-d-reduces-risk-of-pediatric-asthma-800511741/

According to the report that was published in the International Biometeorology found that compared to the teens age 13 to 14 years old who reside in sunless northern climes, those who have been expose to sun for about 20 minutes each day are more likely about 1.1 [percent less possibility to have asthma.

On children 6 to 7 years old who have 20 extra minutes of ultraviolet light each day are 0.6 percent less likely to have respiratory condition as compared to those kids who have less exposure to direct sunlight.

Study authors said that the children who live in latitude of 40 degrees should be given an extra few minutes each day to be exposed outside.

Whereas the skin in nature creates vitamin D3 after sun exposure, ultraviolet light increases the risk of melanoma in children and adults. For anybody who wishes to increase their vitamin D levels without risking their skin, it may be safer to get a dietary supplement and to frequently eat dairy products.