Fueling Childhood Asthma?

Fueling Childhood Asthma?

By Dr. Sean Wells, DPT, PT, OCS, ATC/L, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, CNPT, Cert-DN

Often in nutrition we consider what our patients are eating but don't consistently think about how that food is cooked. We know from copious research, presented in our courses, certain cooking methods can increase the risk of cancers, increase advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and promote cardiovascular disease. As physical therapists we treat many patients with heart disease, cancer, and conditions that are worsened by AGEs (e.g. arthritis and diabetes). Needless to say cooking methods matter and a recent study highlights the risk of using gas stoves in the development of asthma for children.

We've known for some time that ventilation is very important when cooking foods with heat and fats. Polycyclic amino acids (PAH) and other inhaled organic byproducts of grilling/cooking can promote certain lung diseases and even lung cancer. Why do you think many restaurants have ventilation or hood requirements? In some countries where such regulations are lacking, restaurant chefs see high rates of lung disease and cancers. This current gas study seems to back up many of the prior studies, and raises the question: should we ditch gas stoves in our homes to protect our kids?

Published in the journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the study's summary finds that gas stoves are responsible for 12.7% of U.S. childhood asthma cases. The study is an updated meta-analysis, with a prior analysis published in 2013 that yielded similar responses. Over 350 studies were included in the analysis from 2013, with 27 manuscripts accepted to the final analysis. The response of gas on asthma varied State by State with the proportion of childhood asthma that could be theoretically prevented if gas stove use was not present: Illinois = 21.1%; California = 20.1%; New York = 18.8%; Massachusetts = 15.4%; Pennsylvania = 13.5%. 

Nearly 1 out of 3 homes in the United States have gas stoves; as such, the many PTs will likely encounter patients that come from homes with gas stoves. The authors of the current study cite pollutants in the gas, such as nitrogen dioxide, as a likely contributor to the pulmonary irritation and asthma development. Pediatric, home health, and pulmonary physical therapists need to be aware of the risk that gas stoves have on asthma development and lung function, and recommend the use of electric stove use, when appropriate.

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Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/doctor-in-white-lab-coat-examining-girl-s-breath-5998445/

Keywords: nutrition, diet, continuing education, asthma, PCS, pediatric, PT, physical therapy, pulmonary, rehab, DPT

Disclaimer: The above article is written as an opinion piece and does not convey specific legal, medical, and/or practice act advice.