Breast-Feeding Linked to Lower Asthma Risk in Childhood

from Laurie Barclay, MD an article appearing in online July 20 in the European Respiratory Journal. 

"The link of duration and exclusiveness of breastfeeding with asthma-related symptoms during the first 4 years was independent of infectious and atopic diseases," said lead author Agnes M. M. Sonnenschein-van der Voort, MSc, an investigator at Generation R from the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in a news release. "These results support current health policy strategies that promote exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months in industrialised countries. Further studies are needed to explore the protective effect of breastfeeding on the various types of asthma in later life."

In the first 4 years, children who were never breast-fed had greater risks of wheezing, shortness of breath, dry cough, and persistent phlegm than children who were breast-fed for 6 months.Read entire Medscape article hereIf your child suffers from asthma or breathing difficulties, get help.  If you live in NYC, please contact me for a consultation to get help for your child.