Asthma occurs when irritants and allergens cause the airways to inflame and produce excess mucus. The narrowed airways make breathing difficult, resulting in wheezing, cough and chest tightness. Soy is one of the common irritants and allergy-causing substances that can trigger an asthma attack. Sources of soy are not limited to soy milk, tofu and soy flour. Rather, it is an ingredient used in many processed foods such as baked goods, flavorings, vegan products and dairy substitutes.
Soy Dust and Asthma
Inhaling airborne irritants such as soybean dust or soy flour may trigger asthma attacks. According to a 2004 issue in the "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health," asthma epidemics occurred in Barcelona, Spain and New Orleans in separate instances when shipments of soybean were unloaded at their respective harbors. In both cities, reducing the soybean emissions in the air brought the epidemics under control.
Soy Allergy and Asthma
Asthma is not just an airway reaction to particulate irritant. If you have soy allergy, you may experience asthma within minutes of eating or drinking foods with soy. Your asthma symptoms may also continue days after your exposure to soy. However, allergic reaction to soy does not only trigger asthma but also other symptoms as well, such as a tingling sensation in the mouth, itchy rashes, swelling of the lips, abdominal pain and vomiting.
Treatment of Soybean Asthma
Treatment of allergic or non-allergic asthma is the same: control the symptoms and prevent future attacks. Quick-relief medications such as albuterol and other short-acting beta agonists can rapidly relax the airways during an attack. Inhaled corticosteroids may control moderate or severe asthma in the long-term. Medications such as antihistamine and epinephrine can reduce the symptoms of soy allergy. Talk to your doctor about your asthma symptoms so he can accurately diagnose and prescribe the proper treatment.
Avoiding Soy
To prevent soy-induced asthma or allergy, avoid exposure to soy products. Avoid eating or drinking products containing soy. Read food labels and ask the ingredients to unfamiliar foods. Be familiar with hidden sources of soy, such as vegetable broth, Asian cuisine flavorings and textured vegetable proteins. Avoid places such as processing plants and bakeries where high levels of soy may disperse in the air and cause irritation in your airways.
