ACETAMINOPHEN-ASTHMA LINK

Recent studies suggest that the tremendous increase in asthma in the last 20-30 years may be linked to the use of Tylenol/acetaminophen.  It was about 30 years ago that physicians realized that aspirin caused Reye's syndrome in children and recommended that parents stop giving aspirin to their children and use Tylenol instead.  Then the incidence of asthma greatly increased.  There are many theories for the rise of asthma, but recent studies indicate that acetaminophen is actually the culprit.  Now physicians recommend ibuprofen.  It remains to be seen what ibuprofen will cause.  One key statement (in my opinion) in this research was "A single dose of acetaminophen can reduce the body's levels of glutathione, an enzyme that helps repair oxidative damage...".  Glutathione is an amino acid, and there is no money in doing research on something like amino acids, vitamins, or minerals.  However, these supplements may be far more important to our health than drugs.  There is a wonderful book by two physicians The Healing Nutrients Within, by Eric R. Braverman, M.D. and Carl C. Pfeiffer, M.D., Ph.D. which discusses amino acids.  Glutathione seems to be essential to all life on earth.  Its levels in the body can be increased by taking the amino acid cysteine (not to be confused with the amino acid cystine).  The chemical abbreviation for glutathione is GSH.  "G" stands for glutathione, "SH" refers to the thiol grouping that makes GSH such a powerful antioxidant and enables it to function in many enzyme systems.  It seems to be important in immune function, the integrity of red blood cells, fighting poisoning from lead and mercury, and may help protect lungs against cigarette smoke.  The findings in this research could be critical for people with asthma.