In Sweden, it is estimated that around one million people have asthma. The disease, which can make it difficult to breathe and cause a long-term cough, often begins early in life.
About one in ten children in Sweden has asthma, says the study's lead author, Inger Kull, professor of health sciences at Karolinska Institutet and specialist nurse at Södersjukhuset.
25 percent lower
The study followed 3,919 children in the Stockholm area, from birth to the age of 24. The group of children who received only breast milk, that is, were exclusively breastfed, for four months had approximately a 25 percent lower incidence of asthma during childhood compared with those who were breastfed for a shorter period.
"It's a positive result. It's not that breastfeeding can eliminate the risk of developing asthma, but it is a factor that can influence it," says Inger Kull.
The link between breastfeeding and reduced incidence of asthma was particularly strong for the type that appears early and persists over time, known as persistent asthma. Children who were exclusively breastfed for at least four months were also found to have lower allergic sensitivity.
“Don't feel pressured”
"Breast milk contains antibodies from the mother and many other substances that are beneficial for the baby. This reduces the risk of infections and the baby is gradually exposed to allergens from the mother," says Kull.
The study showed that partial breastfeeding, a combination of breastfeeding and other foods, also had a beneficial effect. This is positive, Inger Kull believes, not least because exclusive breastfeeding does not work for all parents.
"You shouldn't feel pressured. There are so many other factors to consider as a new mother," says Inger Kull.
The study, which is part of a project called Bamse, was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and has been funded by, among others, the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation.
Asthma is caused by chronic inflammation of the lining of the airways. It can make it difficult to breathe and cause a long-term cough. You can also have attacks that make it suddenly difficult to breathe.
There are two types of asthma. One, without allergies, is most common in adults. The other, with allergies, is most common in children. Asthma caused by allergies may become milder or go away as the child gets older.
If you are an adult and have asthma, there is no treatment that will cure the disease. However, medication can relieve the symptoms. In severe attacks, you may need treatment in hospital.
Around one million people in Sweden live with asthma.
Source: 1177, Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation.
