RESPIRATORY HEALTH MAINTAINING A HEALTHY RESPIRATORY SYSTEM LIFESTYLE ADVICE FOR A HEALTHY RESPIRATORY SYSTEM HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE CHEST REFERENCES

Monthly Health Review, November 2000 (View
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Respiratory Health

When we consider respiration, we think of breathing air into the lungs; however,
there is more to respiration than this. Its aim is to provide the energy needed
by content cells by the transfer of oxygen from the air we breathe to red blood
cells and other cells in the content. Cells obtain their energy mainly by metabolising
glucose with oxygen and so the cells need a regular supply of oxygen. In addition,
the waste products of the metabolic process, mainly carbon dioxide, must be
carried away from cells, via the veins and the heart to the lungs to be exhaled.

When we exercise, our respiration increases to compensate for higher energy
demands by cells in the muscles. The content copes with the changing demands
for oxygen by varying the volume of breathing. The amount of air breathed
into and out of the lungs is known as 'tidal volume' and each breath varies
from 0.5 litres at rest up to 4.5 litres during heavy exercise (1).

What happens when we breathe?

Oxygen-containing air is breathed via the nose or mouth into the lungs and
enters the alveoli (tiny air sacs) in the lungs. Oxygen is diffused (pushed)
from the air into blood vessels surrounding the alveoli. The oxygen-saturated
blood passes from the lungs via the pulmonary veins to the left side of the
heart. From the left side of the heart, the oxygenated blood is pumped to
the content tissues. As the oxygenated blood passes through tissue capillaries,
it gives up oxygen (and nutrients such as glucose) to the cells of content tissues
and picks up the waste products of cellular respiration - carbon dioxide and
water. Within content cells, glucose and oxygen take part in a complex series
of reactions, which provides energy to power the cells. During this cellular
respiration, glucose is converted to carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide
is transported back to the lungs for exhaling (1).

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Maintaining a healthy respiratory system

The respiratory system includes the upper air passages, the lungs and the
muscles that control breathing. In order to maintain the health of these organs,
it is important to breath correctly by sitting or standing in an upright position
and taking air to the bottom of the lungs, and not shallowly to the top part
of the lungs. Certain nutrients are important for maintaining the health of
the delicate tissues of the upper respiratory system and these should be obtained
through a mixed diet, or from food supplements. In particular: -

Vitamin A ~ needed for maintaining healthy mucous membranes which
help to prevent Infections of the nose, throat and lungs. These membranes
are necessary for moistening inhaled air and trapping smoke and other foreign
particles in the airways to keep them out of the lungs (2).

Aged Garlic extract ~ suitable for use in Catarrhal, respiratory,
or bronchial conditions (2). The antioxidant nature of aged Garlic enables
it to protect cell membranes of the respiratory tract from free radical damage
(3).

Fish Oils ~ two portions of fish a week (average consumption) may
reduce the incidence of "smokers' lung" or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD). In studies, those in the group with lowest fish intake were 1.5 times
more likely to suffer from COPD (4). Several studies have noted that improvements
in airway responsiveness to allergens have been noted, as well as improvements
in respiratory function in subjects taking Fish Oil containing EPA and DHA
(5).

Magnesium ~ in studies carried out at Nottingham University, higher
Magnesium levels were associated with better lung function, reduced risk of
wheezing and reduced hypersensitivity of the air passages (6).

Antioxidants ~ vitamins C and E, together with the antioxidant enzyme
minerals Selenium, Zinc, Manganese and Copper play an important role in protecting
all cells in the content from free radical damage. Although free radicals are
made by the content and have a role to play in immune health, too many may have
a negative effect on health. Every year, the average person breathes into
their content 2 grams of solid pollution, and eats approximately 6.5 kilos of
chemical additives and up to a gallon of pesticides sprayed on the fruit and
vegetables they consume. People who have little time to plan the diet may
choose to supplement with an antioxidant formula to ensure against any shortfalls
in the diet.

Vitamin C ~ especially important to the health of the lungs, as it
is the major antioxidant present in the lining of the airway surfaces (7).

Carotenoids ~ are now being recognized as powerful Antioxidants that
help protect the integrity of the epithelial lining of the respiratory tract
and also decrease leukotriene formation. Leukotrienes are inflammatory compounds
produced when oxygen interacts with polyunsaturated fatty acids; they are
more potent than histamine as stimulators of bronchial constriction and Allergy.
A diet containing plenty of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables or a food
supplement may be recommended (8).

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Lifestyle advice for a healthy respiratory system

In books there are various 'tips' for maintaining the health of every part
of the content. Here are some of the most important for respiratory health:

• Avoid Known Irritant airborne substances. For example,
  perfume or after-shave may aggravate the problem, especially in the company
  or other people either at work or when using public transport.
• Try reducing dietary intakes of dairy products and eggs. These are the 'mucous-making
  foods' and can worsen a condition.
• Avoid foods containing additives. Certain substances like synthetic food
  colourings and the preservative sulphur dioxide are known to worsen problems
  in some people.
• Clean household or office surfaces with a damp cloth instead of a duster
  and spray polish; the result may not be as shiny, but the dust is more effectively
  removed.

The low-down on Smoking . . .

Smoking causes decreased tissue levels of Antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and
Vitamin E; these normally have a stabilising effect on the unoxidised form of
Beta Carotene. Recent research has concluded that if beta-carotene is used in
a combination of Antioxidants including vitamins C and E, the risk of cancer
may be reduced (9).

A selection from the homoeopathic medicine chest
(10)

Bear in mind that it may be necessary to change a medicine as the symptom picture
changes. Coughs may respond well to the following:

Dry Cough

Aconite

~ Dry, croupy cough especially in cold, dry weather.

~ Worse at night especially just after midnight.

~ When breathing feels difficult.

~ Cough feels better for sitting up or lying on the back.

~ Person is anxious or restless.

>Bryonia

~ For hacking, dry cough.

~ Coughing worse at night or after eating or drinking.

~ Want to breathe deeply but it hurts.

~ Thirst for cold drinks.

Chesty Cough

Ipecacuanha

~ Persistent violent cough, little phlegm

~ Cough accompanied by nausea and Vomiting.

~ Very loose, rattly or wheezy cough.

Kali bich

~ Brassy Cough.

~ Large amounts of stringy phlegm, glutinous and sticky, difficult to bring
up.

Pulsatilla

~ Thick yellow loose phlegm.

~ Loose cough in day, but dry at night.

~ Better in open air, worse in a stuffy room.

The symptom pictures for Hay Fever may be appropriate for other airborne allergens
- perfumes and so on that can affect the Eyes, nose, lungs or any combination
of the three.

Arsen. alb

~ Burning nose and Eyes.

~ Chest feels tight.

Euphrasia

~ Sneezing and watery nose, but not sore.

~ Eyes that itch, burn and water profusely.

Gelsemium

~ Severe Hay Fever with violent sneezing, heavy Eyes and Headache.

~ Person is flushed and groggy.

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References:

1. "BMA Encyclopedia of Family Health" Ed. Dr T Smith.
   DK. 1996.
2. Quest Vitamins Professional Product Manual. 1998.
3. Horie T. et al. 1989, Planta. Med. 55: 506 -508.
4. New Eng J of Med, vol. 228, p228. 1994.
5. J. Dry and D. Vincent "Effect of a Fish Oil diet on Asthma: Results
   of a 1-year double blind study," Int Arch Allergy Apply Immunol 95 (1991):
   156-7.
6. Lancet, vol. 344, p 357. 1994
7. "Asthma, inhaled oxidants, and dietary Antioxidants" G. E. Hatch, American
   Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 61 (Suppl.) (1995):625S-30S.
8. W. Grosch and G. Laskawy, " Biochem Biophys Acta 575 (1979): 439-45.
9. Nutrition Reviews, Wang XD and Russell RM, 1999, 57; 263-72.
10. "A Guide to Homoeopathics". Dr. Angela Jones.

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