Emphysema and Asthma - You can help yourself.
The major causes of shortness of breath.
The majority of cases of shortness of breath are caused by asthma or emphysema, and sometimes cardiac disease.
Cases of acute breathing discomfort starting abruptly over the course of minutes or hours needs prompt medical attention to quickly diagnosis causes such as heart attack, heart failure, blood clot in the lungs or respiratory infections.
Shortness of breath can be caused by emphysema or asthma – if you are using asthma medication and your breathing does not improve greatly, the cause of the symptoms may well be emphysema and not asthma. Your doctor can do tests to determine whether you have emphysema caused by smoking and environment, or emphysema caused by a genetic condition leading to alpha-1-antitrypsin, which is a more rare condition and requires more specialized treatment.
Emphysema cannot be cured but there is treatment available to help relieve the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease, and your quality of life can be greatly improved by improving your diet and lifestyle. (see below)
What is emphysema?
Emphysema is a lung disease that begins with the enlargement
of the tiny air sacs (called alveoli) in the lungs, causing damage to the thin fragile alveoli
walls. This damage is irreversible and the lungs have less capacity to transfer oxygen and
carbon dioxide through the narrowed airways, with the patient experiencing difficulty in exhaling.
How is it caused?
Emphysema is most commonly the end product of long-term
smoking of tobacco or marijuana, followed by chronic low-level inflammation of the lungs. Most
people are not aware that smoke actually causes an overproduction of an enzyme that destroys
the walls of the alveoli. When the sac-like alveoli walls are destroyed, they are not longer
able to support the small airway walls, which then become permanently narrowed.
What are the symptoms?
The most noticeable symptom is shortness of breath
following exertion or activity, and the feeling of not being able to get enough air during
physical exercise. Advanced emphysema patients may experience wheezing, chronic coughing with
a phlegm discharge, and possibly weakness, dizziness, headache and light-headedness caused
by a blood condition called erythrocytosis.
Nutrition and supplements and resources.
A healthy, nutritious diet of plentiful fresh
fruit and vegetables is a wise choice, especially raw vegetables. Cooked foods could be skinless
turkey or chicken, soups, fish, brown rice, whole grain cereals and millet, with garlic, onions
used daily.
Drink plenty of water to help clear mucus from the airways.
Avoid mucus forming foods such as red meat, eggs, all dairy foods, white flour foods and ‘take-away’ foods.
Help rid the colon of excess mucus and reduce flatulence with plenty of fibre.
Fresh food and supplements containing food
vitamins and enzymes to aid in clear breathing
Magnesium deficiency can further compromise breathing ability. Taking magnesium supplements
of 500 to 1000 milligrams daily can help strengthen muscles to ease breathing effort.
Oxygen Therapy can benefit anyone with decreased lung function.
Periodic fasting helps cleanse and detoxify the body. While on the fast, have 8 glasses of
distilled water a day, plus pure juices. Fresh lemon juice in a cup of warm water is the best.
Fresh beet, carrot and grape juices are beneficial, as are ‘green’ drinks. A good
green juice drink is highly recommended
as a life time daily nutritional supplement for healthy cellular support.
Avoid beans and cabbage which cause gas and the feeling of being ‘blown up’.
Environment.
Avoid tobacco smoke of any sort. Stop smoking, or never start
smoking.
Keep away from pollution eg. dust in the home while housecleaning; dust or other pollution
in the workplace – rather change jobs.
Avoid chemicals such as household gas, perfumes and fragrances, aerosols, carpeting and curtains
which hold dust, and most plastics.
Keep the air conditioner on in your home and car if you live in a hot, humid climate.
Allow no animals in the home.
Allow no one to smoke in your home or car.
Exercise.
Daily exercise such as walking improves circulation and increases
endurance. Start at a low intensity such as 1 or 2 minutes every hour, and gradually increase
as you are able. Yoga or tai chi may also be helpful.
‘Deep breathing’ exercises done for about 10 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day, will
aid to improve function and breathing capacity of the lungs
Smile - the best exercise in the world.
Tell a joke. Tell someone you love them.
Love yourself, nurture yourself, take care of yourself.
