Magnitude of asthma
According to various sources, mucus-related respiratory health problems, such as the common cold, sinusitis, rhinitis, conjunct-ivitis; COPD, asthma, etc. are on the increase. Hundreds of millions of people suffer every day from chronic respiratory diseases. According to the latest WHO estimates (2007), currently 300 million people have asthma, 210 million people have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while millions have allergic rhinitis and other often-underdiagnosed chronic respiratory diseases (1). It is more prevalent in metropolitan areas due to the increase of industrialisation, emission of gases from traffic and expansion of residential areas, etc. Added to this, higher humidity levels in the atmosphere are also playing a major role. It is claimed that asthma varies from place to place depending upon the presence or absence of allergens and humidity levels. In addition to the above, those people working in industrial units become chronic patients of allergic rhinitis, asthma and other respiratory tract problems due to the continuous atmospheric pollution. Since the conditions under which they work continue to be polluted, there is further scope for aggravation and the spread of infections from the upper respiratory parts, sinuses to the whole of the tracheo-bronchial tree including the air sacs (about 300 million). As a result, the airways become thick and the air sacs weak. The walls between them may get damaged causing other serious problems. With inflammation, excess mucus and narrowed airways, gas exchange between the air sacs may become difficult. The oxygen supply through capillaries may get disturbed.
These days, swine flu pertaining to the H1N1 virus is also causing concern amongst the population. Swine flu is a respiratory tract infection. As and when a person is attacked with this flu virus, the upper airways become inflamed and, as a prominent feature of this inflammation, excess mucus forms. If immed-iate steps are not taken to drain out the excess mucus and bring the inflammation under control, the problem may aggravate and lead to morbidity and mortality.
According to newspaper reports, American scientists have recently discovered a new upper respiratory tract infection caused by Fusobacterium with symptoms of unilateral neck swelling, rigours, night sweats or high fevers. It is claimed that the Fusobacterium is associated with a rare but life-threatening complication called the Lemierre syndrome. It may also lead to greater morbidity and mortality. It is an inflammatory disorder and is controlled by strong medicines.
In spite of the manufacture of improved medicines, the problems of sufferers are not being properly addressed. Hospitalisation is on the increase. Control of asthma and other respiratory diseases have become difficult for low and middle-income people and have become a burden on their resources. So there is an urgent need to investigate and find alternative and complementary methods to confront this situation.
My own efforts have been first directed at learning about the breathing system in the human body. From reading medical books from the American Lung Association and journals and publications by US and British health organisations aimed at family health and other such health magazines, I have come to better understand the physiological phenomena in the respiratory parts, the defence mechanisms provided by nature, the relationship between upper and lower respiratory tracts and their reaction to allergen and humidity levels, etc. With this background, I have evolved some exercises to combat these afflictions. They are based upon deep breathing, gravity-assisted lobar positions and techniques of breathing out. Through these exercises, the sinuses and bronchial airways can be cleaned of excess mucus, (the ground for infections) and any inflammation can be brought under control within minutes. The exercises have helped me at controlling allergic rhinitis, asthma and other mucus-related respiratory health problems. I myself have found much relief from them and have completely stopped using steroids by pursuing a regular regime of exercise. I am able to sleep well without any symptoms of asthma. There is no scope for any infections to develop in my airways.
Our defence mechanism
Nature has provided a defence mechanism in the body to protect us from invading allergens and other organisms:
1. When we breathe in air through the nasal passages, the air is filtered by cilia and sent to tracheo bronchial tree.
2. When the air breathed in is extremely warm, it gets cooled and if it is extremely cool, it gets warmed.
3. If the air is dry, it is moisturised.
4. When air reaches the air sacs through the airways, the oxygen is separated from it and carried to the heart and from there through capillaries to various parts of the body. The oxygen nourishes and replenishes every part of the body and carbon dioxide is exhaled.
5. Goblet cells and small glands within the lining of the nasal passages secrete the necessary mucus. This lubricates the walls of the nose and throat. The humidified mucus traps bacteria, dust and other particles entering it.
