The respiratory system comprises an upper tract and a lower tract. The upper part includes the nose, sinuses, and throat. In comparison, the lower portion consists of the air pathways and lungs. Your existence is dependent on this body system. At times, you might have colds, allergies, and infections, that point towards foreign invasions. They often occur due to viruses and bacteria.
Some of the most common ailments you might suffer from are asthma, whooping cough, bronchitis, flu, and the common cold. Read about the causes of these ailments, prevention, and cure.
Causes of Respiratory Ailments
One of the most common diseases in the world can be caused by excessive smoking, viral and bacterial infections, and heredity. If you delve deep, you will find that asthma often arises due to allergies, pollution, and conditions. Sometimes, you can blame it on viruses. In such cases, wet mucous is the culprit.
The mucus keeps forming inside the airways, but you will not be able to cough it out. It can block standard breathing patterns. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is another ailment in which a patient has difficulty exhaling air. Lung diseases can affect the airways, the air sacs, the blood vessels, or the chest wall.
Diseases that affect the air sacs are pneumonia and tuberculosis. Blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the right side of the heart can also develop diseases. Your chest wall also plays an essential role in helping the chest expand or contract. If you are overweight, it can be challenging for your stomach cavity to develop.
Bad oral health can cause respiratory diseases, too. If you do not take care of your teeth, the bacteria can spread to your respiratory tract or lungs. There are about 700 different types of bacteria inside the mouth. Some of them are really harmful. They might get out of control if neglected. Some diseases that these bacteria cause are bronchitis and pneumonia.
Prevention of Respiratory Diseases
If you see any tooth damage or gums bleeding, you can go for teeth replacement or dental implants. If the teeth are beyond repair, this is the only option left. However, it is best to start from home. Regularly brushing your teeth with fluoride-based toothpaste and dental flossing can alleviate some symptoms. Apart from maintaining oral health, you can avail of some other measures as well. The first one that will come to mind is smoking. It is a significant cause of lung cancer and COPD. The smoke narrows the airways with time and makes it difficult for you to breathe. It often leads to chronic inflammation as well. With prolonged usage, the smoke kills the lung tissues slowly and leads to cancer. Therefore, you should stay away from it.
Indoor pollutants also have a huge role to play in respiratory tract infections. Dust particles, dander, and pollen that float in the air can cause breathing troubles. You can use an air purifier to remove all the invisible pollutants from your house. You need to understand that there are other precursors as well. Always wash your hands with soap and water after coming in from the outdoors. It is a practice that can help you ward off severe infections. It would be best if you also got vaccinated for flu and influenza. If you feel unwell, you should head straightaway to a doctor. Additionally, you can practice self-care at home to clean your tract through holistic activities like yoga.
Cure for Respiratory Ailments
Doctors often prescribe tests like chest X-rays, CT scans, pulmonary function tests, and specialized pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Depending on the condition, you may receive medicines, antibiotics, inhalers, and intravenous treatments for your disease. You will find doctors often suggesting corticosteroids and leukotriene modulators for long-term asthma disorders.
Albuterol and Atrovent are rescue drugs for short-term relief from asthma. If you suffer from COPD, you can find solace in nebulizers, inhalers, and oral medications. If you are trying to quit smoking altogether, you may suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, in such circumstances, counseling and further mediation can help you. Self-care is an integral part of respiratory healthcare. You can incorporate breathing exercises after you have recuperated from any illness.
You can try performing cardio exercises to keep the blood flow at optimum levels. You must abstain from unhealthy habits, including alcohol consumption as well. Your mental health also has a role to play here. Most depressed people opt for bad practices like smoking and alcohol abuse, that has terrible repercussions on the lungs. Most importantly, a great diet can help your body keep hydrated and blood flowing optimally to all the organs.
You must take care to ensure proper self-care after you have recuperated from any illness. These are a few ways you can get yourself treated. Plenty more are on the way, with more advancement in medicine.