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The majority of these "Excess Winter
Deaths" are over 65 years of age, and whilst half of these deaths
are from cardio-vascular disease, one third are from respiratory
diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Bronchitis often develops after a cold
or flu. For some people (especially smokers) bronchitis is a
serious, recurring disease, which can develop into pneumonia.
There are two types: Acute and
Chronic.
Symptoms of Acute
bronchitis:
-
Cough that produces white, yellow
or green phlegm
-
Low fever (37.8oC or lower) for
several days
-
Rough breathing sounds that change
or disappear when coughing
-
Pain in chest muscle when coughing
-
Coughing can last several weeks
Symptoms of Chronic
bronchitis:
-
Persistent cough, producing white,
yellow or green phlegm, for at least three months of the year,
for two consecutive years
-
Wheezing and breathlessness
-
Coughing during even slight
exertion
Acute bronchitis often follows a cold
or flu. It is rarely caused by a bacterial infection and therefore
antibiotics may not help or be appropriate. Indeed, antibiotics can
depress the body's own immunity, by lowering the level of friendly
bacteria. Chronic bronchitis occurs when the lungs have been
irritated for a long time. The main cause of chronic bronchitis is
cigarette smoke (whether first-hand or passive). Being exposed to
chemical fumes, or having other allergies, are also risk factors.
How supplements can
help
Do what you can to avoid getting the
cold or flu in the first place, by keeping warm and taking a daily
multivitamin and
mineral supplement.
Extra
vitamin C is particularly
helpful in fighting off viruses that attack the respiratory system,
and assists in the healing of damaged lung tissue. Take it along
with
bioflavonoids, and try to take it at the very first sign of a
cold or flu, i.e. the first sneeze or sign of a tickly nose or
throat. Also dose up on the vitamin C if you are surrounded by other
people who may have colds.
For acute bronchitis, or, better
still, at the very first sign of a cold or flu, try some
Echinaforce
for a few weeks, for its antibacterial, antiviral and general
immune-strengthening properties.
For both acute and chronic bronchitis,
a tincture of
Ivy and Thyme can also be extremely helpful with
coughs and by thinning the mucus secretions.
Klamath Lake Blue Green Algae is a
marvellous 'superfood', to help keep the immune system in good
condition. This can be used all year round.
If you have a medical condition,
consult your doctor before taking supplements.
If you are advised to take
antibiotics, make sure you take
probiotics (friendly bacteria)
immediately afterwards - otherwise you can go on a downward spiral.
What else can you do?
Keep warm - both indoors and
outdoors. Consider whether your home is adequately
insulated from the cold - Local Council Authorities often have
grants available for loft and other forms of home insulation. Homes
that suffer from excess condensation and mould growth can exacerbate
respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Condensation
and mould growth is caused by one or more of the following factors:
-
Too much moisture in the air
-
Not enough ventilation
-
Cold rooms - inadequate heating
-
Cold surfaces because of poor
insulation
Stop smoking - and avoid smoky
atmospheres. Possibly the most effective method for stopping smoking
is hypnotherapy - often only one or two sessions are required (so
long as you WANT to stop!)
Drink at least 2 litres of clean
water per day, ideally at room temperature. Dehydration can
cause mucous to thicken, making it difficult to cough up.
Invest in an
ioniser to reduce
allergens and clean the air.
Avoid aerosol sprays
(deodorants, hair sprays, etc.) which can irritate the bronchial
tubes.
Eat plenty of fresh fruit and
vegetables of all colours. If you're not well and don't feel
like eating much, it's a good idea to have fruit and veg in the form
of fresh juices (e.g. 'Innocent' fruit juices available from most
supermarkets) and 'fresh' soups (e.g. Tesco finest range) or, better
still, home made vegetable and chicken soups. Make enough for
several days, or for freezing single portions.
Avoid mucous forming foods,
such as milk, cheese, excess meat, bananas. Avoid immune suppressing
'foods' - especially sugar and white flour. Off the menu, therefore, are most
puddings, biscuits, cakes, etc.
See your Doctor if . .
.
-
Mucus becomes
darker or thicker or increases significantly in volume
-
Your fever is
above 37.8oC
-
Your breathing
becomes increasingly difficult, or if you cough up blood
-
If your symptoms
last longer than 48 hours
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A persistent cough
interferes with your sleep
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