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Many asthmatics cough. As a rule
this is caused by the failure of the microscopic
cilia of the chest to beat at a normal reate of 16
to 20 beats per second. Especially if there is
infection and pus in the nose, the toxin from the
infection can act as an irritant If the bronchi
are swollen or in spasm, this can affect the
tracheobronchial cilia and instead of the normal
ciliary action, we cough.
For example, the coal miner
doesn't cough. But when he inhales a large piece
of coal that is too big for his cilia to handle,
he coughs to get rid of it. When the patient has
the flu, the cilia are poisoned by the toxins and
they fail, then cough takes over.
Many studies have shown that
clearing the sinus infection can recuce the cough
of allergy or asthma. Antibiotics of course are
important. Unfortunately the number of drug
resistent bacteria is on the increase so other
techniques have to be considered. Deep breathing,
raising the elbows as you inhave is good. Hot tea
with lemon and honey is helpfull. Hot compresses
appllied over the nose. below the eyes and above
the eyes are helpfull. Medications containing
guiafenesin are recommended. Someimes making a
low-pitched sound which penetrates deep behind the
eyes can be beneficial.
Fortunately, there is a simple
device, the pulsatile nasal irrigation unit, that
delivers saline at the right mixture, at the right
pressure and at the correct rate of pulsation to
match the normal rate of the cilia. This method is
safe, safer than blowing your nose. Add one
teaspoon of Breathe·ease to pint of warm water.
(16 ounces) . Attach the nasal irrigator . Turn on
and adjust the pressure so that the stream is
about one inch high. Place in one nostril, bend
over the sink and turn the device on. The saline
goes through one nasal chamber and out the other.
After about a minute, switch sides. Hold it by the
little knob on the end, this acts like a lever.
The device is designed not to work if the nose is
completely obstructed. The saline goes through the
sinuses and removes pus and thick phlegm and
bacteria. The pulsation tends to restore cilia to
normal, or in cases where cilia are absent or non
functional as in cystic fibrosis, to act as a
substitute for normal cilia. You use about 1/3 of
the basin or until the saline return is clear.
Rinse the machine thoroughly to remove the salt
after use. For most nasal and sinus conditions
daily irrigation in this manner for 10 days will
remove the pus and restore the cilia to good
function. There is some evidence that the use of
the irrigator in the nose may be helpful to
restore the cilia of the chest. Certainly the
chest is helped byremoving the bacterial load from
the nose and sinus. Sometimes asthma is caused or
aggravated by pus in the nose so using the
irrigator to remove nasal sinus pus is good
medicine. Now that so many bacteria have become
antibiotic resistant, using the pulsating
irrigation early in an infection can help prevent
the need for antibiotics. |
