[건강한 가족] Respiratory diseases that become more dangerous when cold winds blow, find the answer in oriental medicine: ZUM News

Lung danger sign if cough persists for more than 8 weeks

There are various causes of chronic cough. Chronic cough occurs due to chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Recently, COVID-19 infection is also considered a major cause of chronic cough. This is a case where the respiratory system is damaged due to the COVID-19 virus, and chronic coughing occurs as an aftereffect. The most important things to watch out for are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma and COPD, which cause chronic coughing, can cause serious damage to lung function, so special care must be taken. The two diseases have similar symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, phlegm, wheezing in the chest, and severe fatigue.

Asthma has severe ups and downs in symptoms. When the sensitive airways are irritated, the bronchi contract and the symptoms worsen, but there are times when there are no other symptoms. However, the absence of symptoms does not mean that the condition has improved. Many asthma patients misunderstand that their asthma has improved when there are no symptoms and neglect the disease. The same goes for COPD. COPD, which is called the final destination of respiratory diseases, often misses the right treatment time due to low awareness of the disease. It is an incurable disease that causes chronic inflammation in the lungs and narrows the airways, causing lung function to gradually deteriorate. Asthma usually occurs before the age of 20, but COPD is a serious risk for smokers over the age of 40. In most cases, it is caused by pollutants such as cigarette smoke or fine dust accumulating in the lungs.

Symptoms of asthma and COPD are not easily improved and relapses occur frequently. This is why early detection and treatment are important. Fortunately, symptoms can be alleviated with active treatment from the beginning. Oriental medicine treats respiratory diseases by controlling symptoms and increasing the body’s self-reliance. The key is to improve the constitution by strengthening the function of the entire respiratory system from the nose to the bronchi and lungs. Yeongdong Oriental Medicine Clinic treats respiratory symptoms through ‘oriental medicine drug cocktail combination therapy,’ which is Dr. Kim’s unique prescription. Director Kim said, “We are pursuing fundamental treatment for asthma and COPD with the principle of strengthening the immunity of the entire respiratory system and benefiting cardiopulmonary function.”

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Fundamental treatment that enhances the body’s ability to survive is important.

Treatment consists of the stages of cleansing the lungs, strengthening immunity, and recovering the body’s self-reliance. First, it cleans the respiratory tract by removing inflammation accumulated in various parts of the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, and lungs. Going through this stage naturally reduces respiratory symptoms such as cough and phlegm, thereby improving the patient’s quality of life. Next, focus on improving respiratory immunity. It helps regenerate alveoli by expanding narrowed bronchi and replacing diseased alveoli with new ones. Director Kim developed a ‘complex therapy’ by adding 35 medicinal herbs, including Shinhwa, Honeysuckle, Deer Antler, Nokgakgyo, and Honghwaja, to Socheongryongtang (小靑龍湯), which is effective in treating respiratory tract. Sinhwa soothes respiratory inflammation and opens the airways, and honeysuckle helps strengthen lung immunity. Deer antlers and deer antlers have excellent hematopoiesis that produces blood, leading to alveolar regeneration, and safflower seeds regulate mucus circulation in the lungs and induce lung activation. The last step is the process of recovering the body’s self-reliance. Director Kim said, “Based on Gongjindan and Woohwang Cheongsimwon, we are prescribing to increase the efficacy by adding musk, agarwood, cow sulfur, cornelian root, and angelica root, which are herbal medicines that help strengthen the heart and cardiovascular system.”

For respiratory diseases that cause chronic coughing, improving lifestyle habits is also essential. If you are a smoker, quitting smoking is essential. We must not forget that cigarette smoke is harmful in itself and is a major cause of worsening asthma and COPD symptoms. Preventing colds is also important. Chronic coughing usually begins in the later stages of a cold, and for asthma patients, the cough becomes worse due to the cold. Wash your hands frequently and wear clothes that can maintain body temperature when going out. When breathing, slowly inhale through your nose and exhale through pursed lips. Repeating this can help your respiratory health.

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Respiratory health care tips taught by Hong Eun-bin, director of Yeongdong Oriental Medicine Clinic

1. Smokers must quit smoking

Cigarettes are the main culprit in damaging part of the lungs. If you are a smoker, it is best to quit smoking at all costs. However, quitting smoking does not immediately relieve respiratory symptoms. Although it is impossible to completely prevent inflammation from accelerating, it is important to remember that if you continue to smoke, your lung function will worsen.

2. Ventilate regularly

Indoors, air quality must be managed by frequent ventilation. Harmful substances such as fine dust are easily generated in closed indoor spaces. Frequent ventilation to allow circulation of outside and inside air is beneficial to respiratory health. Avoid unnecessary outings when fine dust is severe.

3. Maintain appropriate indoor temperature and humidity

When temperature and humidity change suddenly, a red flag is raised regarding your breathing health. It is appropriate to maintain the usual indoor temperature at 20 to 22 degrees and humidity at 50 to 60%. If you feel extremely dry, turn on a humidifier to adjust the humidity to an appropriate level.

4. Pay attention to keeping warm when it’s cold

During seasonal changes with large daily temperature differences like these days, the respiratory system is easily irritated. In particular, patients with bronchial asthma should be careful not to be exposed to cold air. Cold air narrows the bronchi or causes inflammation, worsening symptoms. There is also research showing that when the temperature drops by 1 degree, the suffering of asthma patients increases by about 15%. If you are an asthma patient, pay special attention to keeping warm by wearing a mask and scarf when going out in chilly weather.

5. If coughing persists, visit a medical institution immediately.

There are various hidden causes of coughing. It is dangerous to pass off coughing as a simple cold symptom or an aftereffect of the coronavirus. This is because there is a possibility that it may be a fatal disease such as asthma or COPD. If a cough persists for more than two months or there are accompanying symptoms such as difficulty breathing or chest tightness, it is important to suspect asthma or COPD and immediately visit a medical institution for an accurate examination.

Reporter Shin Young-kyung shin.youngkyung@joongang.co.kr

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