Respiratory system: The organs of the respiratory system are responsible for a series of events on which the very basis of life depends, intake of oxygen into the body and expulsion of carbon dioxide. The human respiratory system begins from the nose (breath of air) to the alveoli in the lungs(where the exchange of gases is carried out).

How does the respiratory system work?

With every single breath, the oxygen enters the body passing through the nose, the sinuses, trachea (the windpipe), through the bronchial tubes into the lungs. The movement of air through the nose to lungs adjusts the temperature and humidity as we breathe.

The nose and bronchial tubes are lined with cilia that produce mucus and moves back and forth. Mucus is sticky and gelatinous. It helps in keeping the foreign particles out of the system with the act of sneezing and watery discharge from the nose. The bronchial tubes further split into two entering the lobes of each lung. The right lung is divided into three lobes while the left lung has only two, to make room for the heart. The lobes are filled with alveoli(small, spongy sacs), where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. The walls of alveoli are super thin (roughly 0.2 micrometers), composed of a single layer of epithelial tissues and tiny blood capillaries. It is the capillaries where the oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is dropped off. The oxygenated blood then makes its way to the rest of the body through the pulmonary vein entering into the heart. The carbon dioxide gets expelled with the exhaled breath.

With the whole process of breathing in and exhaling out the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle lying at the bottom of the lungs controls the process of breathing. It not only supports breathing but also separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.

What are respiratory system diseases?

With the rising pollution, respiratory diseases are becoming prevalent with every passing day. From a simple cough, dyspnea, shallow breathing, chest pain and hemoptysis to fatal asthma and severe bronchitis are affecting the routine life and reducing the life span of humans on earth. Respiratory diseases fall into two categories: Acute and chronic.

Acute due to some infection with viruses or bacteria (influenza, bacterial pneumonia, and enterovirus), and chronic, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Respiratory system diseases affecting the airways and alveoli:

Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Acute and chronic bronchitis.
Cystic fibrosis.
Pneumonia.
Tuberculosis
Emphysema
Pulmonary edema
Lung cancer
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Pneumoconiosis

Respiratory system diseases affecting the interstitium of lungs:

Interstitial lung disease (including sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
Pneumonia, pulmonary edemas may affect the interstitium.

Respiratory system diseases affecting blood vessels:

Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary hypertension.

Respiratory system diseases affecting the pleura:

Pleural effusion
Pneumothorax
Mesothelioma.

Respiratory system diseases affecting the chest wall:

Neuromuscular disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, myasthenia gravis are the diseases that can affect the chest wall causing difficult respiration and neurological symptoms.

What are the common symptoms of respiratory system disease?

Congestion, (nasal sinuses or lungs)
Runny nose
Cough for a long time
Shallow breaths
Wheezing
Coughing up blood
Chronic chest pain
Tightness in chest
Rapid heart and pulse rate
Sore throat and hoarseness of voice
Body aches
Fatigue with weight loss
Swelling and cyanosis of toes and fingers

What are the common causes of respiratory system disease?

The diseases of the respiratory system can be caused due to several reasons. Some of the most common reasons are mentioned below:

Low immunity towards infections fungal, viral and bacterial
Pollution, adverse climate, and environment change
Excessive exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other toxins
Premature development of lungs during/before birth and in childhood

What are the preventive measures for respiratory diseases?

Preventive measures: Respiratory system diseases can pose some serious health issues. Therefore, proper care should be taken along with the avoidance of conditions, malpractices, and circumstances causing trouble. these situations are suggested for those patients. The alpha cause of respiratory system diseases all around the world is cigarette smoking. So, quitting smoking is very important for better healthy lungs. Symptoms of asthma can be triggered by allergens, specific foods or exposure to cold. If you know the triggering factors better to avoid them. Face masks can be used to avoid air pollution.

Some of the most best-selling techniques used at homes for patients suffering from trivial respiratory system disease include gargles, steam, humidifier, and honey therapy. Along with sterilizing these methods helps you in breathing in the fresh air. If the symptoms are severe, it is crucial to meet a medical professional as soon as possible. The doctor will perform a physical examination and order some lab tests according to the status. Also, a correct treatment with the best tips is better advised by a medical professional.

Homeopathic Medicines for Respiratory Diseases

Aconitum pentarkan: Covers sudden attacks of cough, sneezing, hoarseness, and headache on exposure to cold dry winds and change of weather.
Alpha-CC: For acute and chronic, dry irritative spasmodic cough, in influenza and chronic which gets worse at night, immediately after lying down
Alpha-CF: Provides prompt relief headache, thin watery discharge, coryza& body ache from cold flue and influenza. Get the better of physical and mental restlessness.
Alpha-Coff: It is a formulated combination of medicines effective in providing relief from cough and related respiratory infections.
Bio combination No. 02: It is used as a supportive medicine for asthma.
Bio combination No. 05: Very helpful for Controlling the symptoms of coryza and related problems.
Bio combination No. 06: Allays cough, cold and catarrh.
Glycyrrhiza-glabra: It is an anti-inflammatory and expectorant used for irritating cough & catarrh. It is as useful as corticosteroids without any side effects. Found useful in inhibiting and controlling the growth of prostate cancer
Nissikind: Controls body ache, headache. It covers respiratory problems in children and is indicated for symptoms associated with cough, shortness of breath, hoarseness, muscle pain & fever.
Tussistin: Useful for dry hard cough, accumulation of tough mucus in bronchi and pain due to cough. It can be used by adults anxious with irritative cough and tickling in larynx. It is also indicated in the bronchitis of old and feeble person

Other combinations that can be suggested by a physician are: Alpha NC, Alpha- Tons, Alpha RC, Alpha WD, Biocombination No.10, Biocombination No.14, Luffakind, Tussikind, Rinikind, Grindelia Pentarkan

Frequently Asked Questions

Respiratory disease includes trouble in any organ which is involved in breathing. It includes nasal cavities, throat, bronchioles, bronchi, lungs and certain muscles.

What are the causes of respiratory diseases?

Common causes of respiratory disease are:-

Low immunity
Unfavorable climatic conditions
Too much exposure to smoke, air pollution and other toxic agents
Insufficient lung development before birth or during childhood
Viral, bacterial and fungal infections

What are the signs and symptoms of respiratory diseases?

These are:-

Wheezing or shortness of breath
Prolonged cough with or without mucus
Tightness in the chest area
Toes and fingers swelling due to improper breathing
Sore throat and changes in voice
Blood on coughing

Which medicine is the best for lungs?

Constitutional homeopathic medicine which is most similar to the cause and effect of the disease is the best medicine for lungs in any case. The effects includes both physiological and psychological signs and symptoms due to the disease.

Stuffy nose