Lung (Breathing) Problems 331
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the main airways in
the lungs. Smoking or second-hand smoke (see page 355) from tobacco, air
pollution, chemical fumes, and dust are the main causes of chronic bronchitis.
When a person’s airways are irritated, a thick mucus forms and plugs them
up, making it hard to breathe. Signs of chronic bronchitis include a cough
producing yellow-green mucus, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest,
wheezing, fatigue, headaches, and swollen ankles, feet, and legs.
Asthma
Asthma is a common chronic illness for children and adults. Signs
are wheezing, coughing, loss of breath, and chest tightness. These
problems happen when the breathing passages in the lungs close
down and the lungs fill with mucus. Industrial pollution and
toxics are common causes of asthma, but asthma attacks are
caused by many things.
Treatment
To relieve an asthma attack, inhale medicines that open the
breathing passages. If quick-relief medicine is not available,
During an asthma attack, sit
forward, hands on knees,
hunch your back, expand
your chest, and try to relax.
try strong coffee or black tea, ephedra (ma huang), or pseudoephedrine.
Quick‑relief medicines control the effects of an asthma attack — they do not
prevent attacks. For treatment, see a health worker.
Prevention
Long-term treatment can help prevent asthma attacks, make them milder, or less
frequent. If no long-term medicine is available, use of Nigella sativa (black seed,
kalonji, habba sawda) can prevent asthma attacks. 2 teaspoons of black seed 1
time a day with honey or yogurt will strengthen the lungs and immune system.
To prevent asthma attacks, avoid or reduce contact with what triggers the
attacks, including:
• smoke from cooking, heating, and tobacco.
• outdoor air pollution from factories and automobiles. When pollution is bad,
people with asthma should stay indoors and not do hard physical work.
• chemicals in paints, solvents, pesticides, perfumes, and cleaning products.
• dust mites. Remove stuffed toys and rugs from sleeping areas (see page 357).
• animal hair and feathers, including from pets.
• cockroaches and other insect pests (see pages 366 to 367).
• mold (see page 358).
• emotional and physical stress that often comes with major life changes,
overwork, and hard physical exercise.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012