HOW DO LUNGS AND KIDNEYS WORK TOGETHER

WHOLE BODY WELL BEING

Conventional health care methods tend to focus on an individual aspect of health and often neglect the body as a whole. The term “holistic” has become the widely used to describe any system of healthcare that encompasses all areas of well-being the body, mind, and spirit. Holistic medicine revolves around the ability to keep fit and well, provided that facets of our lifestyle are correctly balanced. It would be unreasonable, for example, to expect your body to function at its best if you get very little exercise, despite eating a balanced diet. In adopting a holistic lifestyle, you must pay close attention to all aspect of life and balance the physical (exercise, sports) with the biochemical (food and nutrition) and emotional (relaxation and meditation).

BODY BOOSTERS

Simply by getting more exercise, the heart and lungs are stimulated, circulation is boosted, and the brain receives more oxygen and nutrition. The hormonal changes that occur during exercise make us feel better we release “happy” hormones during physical exertion. The knock-on effects can benefit the chemistry of blood, reducing fat levels and increasing our metabolic rate, which helps us maintain a stable body weight. Combine exercise with the correct dietary balance and sometime for relaxation, and see how your body, as a whole, could benefit. This article concentrates on the preventive aspects of caring for health and covers many things you can do to improve your chances of good health. For example, the largest organ of the body, the skin, needs special care and protection if you are to avoid the ravages of the elements. The wind can crack your skin and make it appear older than it actually is. The organs of elimination (kidneys, lungs, bowels, and liver) are fully described. You may think there is not much you can do to improve their performance, but we show you simple methods of supporting their health and vitality, without the need for specialized knowledge or dietary supplements.

CARING FOR BODY SYSTEM

The immune and circulatory systems lie at the center of any preventive program. If these vital systems are not functioning well, the body cannot distribute life giving oxygen to the cells and the brain, nor can it can adequately mobilize defense system against invading organisms. Easy –to-follow guidelines will help you to maximize the potential of these interrelated body systems, and so enable you to make the best use of the preventive scheme described in this section.

IN FULL WORKING ORDER

In order to enjoy health, physical mobility is essential. We tend to take these aspects of life for granted until an ache pain is felt in a joint or muscle. This article describes a complete musculoskeletal health package, with useful tips and suggestions to help you avoid trouble and prevent chronic problems developing in this highly integrated body system. In completion, the special sense organs of the eyes, ears, and brain are included. Research shows that these organs too can greatly benefit from the holistic approach to health care.

LUNGS

The body contains two lungs, the right a little larger than the left. Each is composed of a dense network of tiny air tubes, branching ever smaller and surrounded by a rich blood supply.

The main function of the lungs is to exchange carbon dioxide in the blood for oxygen in the air. The system can be vulnerable to infection and you can do much to look after your lungs.

Your lungs are suspended inside the rigid box of ribs that ribs that forms the chest. As the thin sheet of muscle, the diagram, tightens and the ribs move up, air is drawn into the lungs. Once the muscles relax, the natural elasticity for the lungs pushes the air out again. This is an important lesson for promoting well-being. The effort involved in breathing is when breathing in and breathing out, the chest neck, and abdominal muscles need only relax. Many people react to stress by working too hard at breathing; they forget to relax the shoulders and so increase tension Trust your lungs; they will work better if you relax continuously they know how to breath! Many pollens and dusts can inflame the lungs and produce phlegm. The worst problem facing your lungs is tobacco smoke. Even breathing in someone else’s smoke increases the risk of lung damage and cancer.

Asthma occurs when the smaller airways in the lungs (bronchioles) become sensitive and narrow down or get inflamed. This causes wheezing and shortness of breath in adults; children often just have a persistent cough. See your physician if you have breathing problems since untreated infections or asthma can eventually damage the lungs.  

THE CONVENTIONAL APPROACH

For asthma there are preventive and relieving treatments, many in the form of inhalers. These can deliver small doses of medication directly to the lungs and so reduce side effects. There have been real advances in these drugs, helping to stop people from being limited by their asthma. There are also reliable techniques for assessing how well the lungs are working, for the use both in the hospital and at home, which aim to put asthmatics in charge of their asthma. Infections can be treated by identifying the bacterium responsible and using the correct antibiotic. There are effective vaccinations to prevent certain respiratory infections. When we inhale, air is filtered by the nose then passes through trachea (windpipe) which is divided into two brachial tubes leading to the lungs. These two bronchi then branch into smaller bronchi, then bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are the air sacs (alveoli) where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream. The air we breathe is often heavily polluted.   

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Smoking is the scourge or lungs smoke-free.

Wear a mask if working or cycling in polluted air.

Relax and let your lungs do the breathing.

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

HOMEOPATHY

A practitioner will take a detailed history to see what may be causing your asthma. Then homeopathic remedies will be prescribed to counteract the cause. Some homeopaths feel able to treat lung infections also.

HYPNOTHERAPY

Very useful for relaxation and panic attacks, which can cause breathing trouble. It can also be effective for asthma, especially if it is emotionally triggered. It may help with giving up smoking too

MEDITATION

This is suggested for a wide range of illness and problems but seems very appropriate for lung conditions. Breath control, relaxation, and the boost given to the immune system as result of meditation, are all helpful.

NATUROPATHY

There is no doubt that some children’s phlegm and asthma are triggered by diet, especially wheat, dairy products, citrus fruits, and eggs. Naturopaths will try to eliminate these problems by diet manipulation. Good diet may help reduce risk of infections.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY

Most asthmatics are deficient in magnesium, so this therapy is useful.

THE BELLOWS BREATH TECHNIQUE

1. The overall effect of bellows breathing is to achieve a balanced and harmonized exchange of air, along with a calming effect on the whole body.
2. Without using any abdominal movements, immediately pull a breath in again using the chest.
3. Repeat these steps 12 times. While breathing, try to develop an awareness of energy flow throughout the entire body.

KIDNEYS AND BLADDER

The kidneys are vital for well-being because they are responsible for getting rid of waste and maintaining a balance of chemicals in the body. There are things that you can do to prevent them from becoming infected or forming stones. Cancers picked up at an early stage can frequently be cured.

Most infections start at the lower end of the body and work up through the bladder to the kidneys. Bladder infections are uncomfortable in themselves, but you should get treatment for them at an early stage to prevent infection spreading toward the kidneys. Cystitis (a bladder infection) is particularly common in women, and there are things you can do to prevent it. Stones in the kidney, as elsewhere, can be particularly painful. If you have had them, make sure you are properly painful. If you have had them, make sure you are properly investigated, as further episodes may be preventable, depending on the sort of stones that you produce. If you are prone to stones, you should aim to drink 7 pints (4 liters) of fluid a day to stop the urine becoming concentrated.

Cancers of the kidney are rare but check for this if you are getting frequent urine infections or blood in the urine. Some people are particularly at the risk of kidney disease those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a strong family history of kidney disease. If this applies to you, discuss prevention with your doctor. Avoid large quantities of painkillers.

NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS

The most common kidney stones, calcium opal ate are largely prevented by taking 100mg of vitamin B6 plus 500mg of magnesium oxide per day.

PREVENTING CYSTITIS

Drink 3 to 4 pints 1.7-2.3 liters of fluid a day and empty the bladder at least every three hours.

Wear cotton underclothes and stockings, not panty hose.

Wash from the front backward and avoid strong soaps, deodorants, and antiseptics.