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Common causes:

  1. Reduced strength and immunity result in viral infections like common cold.
  2. Exposure to airborne allergens like pollen grain, animal hair, mites in house dust etc cause allergic rhinitis. In addition, allergy to food stuffs like eggs, milk, a flavoring agent or preservatives may act as a trigger for asthma.
  3. Infections from virus or bacteria result in various diseases from common cold and sinusitis to more severe disease like pneumonia.
  4. Cigarette smoking or chewing tobacco is a very common cause of respiratory disease such as chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, emphysema, pulmonary tuberculosis, malignant tumors etc.
  5. Excessive use of food products which are cold and dry in nature like frozen food, overnight food etc.
  6. Use of cold refrigerated water for drinking or use of chilled soft drinks.
  7. Together use of milk and fruits as in milkshakes, fruit salads etc.
  8. Regular use of food which is sour in flavor like curd.
  9. Forcible control of natural urges like that of urine, stools, thirst etc.
  10. Over exercising and or exercising when you feel hungry reduce your strength and may make you susceptible for diseases.
  11. Generally any disease affecting other system of body causing serious threat to life like heart failure, liver or kidney failure, nervous system disorders etc affect respiratory system adversely.

Common sign and symptoms:
The cardinal sign suggesting respiratory system disorder are as follows:

  1. Cough
  2. Expectoration
  3. Haemoptysis
  4. Breathlessness
  5. Chest pain
  6. Wheeze
  7. Altered rate of respiration
  8. Evening rise in temperature, weight loss, anorexia etc commonly seen in pulmonary tuberculosis.
  9. Sneezing, runny nose, watering eyes, sore throat, hoarseness etc symptoms are seen in common cold. However, very high fever and body aches are more likely to be symptoms of influenza (flu).

General measures:

  1. Use of oil massage especially over chest is highly beneficial as it produces sense of warmth and reduces cold. It also liquefies mucus and increases its discharge in the sputum providing instant relief in breathlessness.
  2. Even during an attack of asthma, massage of warm sesame oil with addition of rock salt to it is therapeutically beneficial.
  3. Post massage, herbal steam bath is advisable. Decoction of leaves of holy basil, vitex negundo etc may be used for same.
  4. Purification measures like process of emesis and purgation, performed under expert guidance during non-acute stage prevent further attacks of asthma.
  5. Use of herbal smoke is beneficial especially after process of emesis.
  6. Nasal drops of medicated oil or ghee are useful in disorders of nasal cavity like sinusitis and of throat and also improve overall immunity of upper respiratory tract.
  7. Use of honey is advisable as it liquefies mucus and increase discharge of it in sputum clearing airways from any blockage.
  8. Use of hot water or water prepared by addition of ginger to it is recommended for drinking