Asthma treatment
Singlet oxygen for asthma treatment
Every breath we take provides essential oxygen to every cell in our body, powering the body’s systems. We often don’t realize our dependence on breathing until it becomes restricted. There are various respiratory conditions that restrict intake of oxygen, when asthma is the most common of said conditions. Worldwide, millions of people suffer from asthma, with varying severity leading to far-reaching long-term effects. Most asthma treatments involve medications based on steroids and cortisones, which can cause various side effects and long-term health issues. As a result, many patients seek alternative treatments.
Being exposed to low levels of singlet oxygen has been shown to improve the function of the immune system and to induce healing and defensive mechanism within the body, thus making it a promising treatment for asthma patients. ZMedicAir experts detail the benefits of this new solution.
What is an asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease that causes recurrent inflammatory conditions in the respiratory tract. Asthma attacks cause swelling in the bronchi and trachea and as a result, narrowing the airways to the lungs to cause respiratory distress. During the attack, the patient suffers from shortness of breath, and wheezing will often be heard. An asthma attack might sometimes be accompanied with strong coughing and pressure feeling in the chest.
Asthma mostly appears at an early stage of the patients’ life. Children may suffer from asthma that will pass with time as their body and airways develop and widen. However, it is not unlikely that the asthma will return at an older age.
Asthma- One medical condition with many consequences
Asthma is a form of an allergic disease in which the immune system “malfunctions” and responds adversely to otherwise harmless external antigens, such as:
- Exposure to harmful materials such as chemicals, air pollution, smoke, cigarettes…
- Physical effort that challenges the respiratory system
- Hormonal conditions
- Mental distress, anxiety and stress
- Allergic reactions to substances like animal fur or saliva, house mites, dust, pollen…
- Climate and temperature changes
Shortness of breath during an asthma attack happens due to the narrowing of the bronchi. The bronchial muscles contract during the attack, and an edema develops. The air passages are filled with phlegm and the air now passes through highly narrow airways that make breathing very difficult. This results in smaller beath volume, decreasing the oxygen supply to the body and its cells’ ability to produce energy for its most basic of functions.
Over the years, with each asthma attack that afflicts the patient, the long-term effects on his health can be extensive. Chronic inflammation can cause structural changes known as airway remodeling, which can result in permanent narrowing and thickening of the airways. In addition, gradual decline in lung function can occur, making it harder to breathe and reducing the ability to participate in physical activities. In some case, the patient might even develop COPD, that is a group of lung diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema (see our COPD section), that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and can complicate the management of asthma.
In addition, Long-term use of asthma medications, particularly corticosteroids, can lead to side effects such as osteoporosis, cataracts, glaucoma, weight gain, and increased risk of infections. In children, poorly controlled asthma can affect growth and development due to chronic illness and the potential side effects of medications.
The acute breathing difficulties may cause many patients to avoid physical activity, which may lead to health damages and difficulty in maintaining a normal weight, essentially leading to decreased quality of life and increased disability. In addition to all the above-mentioned health effects, asthma can be costly due to frequent doctor visits, medications, and hospitalizations, which can place a significant financial burden on individuals and their families.
The beneficial effect of ZMedicAir on asthma patients
Exposing asthma patients to singlet oxygen-enriched air has been shown to have both short- and long-term beneficial effects. It has been reported that breathing singlet oxygen-enriched air induces immediate relief to people suffering from breathing difficulties. In the long term, the frequency and severity of asthma attacks have been dramatically reduced. As a result, the need for drugs and steroids has also been reduced; patients, who regularly take preventative drugs, especially during seasonal change, have reported on not using their inhalers at all following the treatment. In addition, damage incurred by years of asthma attacks has shown to significantly improve.
In a study done in Spain by Professor M. Fegricio, two groups of 25 asthma patients, men and women, were monitored for change in their general condition over a period of 30 and 60 days, as one group was using the ZMedicAir device throughout the day, and the other control group received a similar device, without the patent. The results of the study were that the patients using ZMedicAir experienced a significant improvement in their energy levels and sleep quality, while the control group remained almost unchanged. In addition, after 60 days 16 of the asthma patients using ZMedicAir stopped taking any form of treatment, as the number of asthma attacks a week decreased significantly, while the control group remained unchanged.
These preliminary results highlight the great benefit asthma patients can derive from a daily dose of low-level singlet oxygen.
