What Is Salt Therapy
The central idea behind salt therapy is that salt is good for your health and for your breathing. Going to the beach is thought to help people with breathing difficulties partly due to the salt content in the air, and so salt therapy aims to recreate these conditions in a more concentrated way subjected clients to conditions where there is a high concentration of salt in the air in order to try and help improve breathing.
To do this the treatments create what is known as a salt cave which is a man-made room that has salt covered walls and floors in an attempt to mimic the experience of being in a real naturally occurring salt cave. This creates a controlled microclimate where other factors such as the temperatures and moisture levels. This uses what is known as halogenerators designed to help regulate salt content in the air.
Cold Air And Asthma = Winter Asthma
Does cold weather affect asthma?Absolutely! Cold weather is a common asthma trigger. Wintertime can be a potentially dangerous time of year for many people with asthma.
To understand your triggers, picture your bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs, as branches on a tree. A person with asthma has a certain amount of inflammation in these airways all the time. Inflammation causes them to narrow and makes it harder for air to get to the lungs. This is why people with asthma have a harder time breathing even if theyre not having a flare-up.
Changes in weather and fluctuations in temperature are known to inflame airways and trigger asthma flares. For people with bronchial tubes that are already inflamed, the impact of cold weather on breathing can be significant.
How Can I Look After My Childs Asthma When Its Cold
Asthma nurse specialist Debby Waddell gives her 3 top tips:
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Can Being By The Sea Help Our Mental Health
We tend to associate the sight and sounds of the sea with feelings of calmness and relaxation. A combination of the rhythmic sound of the waves, the fresh, salty air and the sense of looking out to a limitless horizon has a lot to do with this. All our senses are stimulated when walking along a beach, especially if its warm enough to go barefoot.
If youre struggling with the winter blues then getting out to the coast could be a real benefit. One US experiment in 2016 suggests that even looking at the sea can lift your mood. During the colder months youre also more likely to be walking along a beach, rather than lying on it, thus raising your heart rate and releasing those feel good endorphins proven to help mild to moderate depression.
Walking is one of the most accessible ways of keeping fit and maintaining good mental health. So why not combine a brisk walk with the benefits of being by the sea? The South West Coastal Path takes in a variety of sea views, across different terrains and covers an amazing 630 miles of coastline. Whether youre a serious hiker or more of an afternoon stroller, there are sections on the path which will inspire you.
Is Seaside Air Really As Healthy As Many Claim
Sea air really is good for the health. The bracing climate by the sea is especially beneficial to the respiratory organs and the skin, but also improves circulation and strengthens the bodys defences.
Doctors particularly recommend the kind of climate therapy you get by the sea for asthmatics and people with allergies or skin problems. The healing powers of a bracing climate are particularly effective in autumn and winter, because it is at these times of year that people with respiratory problems are most affected by the dry air caused by central heating, damp cold and air pollution.
The reason sea air is so healthy is that it contains tiny droplets of sea water enriched with salt, iodine, magnesium and trace elements, which are scattered into the air by wind and waves.
Known as surf-generated aerosols, these stimulate immune reactions by the skin and respiratory organs. A period of inhalation will result in the loosening of the mucus in the respiratory tracts, which makes coughing easier and so helps clear airways. \
Furthermore, the sea air is almost completely free from harmful vapours, exhaust fumes and soot particles, especially on offshore islands.
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The Benefits Of Ocean Air
People have long believed in the healing and restorative properties of ocean air. Before there was scientific evidence to prove that sea air is good for the body and soul, doctors prescribed beach visits for patients with lung issues, skin ailments and circulation problems. And with good success. It hasnt been until recently, however, that scientists began to fully realize how much good ocean air can really do.
There is real scientific evidence that breathing the ocean air and/or spending some time on the beach delivers many health benefits. In addition to improving lung function, a few days seaside can reduce the symptoms of some skin conditions, including eczema. Oceanside air also has numerous mental health benefits. If another excuse to visit the beach is needed, check out these healthy reasons.
Does Halotherapy Have Any Risks
Halotherapy is probably safe for most people, but there arent any studies on its safety. In addition, halotherapy is usually done in a spa or wellness clinic without trained medical staff on hand to handle medical emergencies. Keep this in mind as you weigh the pros and cons of halotherapy.
While its said to treat asthma, halotherapy might also constrict or irritate the airwaves in people with asthma. This can make coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath worse. Some people also report getting headaches during halotherapy.
Halotherapy is a complementary therapy thats meant to work with any medications youre on. Let your doctor know you want to try this approach. Dont stop any medications without discussing it with your doctor.
Supporters of halotherapy claim its safe for children and pregnant women. However, theres little research to back up this claim. According to a 2008 study, inhaling a 3 percent saline solution is a safe and effective treatment for infants with bronchiolitis. However, theres no standardization across halotherapy clinics. The amount of salt administered can vary greatly.
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Myth: I Know How To Use My Inhaler So I Dont Need To Use A Spacer
Anyone who takes inhaled asthma medicines should use a spacer whenever it is practical to do so. When using an inhaler on its own, a lot of the medicine ends up in mouth or stomach. This is not where its needed! The holding chamber of a spacer ensures the optimal dose is delivered as a fine mist straight to the lungs. Make sure you also look after your spacer properly to maximise the benefits.
Myth: If You Have Asthma You Should Avoid Exercise
It’s well known that you need to exercise your muscles to be strong, toned and flexible. Well your lungs are no different! Exercising them on a regular basis is important in order for them to operate at their best.
Asthma can flare up during exercise, but usually in dry cold air or in the absence of a bit of preparation. You can minimise the likelihood of this happening by getting as fit as possible. It will take longer for symptoms to even start if your lungs are in good shape. We also suggest exercising in a warm, humid environment if you can.
If you have asthma symptoms after exercise, dont worry its common but manageable. If exercise seems to be a trigger, tell your doctor so you can find the treatment that works best for you. Visit here for more tips on exercising with asthma.
Is there anything else asthma related that youd like our myth busters to investigate? Send us a message or leave a comment on this article on our Facebook page, The Asthma Experts.
Lisa Sayer
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Is Salt Air Good For The Lungs
An article in Readers Digest reports that seaside air is really good for your health and lists the various benefits of breathing in the salt-rich air, which includes your respiratory system, your immune system, and your skin. Reportedly, the salt rich atmosphere found near the seaside:
is especially beneficial to the respiratory organs and the skin, but also improves circulation and strengthens the bodys defences.
In an article titled The Health Benefits of Ocean Air, the Lung Health Institute claims that breathing in salt-rich air can benefit certain medical conditions, such as pulmonary fibrosis and COPD. The article also lists medical studies showing evidence that this type of salt therapy can:
Myth: Apple Cider Vinegar Improves Asthma Symptoms
Vinegar has been used as a traditional folk remedy for thousands of years. It was used by Hippocrates as an antibiotic treatment and as a wound disinfectant in wartime. Raw, fermented apple cider vinegar is now touted as a treatment for a wide range of ailments that range from gastric reflux to weight loss. Studies have been carried out investigating some of the claimed benefits, but there is no scientific evidence that vinegar will improve asthma.
If you want to use vinegar to help with your asthma, a solution of naturally fermented white vinegar is great for removing visible mould in your home.
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Best Weather For Asthma
There is no optimal weather condition for people with asthma, but many find that consistency in temperatures and conditions is better for symptoms.
Allergens and pollutants in the air are two of the most significant factors that affect asthma symptoms. Certain types of weather may increase both air pollution and common allergens.
Some people with asthma experience problems in very cold or hot temperatures, which can increase airway irritation. Mild temperatures and low levels of humidity might decrease the risk of airway irritation.
Not only is humidity a problem for people with asthma, but other weather conditions can also lead to symptoms.
The weather conditions most likely to trigger asthma include:
- Extreme heat: When temperatures climb, pollution levels may also rise, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
- Cold, dry air: Cold, dry air can irritate the airways and lead to bronchospasm. This often results in common asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing.
- Windy conditions: Common allergens, such as pollen, blow around in the wind. Add rain into the mix, and it can lead to an increase in mold spores. Both pollen and mold are common triggers for people with asthma.
- Rapid changes in temperature: Some people are also sensitive to a quick change in weather conditions, such as heat one day and cold the next.
Does Salt Treatment Work
The idea behind salt treatment is sound and it is likely that it will have at least short term benefits. At the same time some clinical trials have found there to be significant benefits of the use of salt treatment. In one study 57% of participants found they used less asthma medication, while in another average annual sick leave was reduced in patients by 11 days. Studies have demonstrated that results can last up to twelve months if the treatment has been used frequently.
There are however downsides to salt treatment. The first is that it is by no means a miracle cure and ultimately visiting just once or twice wont have hugely profound effects on your long term asthma problems. This is unfortunate considering how costly salt treatment can be which makes it somewhat restrictive. That said, if you are particularly struggling with your asthma or breathing problems, then a visit to a salt cave will still do you good and as its therapeutic and relaxing you probably wont begrudge it either.
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The Benefits Of Breathing Ocean Air
Have you ever thought about how therapeutic it is to visit the beach? Toes in the sand, sound of the waves and breathing in the fresh sea air! The Lung Institute suggests the ocean, especially breathing ocean air, has commonly been referred to as a source of healing for all types of ailments, including certain lung diseases. In an article published by Wall Street Journal, Dr. Ferkol mentions that a study taking place in Australia tracked the effects of the ocean air on surfers suffering from cystic fibrosis. The study lasted 48 weeks and produced some evidence that the salt air was helping to clear out the lungs of the patients. Not only that, but the patients also showed signs of fewer flare-ups and a reduced need for certain antibiotics.
In an article from Azula.com according to a study conducted by the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Exeter in England, those who live close to the ocean are healthier than those who live inland. It includes the salty sea air by the coast does wonders for the respiratory system and those with asthma, bronchitis, sinus pressure, and coughing will notice a difference in their condition after just one day at the beach. Ocean air also contains negatively charged hydrogen ions that help absorb oxygen and balance out serotonin levels, resulting in more energy and diminished depression.
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The Curative Powers Of Sea Air
All we need to feel good is already present in nature. The sea and the oceans contain beneficial elements that propagate in the air thanks to the spray of the waves. In the sea spray there are vitamins, pigments, polyphenols and ficotoxins Natural elements that have powerful beneficial effects on our body.
Definitely, from today on, well have one reason more to enjoy a nice and healthy walk by the sea. So why dont you catch this chance to start planning your next vacation? Here, our 10 unique locations for relaxing the mind and regenerate the body on some beautiful Italian shores.
Cover image: ph. by Peter Chamberlain via unsplash
Student, manager-to-be, travel lover. It doesn’t matter where, but go, never stop. Thanks to this belief, I’ve learned the value of being environmental friendly and I try to be a responsible citizen and traveller. I think that the best way to live in our constantly changing world is to be open-minded, to catch all the opportunities that come on our way.
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What Else Should I Know About Cold Air And Asthma
Every persons asthma is different. If cold weather triggers your asthma symptoms, you should treat it as you would any other flare-up.
Monitor the weather and try to stay inside on the very coldest days. Wear a scarf or face mask if you must go out. Guard your health so a virus doesnt cause an asthma flare-up. Humidify the air indoors to the level that makes your breathing most comfortable.
Follow your doctors direction for medication use. If you are prescribed an inhaler or other medication to manage your asthma, dont skip using it when youre feeling fine. Always follow the plan you have in place to avoid unnecessary flare-ups.
- Make sure all your prescriptions are current. Refill if needed.
- Your Asthma Action Plan should include how to handle asthma when you have no symptoms, if symptoms begin, and if they become severe. Be prepared for all eventualities.
- Keep a notebook to write down notes whenever symptoms worsen. This could shed light on new or old triggers. Keep track of your medication usage your doctor will appreciate a big-picture view.
The Results Of Breathing Salt Air
The detoxifying effects of breathing in salt-rich air can reduce symptoms of various respiratory illnesses and skin conditions, reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and reduce the signs of aging.
When salt therapy is practised on a regular basis, it can help improve our well-being and quality of life.
You can visit a local salt room for a halotherapy session, or, you can practise salt therapy at home using various methods weve outlined in this article.
Besides the therapeutic health benefits, the calming environments found in salt rooms also have the added benefit of improved relaxation, which also helps to reduce stress, increase energy levels, and promote better sleep patterns all of which can help improve our overall sense of well-being.
We hope you found the information above useful. Leave a comment below, or contact us if you have any questions.
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How To Make The Most Of The Seaside And Achieve Ultimate Relaxation
Go to the beach every day to take advantage of the health providing benefits of the ocean. The Wild Coast Sun is situated on the beach, making it easy to get up early and enjoy a long sunrise walk. Sunset walks are great way to wind down after a long day of sunbathing or beach cricket. Plus, you’re getting exercise.
Swim as much as you can and enjoy the healthy benefits of salty seawater. Read a good book while sunbathing, but look after your skin. Take advantage of your location and stick to an Omega-rich marine diet. Plate your fish up with a crunchy side salad.
Most importantly, unplug your devices and reap the benefits of the negative ions in the air. In today’s society thanks to computers, television and electronics we are surrounded by too many positive ions . Shutting down your gadgets and increasing your exposure to negative ions will enhance your immune system, increase alertness and improve your concentration. And, you’ll sleep well.
Thalassotherapy? Get it.