13 - Skin & respiratory SHORT VERSION Flashcards
(44 cards)
What is Asthma
A chronic respiratory disorder characterised by variable airway obstruction and hyper-responsiveness to stimuli.
* Narrowing of the airways due to:–
- Bronchial smooth muscle spasm.
– Swelling of bronchial mucosa.
– Excess viscous mucus secretion
What are the signs & symptoms of Asthma? (5)
- Wheeze on breathing out (expiratory wheeze)
- Intermittent shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Dry cough at night or while exercising
- Anxiety & sweating during an acute attack
What is the pathophysiology of asthma? (6)
- IgE response to an allergen (e.g., pollen, mould, dust mites, animal dander).
- Release of inflammatory mediators (histamine leukotrienes, prostaglandins) cause bronchospasm, triggering an asthma attack.
- If untreated, eosinophils, T-helper cells and mast cells migrate into the airways.
- Increased mucus production by goblet cells blocks the airway
- Airway remodelling — chronic inflammation causes bronchial smooth muscle hypertrophy and interstitial collagen deposition. Results in persistent airflow obstruction.
- COX is downregulated in favour of LOX leading to increased leukotrienes.
What are the causes & risk factors for asthma? (12)
- Th2 dominance - e.g. from ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’. Pathogen exposure supports neonatal immune development by increasing Th1.
- Antibiotics: (Pre- or post-natal)
- Gut dysbiosis (increases Th2 response with increased antigen sensitivity)
- Pathogenic bacteria and fungi (e.g., Candida albicans) in the gut and lungs.
- Not breastfeeding
- Early weaning (< 6 months)
- Obesity
- Systemic inflammation
- Preservatives, food colourings
- Vitamin D & Magnesium deficiency
- Drugs - aspirin, NSAIDs
- Raised oestrogen (favours Th2) - e.g. HRT, perimenstrual asthma
What is Extrinsic asthma?
What is Intrinsic asthma?
- Allergic / atopic asthma. IgE mediated response (e.g. to pollen, mould, dust mites, animal dander).
- Non-allergic asthma (e.g. to cold temperatures, humidity, stress, exercise, airborne irritants)
How is asthma diagnosed?
Medical history, physical examination, lung function tests (spirometry / peak expiratory flow)
What naturopathic tests would be useful in asthma?
IgE / IgE profiles - e.g. to food / airborne allergens.
How to avoid having a child with asthma? (6)
- Optimise maternal nutritional status and toxin avoidance.
- Eat fish / purified fish oil supplement (during pregnancy / lactation).
- Breastfeeding
- Minimise chemical exposure as immature liver is unable to detoxify many compounds.
- Optimise sleep
- Minimise stress
What is the naturopathic plan (not supplements) to reduce the effects of asthma (10)
GOALS: Reduce inflammation & oxidative stress, get healthy, avoid triggers.
- CNM naturopathic diet with a focus on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant rich foods.
- Optimise Omega 6:3 ratio
- Optimise digestive function (dysbiosis, low HCL, adequate fibre)
- Avoid trigger foods (e.g. cows’ milk, eggs, chocolate, rice, soy, corn, citrus fruit, apple, sulphites, nitrates, MSG)
- Avoid triggers: pollen, mould, dust mites, animal dander, smoke, chemicals)
- Avoid very cold drinks - can trigger bronchial spasm
- Optimise diet (avoid sugar, dairy, processed foods, gluten)
- Reduce red meat
- Adequate hydration - dehydration linked with exercise induced asthma)
- Optimise sleep
- Minimise stress
- Breathing exercises & posture
What nutrients can be used to support clients with asthma?
B Complex
Vit C
Vit D
Zinc
Magnesium
Omega-3
Probiotic
CoQ10
Turmeric
What is Bronchitis?
- Definition
- What induces it
- What it does in the body (4)
Acute or chronic inflammation of the bronchi.
* Associated with environmental irritants, inducing:
– Mucosal oedema, infiltration with macrophages and neutrophils.
– Hypertrophy of bronchial glands.
– Hypertrophy / hyperplasia of bronchial smooth muscle.
– Irreversible scarring of the airway walls, reducing airflow
What are the signs & symptoms of Bronchitis? (5)
- Hacking unproductive cough, becoming productive within days (thick, yellowy mucus).
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- headache
- runny or blocked nose
What is COPD?
A chronic inflammatory response of the lungs causing airflow limitation due to airway and functional lung tissue damage that is progressive and not fully reversible.
It’s a combination of:
Emphysema - collapse of alveoli during expiration
Chronic bronchitis - Inflammation & thickening of bronchial lining with mucus hyper-secretion
What causes COPD
Smoking
Exposure to lung irritants (pollution, chemicals, dust, etc)
What is the naturopathic plan (not supplements) to reduce the effects of bronchitis or COPD (6)
GOALS: Break down mucus (foods & hydration). Reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Avoid triggers.
- CNM naturopathic diet with a focus on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods which are easy to digest.
- Mucolytic foods - garlic, onions.
- Hydration - to make mucus looser
- Anti-inflammatory foods - turmeric, ginger
- Avoid triggers: Smoking, dust/smoke, chemicals
- Reduce allergens / intolerances
- Avoid mucus-forming foods, e.g. dairy
- Avoid - all the usual foods! (sugar, refined grains, processed foods, saturated fats, alcohol)
What nutrients can be used to support clients with bronchitis or COPD?
Vit A (5,000 iu)
Vit C (1 - 5g)
Vit D (optimise levels)
Zinc (15 - 30mg)
NAC (400- 1,200 mg)
Omega-3 (>1g EPA)
Thyme - expectorant, mucolytic, antibacterial
What is the role of B Complex for respiratory health?
- B3 decreases histamine release.
- B5 Reduces secretion of cortisol in times of stress.
- B6 reduces frequency and severity of asthma
- B12 for DNA methylation (reduces epigenetic causes of asthma). Sulphite metabolism. May reduce inflammatory reactions. Deficiency has been linked to some forms of asthma.
What is the role of Vit C for respiratory health?
- Antioxidant
- Anti-histamine
- Anti-inflammatory and reduces bronchoconstriction
- High plasma Vit C is associated with reduced respiratory illness
What is the role of Vit D for respiratory health?
- Deficiency is associated with increased risk of respiratory infections
Anti-inflammatory - moderates pulmonary inflammatory response - Modulates genes for asthma / allergy.
- Higher levels protect against asthmatic wheezing in children.
What is the role of Zinc for respiratory health?
- Regulates the inflammatory resonse
- Helps maintain mucous membrane integrity
- Improves cell-mediated immunity
- Deficiency shifts to Th2 response (allergies & autoimmunity)
- Decreases inflammatory cytokines
- Increases NK cells & T-cells
What is the role of Magnesium for respiratory health?
- Improves lung function
- Reduces bronchal reactivity
- Used as a bronchodilator in acute asthma attacks
What is the role of Omega-3 for respiratory health?
- Anti-inflammatory
- Improves respiratory health
What is the role of Turmeric, Ginger, Boswelia for respiratory health?
- Anti-inflammatory - downregulate NF-KB
- Reduces inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α)
- Antioxidant - protects against ROS
What is Acne Vulgaris?
inflammatory skin condition characterised by excess sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinisation of sebaceous ducts, follicular colonisation by Cutibacterium acnes and inflammation.
