One of the most distressing symptoms that anyone can experience is shortness of breath - dyspnea. Patients describe themselves as 'not getting enough air: This triggers a series of physiological and behavioral reactions that include increased heart rate, blood pressure and hormonal secretions accompanied by a feeling of general panic. Shortness of breath is a common symptom of many respiratory illnesses.
Just as the gut separates and absorbs food into the body, the lungs are a passage for the exchange of used air and fresh air. But there's a crucial difference between food and oxygen - we cant store oxygen. We must meet a second-by-second demand for the life-giving element or die within minutes. The body responds immediately to any interference with this exchange.
Over 30 million Americans are, affected by chronic lung disease. Dozens of illnesses can affect the respiratory system, and pulmonary (lung-related) medicine is vast and complicated. It deals with congenital problems like cystic fibrosis, acquired diseases like bronchitis and self-inflicted problems like smoking. The importance of glutathione in the respiratory system cannot be overstated. We can't address every known respiratory problem but we will discuss the following:
ANTIOXIDANTS AND THE LUNGS
As you will see in the following pages, inflammation of the lung is common to most pulmonary diseases, whether the disorder is acute-like toxic exposureor chronic-like cystic fibrosis. The processes of infection in asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia all lead to inflammation. Many traditional medications attempt to reduce this inflammation. The body's inflammatory response itself generates free radicals, and antioxidants are increasingly used to complement conventional treatments. The researchers P.E. Morris and G.R. Bernard drew attention to this complementary treatment in an article aptly called "Significance of glutathione in lung disease and implications for therapy;' in which they reviewed the great weight of evidence that supports such research.
There is a fragile balance in the lungs between oxidants and antioxidants. Oxidative stress is high in the lungs for many reasons. For a start, this center of oxygen interchange produces very large numbers of oxyradicals. Secondly, white blood cells are highly active in the lining of the lungs, where they release huge quantities of oxidative products, both because of their high metabolic rates and the way they combat biological and chemical invaders. Finally, antioxidants in the fluid lining of the lungs playa large part in our front-line defense against airborne pollutants, many of which are powerful sources of free radicals.
White blood cells, when they encounter a bacteria for example, release caustic substances like peroxides. This is biochemical warfare, and the white blood cell and the surrounding tissues use glutathione to defend themselves. When oxidant levels grow too high or glutathione levels too low, the inevitable result is tissue damage. Remember that glutathione is the most critical of all naturally-occurring antioxidants and that it effectively supports exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. Unlike glutathione, exogenous antioxidants are derived from the outside environment and are not native to the body, but together they soak up free radicals.
Generally, most tissues and organs must manufacture their own glutathione from dietary or drug-delivered precursors. However, the lining of the respiratory tree - which usually requires high levels of glutathione - can absorb glutathione directly. To take advantage of this unusual ability, a topical glutathione aerosol has been developed and used successfully to treat a number of diseases, including adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary fibrosis and HIV infection. In addition, the topical form of N AC (Mucomist) - a potent glutathione precursor - has long been used as a treatment for cystic fibrosis.
Oral and intravenous glutathione precursors are receiving a lot of attention from researchers and many papers have been published on the subject. Pulmonologists (lung doctors) are paying increasing attention to lung glutathione content and learning a great deal about future applications. O. Ortolani and his team in Italy placed forty intensive care patients with respiratory difficulties on intravenous glutathione, then compared their response to an equal number of untreated patients and found significant reductions in oxidative stress levels.
An experiment in preventive medicine was conducted by S. De Flora and his research team at the Institute of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Genoa. Patients were placed on a course of oral N A C tablets or placebo during the months of the influenza season. Although the number of people infected by the virus was unchanged, subjects receiving NAC experienced significantly fewer and less virulent symptoms.
CONCLUSION
An impressive amount of research has clarified the critical importance of antioxidants and glutathione in all these pulmonary diseases. Unlike most other tissues, the lungs can use glutathione as-is - through direct contact - rather than having to first absorb its precursors and then manufacture it. There are many ways to elevate pulmonary glutathione, including oral, intravenous and inhaled therapies. In the next few years we will see increased use of these products to raise glutathione levels in acute, chronic and critical care patients.
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Immunocal and Immunocal Platinum are the ONLY Dietary supplements, patented and scientifically PROVEN to consistently raise glutathione levels and enhance the human immune system!
www.video-wellness.com
www.jrobwellness.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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