Coronavirus - how it develops in the body and how it can help your lungs

Undoubtedly, the problem of the new type of coronavirus is a major ordeal that affects the whole world. There are many articles and information about the measures one can take to protect oneself from infection. It is important for each and every one of us to take responsibility and inform ourselves about what we need to do for our own health and the health of others.

In this article we will look at how the virus develops and how this affects the body, we will also give you some tips on how to support your lung health.

Let's start with what happens after the virus enters our body.

It is clear that the ways in which viral particles enter the body can be through inhalation of respiratory droplets and other body fluids from an infected person, as well as by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces and subsequent contact of the eyes, nose, mouth.

Once in the body, the virus moves to the back of the nasal cavity and to the mucus membrane of the throat where it attaches to receptors on the body's cells.

Virus particles attach to the outer walls of host cells, the genetic material of the virus disrupts the cell membrane and then alters the function of the cell, causing it to make more copies of the virus. The newly acquired virus cells exit the infected cell and attach to other cells in the body. An infected cell can reproduce many copies of the virus before it dies.

From the mucus membrane of the throat, the virus moves down through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs. Upon reaching the lungs, the infection can cause inflammation of the alveoli and surrounding lung tissue (interstitium). This leads to a disruption of the normal breathing process and, more specifically, a disruption of the ability of the alveoli to oxygenate the blood and remove available carbon dioxide from the body.

Having familiarized you with the process of disease development, we should also pay attention to how you can protect yourself. Of course, all the precautions recommended by the WHO, with which our society is familiar, come into play here.

Let us note, however, that the likelihood of contracting coronavirus regardless of the precautions taken is always possible. That's why we at Okto, as specialists, can give you some more tips on how you can support your lung health.

What else can you do as a preventive measure? The answer is that you can include one of the means of physiotherapy that is used to combat diseases of the respiratory system, namely the so-called respiratory gymnastics.

Respiratory gymnastics includes various breathing exercises that contribute to:

• Positive influence in the mechanics of breathing
  - correct matching of the inhalation and exhalation phases
  - improvement of breathing efficiency. - Depth and frequency
  - normalization of the coordination of breathing movements.
• Beneficial effects on pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange
• Increase mobility of the diaphragm and chest
• Improves the strength and elasticity of the lungs
• Healthier and more resilient lungs help to recover more quickly from the eventual development of pneumonia and reduce the risk of developing subsequent changes. On the positive side, the exercises do not require you to have a gym membership, be young or in good physical shape, anyone can practice them to improve the health of their lungs.

We will introduce you to a few breathing exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine:

1. Deep breathing

How to perform the exercise:

• Starting position - can be standing or sitting
• Place your hands on your hips or thighs and relax
• Inhale deeply as you can, starting through your abdomen until you feel your lungs are full
• Hold your breath for a few seconds (1-3 sec.)
• Exhale slowly and as much as possible to empty your lungs

As a dosage, we recommend to start with a few repetitions (2-3), three or four times a day to give your body a chance to get used to the exercise. You can gradually increase the repetitions and do them in sets of several repetitions, 3-4 times a day.

2. Breathing against resistance

Resistance breathing is another good way to increase your oxygen intake levels and reduce carbon dioxide levels in the body at the same time. It also helps to deal with conditions where you feel like you are running out of air.

How to perform the exercise:

• Starting position- you can be standing or sitting
• Breathe in through the nose for at least 3 seconds
• Curl your lips (as if you were going to play with your mouth)
• Exhale slowly through the mouth, the duration of the exhalation should be at least twice as long as that of the inhalation. That is, if you have inhaled for 3 seconds, the exhalation should last at least 6 seconds.
• Repeat 3-4 times

Tip:
You can also use a thin straw to exhale through. You may feel slightly dizzy from the exercise, in which case stop, rest for a few minutes and repeat again. If you find the exercise easy and don't feel much resistance, you can try inflating a balloon.

3. Diaphragmatic breathing (abdominal breathing)

The diaphragm is the most important respiratory muscle. The skillful involvement of the diaphragm during the act of breathing greatly improves the breathing process.

How to perform the exercise:

• Starting position - lying on your back with your legs bent at the knees
• Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest
• Take a slow, deep breath, aiming for your belly to go up when you inhale, not your chest. The inhalation is again 3 seconds long.
• Exhale for about 6 seconds and aim to keep your belly moving downwards during this time.
• Repeat 4-5 times

4. Breathing through one nostril.

The benefits of this exercise are related to the fact that it supports cardiovascular function (normalizes pulse rate), helps for a more complete gas exchange in the lungs, and also reduces stress.

How to perform the exercise:

• It is important to regulate your breathing before you start. This can be done by performing 2-3 diaphragmatic breaths as you inhale and exhale through the nose.
• When you are ready you can stay in a lying position or sit down. Use the thumb of your right hand to plug your right nostril.
• Take a deep breath through your left nostril, then plug it with your index finger and hold for a second.
• Then unclog the right nostril and exhale through it. The subsequent inhalation is again through the same side.
• After inhaling again, plug the right nostril and exhale through the left. The next inhalation is through the left side, then you move to the right side.
• Repeat this cycle 5-10 times.

5. Sound gymnastics - Exhaling with buzzing sounds

With this exercise you can help improve airway patency using buzzing and humming sounds.

How to perform the exercise:

• Starting position-you can be sitting or standing
• You take a slow, deep breath through your nose
• Then you exhale through the mouth by playing the sounds "g", "h", "sh"
• Repeat 5-6 times, alternating the sounds.

6. HAFF technique

A suitable exercise for people who have chronic diseases of the respiratory system (chronic bronchitis, COPD, etc.) is the so-called HAFF technique. It helps to expel accumulated secretions by expectoration.

How to perform the exercise:

• Starting position-seated
• You take a deep breath through the mouth
• Then quickly exhale completely through the mouth
• Repeat 5-6 times

On exhalation itself, a sound similar to HAFF is heard, hence the name of the technique. At the end of exhalation, it is normal to stimulate a cough with sputum release.

Sources:

• https://www.breatheology.com/wuhan-coronavirus/
• https://www.phillyvoice.com/breathing-exercises-coronavirus-anxiety-covid-19-pandemic/
• https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-does-the-coronavirus-enter-the-body-and-what-makes-it-so-dangerous/