Physiotherapy for bronchial asthma

Physiotherapy for bronchial asthma is an additional method in the treatment of the pathological process, which can be used directly during an attack, as well as in the calm stage.

Physiotherapy treatments can be carried out based on the severity of the patient's symptoms.

In the period between attacks of bronchial asthma, special attention is paid to increasing the immune forces with the help desensitizing methods and immunostimulants, as well as correction of neuroendocrine response using hormone replacement therapy.

In patients suffering from bronchial diseases, as a rule, there is tension in the cervical vertebrae and chest. In addition, the shoulder girdle is involved in the process, so the doctor's initial task is to relieve tension in these areas and give them maximum mobility. This effect is achieved by a course of physiotherapeutic measures in combination with drug treatment.

The main types of physiotherapy include:

Barotherapy

This physiotherapeutic method of treating bronchial asthma is characterized by the effect of increased (hyperbaric) or decreased (hypobaric) pressure on the patient's body. Barotherapy is performed in a specially made, tight-fitting chamber with a connected system of pumps that create low or high pressure. Chambers can be single or multi-patient. In addition, pressure chambers are local (for certain parts of the body, for example, for diseases of the joints).

The effectiveness of barotherapy is observed with certain reactions of the patient's body to external drops of low and high pressure. Low pressure improves blood supply to the skin, as well as the mucous membrane, where metabolic processes are activated. High pressure helps to expel gaseous toxins from the blood.

Respiratory gymnastics for asthma

This method of physiotherapy consists in providing the body with oxygen as much as possible and removing carbon dioxide from it.

This can be achieved in the following ways:

1. Standing for 10 minutes at an open window and breathing fresh air.
2. Another way is the correct distribution of inhalation and exhalation (slow deep inhalation, simultaneously with which it is necessary to raise the shoulder girdle to the limit). It is recommended to exhale quickly, while lowering the shoulders.
3. Another breathing exercise is a deep breath while raising your arms up, squeezing your palms over your head. It is recommended to exhale longer (about 2 times).

These procedures are best done early in the morning and before bed.

Water procedures

Between attacks, patients with bronchial asthma are advised to perform water procedures. The simplest and most affordable is the morning rubbing with water using a terry towel. At the very beginning, movements should be light with a gradual increase in pace. The first procedures are recommended to be carried out with warm water, gradually lowering the temperature, which promotes activation of additional vessels in the skin, improving its nutrition and strengthening nervous system. Such procedures help to strengthen the body's immune forces.

A good effect is obtained by taking hot foot baths for the limbs (arms and legs). This procedure is performed at different temperatures, for example, the feet should be dipped into a container with hot water, and the hands should be placed in a container where the water is 2-3 ° colder.

As a result, vasodilation occurs and a large number of allergens are released into the bloodstream, and then rush to the limbs. In this case, you must take any antihistamine.

Diet for bronchial asthma

Physiotherapy for bronchial asthma includes in its complex of measures and adherence to a special diet, especially when atopic form of the disease, when the allergen is food that enhances negative symptoms diseases. In each individual case, a dietary meal is prescribed, taking into account the general condition of the patient, the severity of symptoms and the presence of chronic diseases.

For asthmatics, a detailed meal plan is drawn up with a list of permitted and prohibited foods. It is important to remember that certain inhalation allergens are often similar in their symptoms to food (nuts, wormwood, cereals, sunflowers, as well as their pollen), etc. Therefore, patients with this form of the disease should exclude such products.

In addition, patients with bronchial asthma need to adhere to fractional meals (5 times a day). The portion should be small, and the last time you can eat no later than 2 hours before bedtime.

Phonophoresis and electrophoresis

To improve the work of the bronchial drainage function, an electrophoresis procedure with bronchodilating drugs can be assigned to the area between the shoulder blades. In addition, a similar effect is achieved when using ultrasound (phonophoresis) directed paravertebrally (along the spine), as well as between the fifth and seventh ribs.

Another physiotherapeutic method of influencing the patient's body is magnetotherapy. Thanks to this procedure, the patency of the bronchi improves, the external respiratory activity is normalized and the immunobiological resistance of the body increases.

It is recommended to use simultaneously with paravertebral phonophoresis:

• phonophoresis with the addition of hydrocortisone in the segmental thoracic region;
• the use of electrophoresis with calcium ion;
• the use of endonasal electrophoresis;

• electrosleep;
• with pain syndrome, electroanalgesia is prescribed;
• positive effects are observed with hydrotherapy (especially after swimming).

Between exacerbations, it is necessary to pay special attention to the prevention of chronic bronchial diseases. Ultraviolet treatments can be used to strengthen the immune system.

The use of low-frequency ultrasound beams is one of the most modern physiotherapeutic techniques that help eliminate bronchopulmonary diseases in a patient.

Climate therapy for asthma

An important role in physiotherapy belongs to the spa treatment of patients with bronchial symptoms. However, this technique has many not only fans, but also those who consider climate therapy not effective enough.

Most often, this method of physiotherapy is applied to young patients. Children with atopic and mixed forms of mild and moderate bronchial asthmatic diseases, as a rule, are referred to the Black Sea resorts during the period of remission. Rehabilitation of children with bronchial complications is possible on the coast of the Caucasus. Physiotherapy procedures in children can enhance the nonspecific resistance of the body and carry out timely sanitation of chronic foci of infections.

There are quite a few sanatoriums working according to this method of treatment in Kislovodsk, Gorny Altai, Crimea and Nalchik. Patients are referred there after a thorough diagnosis and examination, which allows you to achieve maximum treatment efficiency.

It should be noted that when choosing a physiotherapeutic method of treatment for bronchial asthma, the results of all previous measures are taken into account. This approach contributes to the selection of the most appropriate method of physiotherapy for the patient.