A thick head? Blocked nose? Cough?
When such symptoms appear, they are most often caused by a contagious disorder affecting the respiratory tract. Unfortunately, viruses have found a way in to reach the mucous membranes. Often, treatment is left too late and what starts off as a harmless cold with a runny nose can quickly turn into stubborn sinusitis or bronchitis.
In this section, you will find out how our breathing works, how you can prevent respiratory tract disorders and how you can get rid of respiratory tract infections.
How does our breathing work?
Every cell in our body needs oxygen. When we breathe in, air passes through the upper respiratory tract (nostrils and the neighbouring paranasal sinuses), along the throat and down into the lower airways. Here, warm moist air – now free from particulate matter – descends down the windpipe and into the bronchial tubes. Our bronchial system is a branching network of tubes. It looks like a large tree with branches extending in all directions and is covered with countless tiny air sacs known as alveoli. Oxygen penetrates the microscopically thin skin of these alveoli and into the blood, where it is absorbed by red blood cells.
How is the respiratory system kept clear?
Our airways are covered with a lining known as mucous membrane. The surface of this lining is made up of mucous glands, ciliary cells and tiny hairs called cilia. The mucous membrane constantly secretes loosely-flowing mucus, which acts as a protective layer for the whole respiratory system. The role of cilia is to capture harmful particles, viruses and bacteria and transport them upward towards the mouth. They constantly move to and fro, like a cornfield swaying in the breeze. These processes are the body’s way of self-cleansing the respiratory tract. The mucous membrane lining the upper and lower respiratory tract is identically constructed, which helps allow colds to be tackled regardless of where infection strikes; either in the upper and/or lower airways.
What happens when we have a cold?
Respiratory tract infections are almost always caused by viruses, which infect mucous membranes lining the:
- nose (common cold = rhinitis)
- paranasal sinuses (sinusitis)
- and/or bronchial tubes (bronchitis).
The mucous membrane becomes inflamed, starts to swell and produces greater amounts of thick, viscous mucus. Ciliae stick together and become unable to transport mucus away. The natural self-cleansing process is halted – thereby creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. It is therefore important to loosen thick mucus as quickly as possible, so that it can drain away and/or be coughed up more easily. Thorough nose-blowing and coughing to remove mucus are the first steps to recovery.