Ho-hum, bronchitis again....

[simon43]

I have somewhat delicate lungs, commencing about 25 years ago in the UK after working in a damp, unheated basement office that had been empty for several years.

 

What started out as a mild cough developed into uncontrolleable coughing spasms and copious amounts of green/yellow phlegm collecting in my lungs.  Several bouts of pneumonia followed....  The outcome of all this was that I moved to live in south-east Asia, where the air temperature and humidity seemed to suit my lungs better 🙂

 

I noticed over my 22+ years living in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos that my lungs were the happiest when living in the coastal south of Thailand, with salty sea air.

However, my teaching usually took me to both Laos and Myanmar, where my bouts of bronchitis and buckets of phlegm would quickly return.  I found that brisk walking each morning for say 4km would loosen up the phlegm, and so that's what I do.

 

2 years ago, I had a spell of teaching in Yangon.  Unfortunately, my bronchitis came back with a vengeance and I had to resign from my post and return for treatment in Thailand.

 

Recently, I have been living in Khao Lak, and my lungs have been very happy.

 

But now I have returned to teach again in Myanmar, this time in Mandalay.  You might (rightly) comment that this was a stupid move on my part, considering my lung history.  But for personal reasons, I feel compelled to help the young students in Myanmar, even if it doesn't do my health much good lol

 

So, within 2 weeks of moving to Mandalay, my bronchitis has returned.  This time I am determined to 'beat' this highly-annoying problem, and not be forced to return to southern Thailand. The students really need their teacher, so I'm in no mood to abandon ship.  I also wonder what exactly has caused the coughing/phlegm to flare up again.

 

The temperature in Mandalay is still hot.  The air pollution seems to be at a reasonably low level.  What could it be that triggers my bronchitis? I know that bronchitis can be caused by a virus or bacteria or some kind of irritant.  I doubt that the first 2 causes are responsible.  I notice that I cough less if I keep my mouth closed and breath through my nose, or if I place a face-mask just over my mouth and breath through my mouth. So it seems that an irritant is most likely.  But what?!

 

Answers on a post-card please!

[JeffersLos]

If the salty air helped it, would pouring a packet of salt into a bucket of boiling water, then place your head over it with a towel covering you and it help? Perhaps once in the morning and once in the evening.

 

Or those mobile sauna things they sell in places like the 7-11 catalog. I think you sit in it and zip it up. Put salt in the boiling water so your lungs get a good does of it. Perhaps 30 minutes 2-3 times a day. 

[NoDisplayName]

16 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I notice that I cough less if I keep my mouth closed and breath through my nose, or if I place a face-mask just over my mouth and breath through my mouth. So it seems that an irritant is most likely.  But what?!

 

Less likely to cough if breathing through your nose (filtered) or through a cloth (filtered)?  Something suspended in the air.

 

Possibly dust or pollution.  Could be a specific type of wood/coal/vegetation that is burned.  Could be an additive to gasoline used in Myanmar.  Most likely IMO is a pollen specific to flowers/trees in that area.