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Year Four, Day 99: The Cofee-Asthma Connection and Tree Therapy

The breathing exercises are definitely helping!  AND I made at least three more discoveries today that I'd like to share. If you have not become weary of my cough/asthma dilemma!

First, I watched a very helpful video about clearing mucous from the chest.  It's called "Clearing Your Chest with Breathing Exercises" https://youtu.be/kC-H8fFzZes 


It is produced by the NHS Forth Valley physiotherapy program in Scotland. I have mastered the "HA" technique and my lungs feel quite clear at this point! The woman teaching the technique is adorable. She has a lovely accent and she encourages us to drink more water, but not too much so as not to spend all of our time in the "loo"!

I wonder if that is where the lyrics for the song "Skip to My Lou" come from?

I am drinking more water. And I am spending much time in the loo. But feeling better. I have noticed over the course of this blog, that I have had to remind myself to drink more water. I will continue to do so.

My other discovery came as a shock. I have been advised to avoid chocolate, fried food, sugar and caffeine to keep my acid reflux at bay.

But this morning I really needed coffee. I picked up a large with just a wee bit of cream and sugar.  I downed it on the way to the music center. After about half and hour I noticed my lungs feeling quite clear!

Then I remembered reading that caffeine can help asthma by opening up the bronchials. Apparently so can chocolate. Yay!  But they both exacerbate GERD which can mess with asthma. Sigh. But I am currently taking another round of Prevacid, so I'm thinking a bit of coffee and/or chocolate might help take the edge off.

Here's one article, addressing the coffee-asthma connection. 
https://asthma.net/living/the-effects-of-coffee-on-asthma/

As I was enjoying my clear lungs this morning, I looked at the window. At a beautiful blue sky, puffy white clouds and the lovely old tree that I have admired for over 20 years outside the piano lab.

Then I had another revelation!  Trees produce oxygen! And I have quite fascinated by the Japanese art of  "Forest Bathing" that I have read about for years. I do indeed always feel revived when I walk amongst the trees!

So on my break today, I took a walk outside. And had some tree therapy.


I got some stares. I often do. I don't mind. Trees have always been my friends!  Almost as close as books.  And when you consider that books are made from paper which comes from trees...well then!




Another connection!

I love when the fatigue cloud lifts. I find so many connections!

Speaking of connections, my computer time is about up at this library. And I am longing for some more fresh air and tree therapy.

So I will bid you adieu. Happy Saturday!

Talk to you tomorrow!

Love,

Zita


p.s. Today's hooping video is below



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