Skip to main content

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



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 347: My Big Fat Greek Salad!!

I have perfected the art of making a Greek salad!  I have made two huge bowls in the last week. My kinds rave. Essentially the secret is f vegetables , good feta cheese, Greek olives and a homemade dressing made with light, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar,  and oregano. Here is my recipe: MY BIG FAT GREEK SALAD Serves 4 hungry adults 4 cups greens (I used a "spring mix" from Fred Meyer) 2 cucumbers 6 roma tomatoes one small red onion 1 cup cubed feta cheese 1 cup Greek olives (pitted) Get out a big bowl. Peel a clove of garlic, cut in half and rub it over the interior of the bowl.  Wash the lettuce if it is not prewashed and packaged like mine was.  Dry the leaves, and tear into bite sized pieces. Throw into the big bowl. Note: Romaine lettuce is good to include in the mix, because it is hearty. Peel the cucumbers and dice. Add to bowl. Cut the roma tomatoes in half and squeeze out the seeds (otherwise they make th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Two, Day 307: Chasing Away The Gloomy Weather...with Music and a Smile! :)

It seems to me that most of the city is depressed, tired and sick. I still have my low grade snuffly nose, along with sneezing, and itching eyes.  Low energy. It is nice to know I am not the only one. Misery loves company, don't you know! Even through the gloom, I had an enjoyable day.  I told myself several times that I really am a lucky woman. My kids are grown, I'm going to be a GRANDMA, and I love my work. My church job is a nice secure little job and it seems I am quite needed there.  I am still learning the ropes. But I am enjoying it. Meeting new people. And best of all, I have only a 1 1/2 minute commute (by foot!). I have a cozy little room in a household full of wonderful laid back people.  People who love animals and music. But best of all, my afternoons are filled with music. I basically get on the bus and travel about town, sitting at pianos, visiting with students, who are like my family. We talk. They play the piano for me. I offer pointe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Three, Day 110: I Like Change, But How Do I Help the Suffering?

I woke up in a bit of a panic this morning. I had planned on getting to the track by 6:30 a.m., because I thought today was the first day of school. You see, the public is not allowed to use the track when school is in session. Understandably so. But alas, I overslept! I still headed out with my hoop, hoping it was before school hours at 7:30 a.m. And I breathed a sigh of relief. The school looked vacant. And only one solitary jogger with her solitary dog was present. I got busy in case the kids were due to arrive. Got a nice hoop workout in. No sign of children as I walked back to the house. So I did what I should have done in advance. I consulted Google. And most happy am I - North Clackamas School District does not start back to school until September 6th! Portland Public Schools start today. But the elementary school next door to the track lists "student hours" as 7:45 - 2:00 p.m. So I really am going to have to get an earlier start next week. I am aiming...
Post a Comment
Read more