Understand Respiratory system and pranayam to prevent from Covid 19

The respiratory system

Involves intake of the external air containing oxygen and carrying it to the tissue (inspiration) and bringing back carbon dioxide from the tissues for expulsion in the air (expiration). If we compare the air that we breathe in and breathe out during respiration, we can see that we retain oxygen in the body and give out carbon dioxide.

		Inspired air	Expired air
1	Oxygen	20%	16%
2	Carbon dioxide	0.04%	4%
3	Nitrogen & other gases	79%	79%
4	Water vapor	Variable	Saturated

 

The passage through which the air enters and leaves the lungs is known as respiratory passage which consist of the following parts

1.       Nose – nostril, nasal septum, opening of the sinuses, conchae (3 conchae in each nostril), rich network of blood vessels. Nose allows passage for air; it filters the inspired air, warms the air and also gives moisture to the air.

2.       Pharynx – passage for both food and air, it is besides the nose, in throat. It is muscular in structure.

3.       Larynx – passage after Pharynx, there is a lid which covers the larynx called as ‘epiglottis’ which closes the larynx during swallowing action so that the food particles do not enter the trachea. Voice is produced from this area so larynx is also called as ‘voice box’. 

4.       Trachea – starts from base of larynx, it is partly in chest region. It is also called as ‘wind pipe’. It is approx. 10 cm in length. It is made up of 16 to 20 ‘C’ shaped cartilages (structure of small, thin bone) which prevent blockages of trachea. Towards the end, the trachea divides into 2 pipes called as bronchi in thorax.

5.       Bronchi – the bronchi in thorax are 2 large tubes which branch out many times finally into bronchioles (small many tubes). Bronchioles further divide into alveoli (small air sac which connects to blood).

6.       Lungs – these are 2 in number, situated in the thoracic cavity. The lungs are divided into lobes by fissure (deep cuts on the surface). The right lung has 3 lobes whereas the left lung has 2 lobes. The lungs are covered by a thin membrane called ‘pleura’ which is in two layers. In between these layers there is pleural fluid which prevents friction of lungs with the chest wall.

The Lungs receives ‘pulmonary artery’ which brings deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle. This artery branches and forms a capillary network around the air sac (alveoili) through which diffusion of gases takes place. The oxygenated blood from the lungs is carried by pulmonary veins to the left atrium.

7.       Thoracic cavity –

the thorax encloses a cavity called the ‘thoracic cavity’ which has the following boundaries:

In front: sternum and costal cartilage

Behind: 12 thoracic vertebrae

Sides: the ribs and intercostal muscles

Below: the diaphragm

Above: the root of the neck

The sides of the cavity are filled by the lung and in the middle lay the heart.

 

Covid three stages:

1.       Covid only in nose – Time when you inhale contaminated air / if you talk with covid patient and inhale the droplets coming from patient

Recovery time – Is half a day, use steam inhaling, 5-15 minutes thrice a day.

-           Practice Jalneti with lukewarm water

-          Benefits of Jalneti: Jalneti clears the nasal passage; using salt water kills microbes and viruses stuck to the nasal passage. It also opens blockages in the nose.

2.       Covid in throat – Time when virus transfers from nose to throat (in pharynx and larynx area)

Recovery time – 1 day, hot water gargle and warm water to drink

-          Practice Ujjayi Pranayam

3.       Covid in lungs – Coughing and breathlessness, covid transfer from throat to lungs

Recovery time – 4-5 days , hot water gargle, lots of hot water intake, medicines

-          Practice Suryabhedan and Bhastrika Pranayam

-          Bhastrika pranayama : Releases toxins from lungs, supplies more oxygen to the blood stream.

-          Suryabhedan pranayama: Increases body heat, regulates tridoshas kapha,

How to practice Kriya and Pranayama?

1.       Jalneti kriya: you need to add a pinch of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and mix it properly. Transfer the water to the Jalneti pot. Bend forward in a 90-degree angle from the floor, then turn your neck towards the left side and open your mouth to inhale and exhale. Now with the Jalneti pipe , let the water enter your left nostril and allow it to come through the other nostril while breathing from mouth. Continue to do this till the Jalneti pot is empty.

After you have completed this process, do 30 strokes of Kapalbhati in standing position, facing the wash basin to clean your nostril. Perform the same procedure with the other nostril.

 

2.       Ujjayi Pranayam: Sit straight in any meditative or comfortable posture. Now inhale slowly and deeply the nose and while exhaling, contract the air passage (throat) and exhale slowly with a whispering sound. 

 

3.       Bhastrika pranayama: Sit in any meditative or comfortable position on floor, with the back straight and shoulder muscle relaxed. Do 25 strokes of Kapalbhati and one round of anulom vilom pranayam immediately after completing kapalbhati without any break. This is Bhastrika.

 

4.       Suryabhedan Pranayama: Sit in any meditative or meditative posture. Close your left nostril with your index and middle fingers, and inhale with your right nostril. Close your right nostril with your right thumb and exhale through the left nostril. Do 10-15 rounds of inhalation through your right nostril and exhale through left. Suryabhedan pranayama increases heat in body.