EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PULMONARY REHABILITATION in UNDERGROUND SPA
One of the main conditions of effective breath rehabilitation is setting its goals which need to be realistic and possible to achieve by a patient suffering from asthma, allergy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other diseases
Exemplary benefits of the pulmonary rehabilitation:
- Easier and more comfortable breathing achieved through education and training,
- Increasing the level of physical activity,
- Improving effort tolerance,
- Improving patient’s quality of life,
- Preventing aggravation of a disease and hospitalization,
- Increasing the strength and endurance of muscles engaged in breathing,
- Educating patients how to breathe with a prolonged exhalation,
- Enabling easier elimination of the secretion from the respiratory system,
- Increasing the lower rib breathing movement and the use of the diaphragm and stomach muscles during breathing
- Stimulating an effective cough,
- Restoring an ability to perform daily activities,
- Offering an opportunity to peruse hobbies
- Decreasing the level of anxiety and/or depression
- Increasing the level of independence and self-esteem
- Resuming employment
ASTHMA, ALLERGY, COPD TREATMENT VALUE OF SALT CHAMBERS
Benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in a salt chamber placed 135m underground are founded upon:
Physical factors:
Isolation from external stimuli, being cut off light and cosmic radiation, as well as from electromagnetic and sound waves, stable temperature [low: 10°C] and humidity 60%, increase of partial pressure of oxygen due to the difference between barometric pressure on the earth’s surface and barometric pressure underground.
All this is related with particular benefits of the pulmonary rehabilitation for the organism, such as mental rest effecting in lowering the level of adrenalin. Stability of temperature and humidity level prevents bronchial contraction and dehydration of mucous membranes. Improved assimilation of oxygen, with the oxygen’s higher partial pressure, is a multi organic benefit.
Effect of specific composition of air:
In the chemical composition of air which fulfills the underground space, the most important treatment value represents the aerosol which contains particles of salt [NaCl 23,9 mg/m3, KCl 15,2 mg/m3]. The effect of its inhallation is the increased activity of respiratory epithelium’s cilia, which increases the efficiency of the process of mucus-cilia cleansing the airways. Saline aerosol also has anti-inflamatory (overall and local) properties. The air contains also microelements (mainly in the ionic form) which compose rock salt.
Biological characteristics:
The content of macro and microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, organic dust, etc.) is many times lower than on the earth’s surface. This phenonenon can be explained by the long ventillation way for the air, bacteriostatic effect of salt aerosol and acid reaction of the environment with pH=4,5. Such microclimate creates good conditions for full rest of the human immunic system.
PURE UNDERGROUND MICROCLIMATE
The most important factor here is the unique micro-climate with proven bacteriological purity, high relative air humidity (74-90%) and large amount of sodium chloride (24 mg/cubic m), together with magnesium, manganese and calcium present in the air. The underground air does not contain any dirt or dust typical for the natural environment outside the mine.
Constant and stable temperature (approx. 13°C) and air humidity (average humidity is 70%), not depending on the outside air conditions.
Very high air purity, especially regarding its microbiologic aspect (because of aseptic properties of salt) – microorganisms have no proper conditions for breeding and growth; lack of air pollution: no dust, gas contamination, allergens, bacteria.
Chemical stimulus: presence of natural salt aerosol in the air
Beneficial for the human organism air ionization (electromagnetic field of the atmosphere) which is favorable for wellbeing, improves the psychic and physiological performance, has good influence on the performance of lungs and heart, stimulates oxidation processes in the organism and increases immunity. Air ionization inside the mine is greater than ionization on the surface and can be place within ranges of air ionization which are optimal for the organism, which is due to high purity of underground air.
Lack of external sources of noise (too much noise causes tiredness, irritation, stress, headache and vertigo, and also increases blood pressure); acoustic conditions are very beneficial for conducting treatment of asthma, allergy, COPD ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), recurrent nose, pharynx and larynx conditions, chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.