Psychosomatics of bronchitis in children and adults

It can be extremely important to comprehend how stress and emotions affect our health, particularly in relation to bronchitis in both adults and children. The study of psychosomatics looks into the possible emotional and mental causes of physical illnesses. This method implies that the onset and severity of bronchitis may be significantly influenced by stress, anxiety, and other psychological problems.

Emotional strain in kids can occasionally show up as physical symptoms like bronchitis, which can impair their respiratory system. Adults may also get bronchitis that is made worse by a lot of stress or emotional strain. Understanding these relationships can improve the way the illness is managed and treated.

This article will explore the role that psychosomatic factors play in bronchitis and offer suggestions for improving health outcomes by addressing emotional well-being. Understanding these links can help develop more comprehensive and successful preventative and treatment plans.

General information

The term "bronchitis" refers to an inflammatory illness affecting the lining of the bronchi. The inflammatory process usually starts in the throat or nasopharynx, which is the upper part of the respiratory tract, and progresses slowly down to the bronchi. In order to prevent damage to the lung tissue, the bronchi in the body carry air that has already been sufficiently warmed and humidified to the lungs. Breathing becomes difficult, the bronchial lining’s conductivity is compromised, and if the infection spreads even lower—into the lungs themselves—there is even a chance of pneumonia.

The following are typical clinical symptoms of pneumonia: A child or adult may begin with a dry cough that eventually turns wet, raises fever, becomes difficult to breathe, causes shortness of breath, causes severe general weakness, causes headaches, and disrupts sleep. In children, the gag reflex is frequently triggered in the context of a painful cough.

One may have acute or chronic bronchitis. With prompt and appropriate treatment, the acute form (catarrhal) goes away in a few weeks and the bronchi regenerate in roughly a month. In the chronic form of the illness, flare-ups alternate with remissions, and inflammation is always present. Any case of bronchitis that persists for longer than three months is deemed to be chronic. Gradually, the bronchi’s structure deteriorates in addition to their ability to function.

Idiopathic bronchitis is a different subject. It is linked to severe breathing difficulties and bronchial swelling; frequently, part of the bronchi clog with phlegm.

Traditional medicine views bacterial respiratory tract infections and infections that have co-occurred with viral diseases (like ARVI) as the primary causes of bronchitis.

It is thought that smoking, living in areas with extremely polluted air, having weakened immunity, and certain hereditary factors all contribute to the disease.

Psychosomatic causes

While psychosomatics acknowledges the official medical explanations for the causes of bronchitis in adults and children, it approaches the issue from a slightly different angle by considering a person’s mental state in addition to their anatomy and physiology.

The bronchi are the passageways that carry air into the lungs, so knowing what they do is essential to understanding why someone has bronchitis and why it is difficult to treat with conventional drugs. The air that is inhaled gets warmer and more humid along the way. Because the bronchi naturally expand and contract, they can also control the amount of air that enters the lungs.

This special capacity of the bronchi, which is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system, is intimately linked to an individual’s mental and emotional well-being. In psychosomatics, the bronchi represent life-giving energies.

A person’s bronchi relax and start to function at half capacity if they are melancholy and passive in life. The bronchi’s lumens are constricted, breathing becomes shallower, and there’s a greater chance that the bronchial mucosa will become inflamed.

Psychosomatics claim that bronchi serve as "mediators" between an individual’s perceived personal world and the world outside of him. The respiratory system’s health is immediately impacted by any issues with the two worlds’ interaction. A person typically does not experience breathing difficulties if he or she accepts the world, the people in it, and the events with a positive and kind attitude.

Individuals who have heightened sensitivity to external stimuli, low self-esteem, or perceive them as a threat to their safety tend to breathe only into their chest, which can psychologically narrow the bronchi, disrupt the lumen, cause blockage, and ultimately lead to bronchitis.

Psychotherapists have long noted that individuals who prefer to keep their doors closed to the outside world are more likely to suffer from respiratory diseases. They keep themselves to themselves, making sure that nothing or no one from the outside can cross the boundaries they have set for themselves. When the parasympathetic nervous system detects danger outside, it narrows the bronchi’s lumen, increasing the risk of illness. Most frequently, obstructive bronchitis is linked to a persistent, almost panic-inducing fear for one’s own safety.

This is the reason why children and teenagers are more likely than adults to get bronchitis, and the majority of vulnerable and impressionable adults also have a tendency to dramatize their own experiences as well as the events and actions of others.

When a child first starts kindergarten or school, they may react to bronchitis by feeling like they need to adjust to a new society. First, the baby might feel uncomfortable or even angry at his parents for putting him in a strange group. This will physically show up as a build-up of phlegm, which the child can only get rid of by coughing.

When a child has significant complaints and significant challenges in communicating with others, they tend to produce more sputum than they can cough up, which can lead to an inflammatory process in their bronchi.

Adult cases of bronchitis are frequently the result of egotism, sloth, and resistance to social pressures. Adults suffering from long-term bronchitis tend to be very laid-back individuals who value their own self-worth and want to absolve themselves of any major decision-making responsibilities. They find it convenient when others make the decisions because they can assign blame to them if something goes wrong.

Such people are afraid and become rejective at the mere notion of controlling everything and doing things their way. They have a very hard time adjusting to anything new, including new technology or a new boss at work. The therapist observes that the patient, who visits the office with impressive regularity when their chronic bronchitis flares up again, only breathes half the capacity of their lungs and typically breathes very shallowly and superficially.

Opinion of researchers

According to psychologist and psychosomatics researcher Louise Hay, family conflicts and arguments are the primary cause of bronchitis.These situations make a child feel uncomfortable and make them want to isolate themselves from the outside world, which can result in long-term chronic illnesses like bronchitis.

The psychosomatic significance of the bronchi is closely linked to family, relatives, and the family tree, according to Canadian writer and psychologist Liz Burbo (the bronchi resemble a tree). She is certain that a child’s perception of what is going on in the family is the primary cause of childhood bronchitis. Adults who can’t stand what’s going on in the family but lack the strength or courage to openly confront, voice their opinions, take a stand, or rebel against these circumstances are often afflicted with either acute or chronic bronchitis.

Psychotherapist Valery Sinelnikov believes that the child’s parents’ extreme authoritarianism is the primary cause of childhood bronchitis, but in reality, his relatives stifle the child’s personality, making it impossible for him to form and express his own opinions. In this instance, the child’s speech of protest is formed but not expressed, and it emerges as a cough. Negative words that have grown in his mind. The psychology of the illness suggests that processes are reversible; removing the underlying cause reduces symptoms and promotes full recovery.

Knowing the psychosomatics of bronchitis helps one to appreciate how psychological and emotional variables can affect bronchitis in both adults and children. The symptoms of bronchitis are frequently made worse by stress, anxiety, and unresolved emotional problems. We may be able to better control and possibly even lower the frequency and intensity of bronchitis episodes by addressing these underlying psychological factors.

Understanding how children’s emotional health affects their physical health is especially important. Reducing symptoms and enhancing general health can be accomplished through establishing a supportive atmosphere, encouraging candid communication, and practicing effective stress management. In a similar vein, realizing that stress and bronchitis are related in adults can result in more all-encompassing treatment plans that incorporate both medical and psychological assistance.

All things considered, combining psychological counseling with conventional medical care can provide a more comprehensive approach to treating bronchitis. It is possible to improve health outcomes and quality of life for people of all ages by taking into account the emotional aspects of this condition.

Thought of primarily as a physical ailment, emotional stress can occasionally cause or exacerbate bronchitis in both adults and children. The study of psychosomatics focuses on how emotional conditions such as anxiety, unresolved anger, or long-term stress can cause physical symptoms like bronchitis. By emphasizing both medical care and emotional well-being, prevention and treatment of the illness can be achieved more successfully with an understanding of these emotional triggers. Through addressing the underlying emotional causes, people can recover more effectively and have fewer recurrences.

Video on the topic

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