SPECIAL REPORT Respiratory recovery

Breath is synonymous with life. You can potentially survive weeks without food, days without fluid but only a matter of minutes without air. In 2020–21 an estimated 30 per cent of Australians were suffering from chronic respiratory infections, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Lung disease is also the second leading cause of death according to the Lung Foundation Australia. Conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), long COVID and pneumonia can create a slew of symptoms for some. Their impact expands beyond respiratory issues such as cough, chest tightness, mucus, pain, shortness of breath and wheezing. Respiratory conditions can impact everything including your appetite, circulation, cognition, energy, immunity, sleep and organ health. Dr Arthur C Guyton connects every condition to poor respiration: “All chronic pain, suffering,…