Lifestyle Modification in Respiratory Tract Inflammation:  Persian Medicine Perspective

Hanieh Tahermohammadi; Mahdi Hosseini; Mohammad Mahdi Bahrami; Mohammad Ali Tahermohammadi; Elham Ebrahimi; Narjes Mosavari; Ali Abdolahinia; Babak Daneshfard

doi:10.18502/tim.v9i3.16538

Hanieh Tahermohammadi Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahdi Hosseini Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Mahdi Bahrami Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Ali Tahermohammadi Department of Radiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Elham Ebrahimi Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Narjes Mosavari Network of Interdisciplinarity in Neonates and Infants (NINI), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
Ali Abdolahinia Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Babak Daneshfard Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tim.v9i3.16538

Keywords: Lifestyle; Airway; Respiratory tract; Persian Medicine

Abstract

Excessive inflammation in the respiratory system could lead to life-threatening conditions. This situation is usually caused by irritants, allergens, pathogens, toxins, and pollutants, leading to airway inflammation. On the other hand, an inappropriate lifestyle can cause inflammation in different parts of the body including the respiratory tract. This study aimed to explore the recommended lifestyle modification for respiratory tract inflammation from the Persian medicine viewpoint in light of current evidence. In this review, first, we looked for lifestyle factors effective on the respiratory tract in Persian medicine sources. Then, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched to find evidence about the mentioned factors, using the following keywords: psychological stress, sleep, food, exercise, gut, constipation, cold, and airway or respiratory tract. In line with Persian medicine, current literature confirms that psychological stress, intensive physical activity, allergic foods, and cold ambient trigger the beginning of the inflammation process in the respiratory system. It could happen through different pathways such as downregulation of Th1 cytokines expression, cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP) synthesizing, mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) overexpression, activating transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) channels, inducing a neutrophilic type of inflammation and damaging the airway epithelium. Mild exercise, well-being of the gut microbiota status, and reduction of sleep duration have beneficial effects on the regression of inflammation. Lifestyle modification could play an important role in the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract inflammation. Future clinical investigations should be conducted to evaluate their effects.