Database of diseases - Flu and cold

  

Sudden subcooling of the body due to the wind piercing clothing, rain sipping - these are typical circumstances during which immunity to cold and flu viruses decreases. The temperature corresponds best to 33-34 ° C, which is exactly the one that prevails in human nasal passages, while the ideal environment for their development is the nasal mucosa, to which they possess the possessive affinity.


NOSE SELF CLEANING

The protection against cold and influenza viruses is the specific structure of the nose and throat:

- sticky mucus inside the airways in which the viruses and other microbes fall into the trap;
- ciliate epithelium which expels it on the inside;
- "architecture" of the inside of the nose
- sneezing reflex, etc.
The infection becomes possible when viruses manage to overcome these and other protective barriers.


A sticky virus trap

The most important shield against viruses is the mucous membrane of the airways, or more precisely - a sticky mucus lining the airways in which microorganisms get stuck. In addition, most of the mechanical impurities, including dusts, dust and plant pollen, settle on the nasal mucous membrane, so that they do not reach the lungs. The mucous membrane (abbreviation: nasal mucous membrane) of the nose is well-prepared for it consisting of 3 layers: epithelium, including very important for the self-cleaning of the airways of the epithelial (ciliary) epithelium, basal membrane, submucosa. The mentioned epithelial epithelium is highly specialized, which consists of three types of cells. These are basal cells, goblet cells and quail or ungulate cylindrical cells. The submucosa also contains various cells: serous and sero-mucous nasal glands, nerve fibers and a complex system of blood vessels.



Cilia movement removes mucus and germs

The cilia of the epithelial sinuses nose and throat moving around 1000 times per minute, remove the mucus from the airways along with the impurities stuck at a speed of 3-25 mm / min. The physiologically fit "mucociliary" apparatus effectively removes cold and flu viruses without allowing them to infect the system.
 

The architecture of the nose allows self-cleaning.

The correct shape of the nasal cavity produces specific turbulence - air turbulence. As a result, contaminants inhaled together with the air hit the sticky layer of mucus covering the epithelium of the nose and stick to it. Particles larger than 10 microns - they settle in 90%, just behind the nasal vestibule, in the front part of the nasal cavities, and smaller - nearly half stick to the mucus a bit further, at the level of the inferior turbinate.


Nose cycle

The nasal cycle is a physiological mechanism that guarantees a trouble-free, "lifelong" shield against viruses and other foreign bodies entering the nose. It involves the alternation of harmless mucosal edema - once and once in the nasal cavity. The physiologically controlled time of edema redirects the air flow alternately - once in one, once in a second nasal cavity. It provides the necessary respite for the regeneration of half of the protective mechanisms - "on the run", without switching them off. 1 nasal cycle lasts from 3 to 8 hours. and is present in 8 out of 10 healthy and properly breathing people. This several-hour "downtime" of one nasal cavity is essential for the regeneration of the respiratory epithelium after a period of intense work and its return to functional activities.


Air heating

The mucous membrane of the nose and sinuses also acts as a heat exchanger between usually colder air and blood. This prepares the air for the lungs at the right temperature and humidity.In practice, this means that you need to moisten about 10,000 a day. liters of air up to 95% humidity. The efficiency of air heating during breathing through the nose indicates that in the ambient temperature range from -8 to + 40 ° C, the air at the level of the nostrils at the back always has a temperature of 32-34 ° C.







SELF-ASSEMBLY MECHANISM OF THE FOOT-SHEAR MECHANISM

Mucus treatment plant for the throat and nose

The mucus covering the respiratory tract consists of two layers. The first layer is thick and sticky - located on the surface of mucus. In this layer - as we already know - the germs and impurities getting into the nose get stuck. The second bottom layer is rare. In this rare layer epithelial cilia are submerged
- waving like microscopic oars. Rarity of mucus enables a rapid movement of "crook-oars" - which gradually, but constantly exhales the superficial layer of thick, sticky mucus on the outside.


Cilia movement removes mucus and germs

Cilia of the epithelial epithelium, moving about 1000 times per minute, remove mucus from the nasal cavity along with the stained impurities at a speed of 3-25 mm / min. The physiologically fit "mucociliary" apparatus effectively removes cold and flu viruses without allowing them to infect the system.
 

Figure 1
Let's look more closely at the functions of the ciliated cells under the microscope

The nasal cavity is dominated by the aforementioned cylindrical snap epithelium, including ciliated cylindrical cells - ciliary cells. On the surface of each ciliary cell there are about 40 small cilia - visible only under the microscope, capable of making wavy movements and "removing" foreign bodies, allergens, dust, germs from the nose. Between them there are many times more (250-400) - even smaller cilia (Figure 1 in red), which support larger movements with their movements. Both larger and smaller cilia are visible only under the microscope. Millions of "waving" cilia are a "broom" that does not sweep dry. They are immersed in a sticky mucus, which is infested with microbes and other foreign bodies. The mucus is secreted by the sera-mucous glands, goblet cells, etc.




The sero-mucous glands spread throughout the nasal cavity affect the proper viscosity of the superior layer of mucus.

In a healthy person the secretion of these glands, like flypaper "overpowers" depositing microscopic particles of germs, allergens, dust, etc. However, it should be remembered that the supply of mucus composition is also secretion of goblet cells, tear glands and blood vessels. These specific "additives" secretions can normalize or destabilize the leptic properties and composition of mucus.


The serous glands concentrated in the front part of the nasal cavity profusely produce "rare" serous secretion

Dozens of serous glands located in the front of the nose give off such a profuse secretion that it allows the removal of large particles of impurities.


Attention smokers!

Cigarette smoke, as the years go by and thousands of cigarettes smoked, gradually destroys the ciliary epithelium. It disturbs the self-cleaning of the airways using the mucociliary device. Under the influence of tobacco toxins inflammation develops. And if the mucositis persists for a long time, we call it chronic bronchitis or chronic bronchopulmonary disease. Long-lasting inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat) deepens mucosal degeneration and disrupts the activity of glands secreting mucus, causes overreactivity to irritants, etc. All this greatly facilitates colonization of viruses to bacteria and bacteria.

Ed. Edward Ozga Michalski, MA

   More information:
Frequent cold virus infections
Individual resistance to cold viruses
The immune system of a young child
Self-amplification of immunity in infants and young children
Natural strengthening of immunity in infants and young children
Diet and immunity

Literature:
1 / Cold and its treatment - prof. dr hab. med. Andrzej Danysz, A. Kwieciński, Nowe Leki, 1996
2 / Treatment of colds - Piotr Albrecht, Andrzej Radzikowski from the Pediatrics Clinic of the Medical Academy in Warsaw
3 / Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses in children; dr n. med. Jarosław Wysocki, medicine med. Adam Chusteczki; - "Służba Zdrowia" No. 90-93 / 2001
4 / Medycyna Praktyczna 2002/07: Guidelines - Allergic rhinitis and its effect on asthma
5 / Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat in children - prof. dr hab. med Grażyna Niedzielska; Medycyna Rodzinna 8 (4/1999)
6 / Influenza vaccines - Statement by prof. dr hab. med. Lidi Brydak, lapharma.info 2002.
7 / Attitudes of Medical Microbiology - PZWL, 1994
8. Inflammation of the mucosa of the nose and throat in children - prof. dr hab. med Grażyna Niedzielska from the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Medical Academy in Lublin; Medycyna Rodzinna 8 (4/1999)