Antiemetics: definition

What Is Abscess Formation Causing Lung Cavities?

[dropcap]A bscess formation and subsequent lung cavities that develop from necrosis (death) of affected lung tissue constitute severe life-threatening respiratory disease  of the lung.

Q: What is the difference between lung abscess and lung cavity?

A: Lung abscess is characterized by localized pus formation in the lung that develops from uncontrolled infection from encapsulated bacteria such as streptococcus pneumoniae and klebsiella. The capsules that surround bacteria protect them from phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils, white blood cells that are specialized for this normal defensive action. Phagocytosis is a seek and destroy mission.

Lung cavities are holes that form from dead tissue during the destructive abscess development, which involves significant inflammation and edema of the area. Lung cavities often cause death of the patient. The outlook is very poor.

What Is Abscess Formation Causing Lung Cavities In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

• Abscess formation vausing lung cavities is a severe pulmonary complication of celiac disease.
• Next to malignancy, pulmonary abscess was found to be the commonest cause of death in the celiac population.¹
• A study evaluating the occurrence of lung abscesses or cavities in 7 out of 600 patients with celiac disease seen over a 20 year span demonstrated that the development of respiratory symptoms should be regarded as a potentially serious and life-threatening event in middle-aged celiac patients. Six of the 7 patients died. Staphylococcal infection, Klebsiella pneumoniae, bronchial carcinoma and previous tuberculosis accounted for the cavities in 4 patients. In the 3 other patients a definite cause could not be identified.² 

How Prevalent is Lung Abcess In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

A study by Stevens et al. found 1.2% prevalence of lung cavities or abscess in patients with celiac disease.¹

What Are The Symptoms Of Lung Abscess?

Lung cavities or abscess are marked by these symptoms:

• Dyspnea (shortness of breath).
• Fatigue.
• Lethargy.
• Cough.
• Night sweats.
• Irregular fever.
• Purulent (pus) sputum.
• Hyposplenism and malnutrition commonly occur.

How Does Lung Abscess Develop?

• Lung  abscess results from encapsulated bacterial infection under the conditions of a dysfunctional immune response and malnutrition commonly ocurring in celiac disease, especially iron and protein deficiencies.
• Hyposplenism if present greatly contributes to bacterial infection and abscess development.
• The pneumonia vaccine is preventive of lung infection.

Does Lung Abscess Respond To Gluten-Free Diet?

Studies are inadequate to determine effect of gluten free diet on celiac disease-related asbcess.

6 Steps To Improve Lung Abscess:

• [dropcap]1 Remove the Trigger. Maintain a Strict, Nutritious Gluten Free Diet:

[box type=”shadow” ]Treatment.  Healing the infection requires both medical therapy for the lungs and healing the gut at the same time to improve both lung infection and the ability of the gut to absorb missing nutrients, especially protein and iron.

• Gut health is the foundation to restore ALL health. Restored health will enable you to maintain a strict gluten free diet, just as other life tasks will be easier.
• A strict gluten free diet means removing 100% of wheat, barley, rye and oats from the diet.
• Cutting out bread and other obvious sources of gluten is not good enough for recovery. Even 1/8th teaspoon of flour or bread crumb is enough to sustain the inflammation that is damaging your small intestine, causing increased permeability (leaky gut) and allowing undigested gluten to enter your body where it can damage structures and function, and instigate immune inflammatory responses.

Correct Your Individual Nutritional Needs.

• Eat foods that can replenish missing nutrients. Find them under NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES.
• Take nutritional supplements as needed. Find them under NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES.

Recovery for Newly Diagnosed. Inflammation subsides within a week and the  absorbing cells that make up the surface lining of your small intestine are better able to function.

• Intestinal lining cells are replaced every 5 days. The healing process is like sunburn where the damaged surface layer of skin sloughs off and is replaced with new normal cells.
• Leaky gut normally resolves in two month after starting a gluten free diet and brings about a big improvement in health. Improvement in intestinal permeability precedes morphometric recovery (cell appearance and structure) of the small intestine in celiac disease.³
• The intestinal lining may take up to a year to heal.[/box]

• [dropcap]2  Reduce Inflammation. Foods to Eat and Foods Not to Eat:

Because gluten is inflammatory, eliminate OTHER inflammatory foods from your diet to reduce an additive effect to gluten. At the same time, try to eat foods that reduce inflammation (anti-inflammatory).

[box type=”shadow” ]Here Are Major Inflammatory Food Types That Reduce Healing:

• Damaging Foods. In susceptible persons, includes corn, dairy (cow), and soy. Lactose, the sugar in any animal milk disrupts intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁴
• Allergenic Foods. Includes foods that trigger the immune sytem to produce IgE antibodies. Allergy testing is the usual way to discover these offending foods.
• Shelf Stable Processed Foods. Includes any that contain additives and preservatives. Look for them on the nutrition label of the box or package. Additives and preservatives also disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁴
• Fats. Limit deep fried foods, trans-fats, saturated fats (animal fat/butter), and EXCESSIVE omega-6 fatty acid oils like corn oil. Rancid fats, sodium caprate (a medium chain fat), and sucrose monester fatty acid (a food grade surfactant) induce significant disruption of the intestinal barrier that causes leaky gut.⁴.
• Excessive Refined White Flours (bran layer removed). Includes products made from them such as cookies, bread, cakes, pies. Bran contains the vitamins and minerals that metabolize grains and slows the otherwise rapid entry of sugar from their digestion into the bloodstream. Also disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁴
• Refined Sugars.  Includes white sugar, corn fructose and high fructose corn syrup.
• Certain Spices. Includes paprika and cayenne pepper which disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁴
• Alcohol and Caffeine. Disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.⁴[/box]

[box type=”shadow” ]Here Are Important Anti-Inflammatory Food Types to Promote Health:

• Fruits. Contain ample amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals which are naturally occuring components in plants that detoxify toxins, carcinogens (reducing the risk by 50%) and mutagens.
• Non-Starchy Vegetables. Support intestinal integrity and provide ample amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Includes lettuce, kale, onion, broccoli, garlic, and others.
• High Quality Complex Carbohydrates. Provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber while boosting serotonin levels to help you relax and feel calm. Includes whole grains, legumes, and root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, red beets, and others.
• Antioxidants. Protect the body from inflammatory oxidant molecules that continually occur and help us handle stress and reduce irritability. Includes vitamin C-containing foods such as lemon, grapefruit, apricot, Brussels sprouts and strawberries, and others. Also, includes vitamin E-containing foods such as nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, and others. Cocoa is good, too.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Balance opposing omega-6 fatty acids and bad fats. Fish sources includes tuna, salmon, cod, and others. Plants sources include flax, chia seeds, canola oil, and others.
• Probiotics. Supply normal microbes needed for colon health and health of the body such as these fermented foods: yogurt, kefir, and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.
• Prebiotics/ High Fiber Foods.  Food with fiber keeps our population of colonic microbes healthy.
• Protective Herbs and Spices.  See below #6 below for examples.[/box]

• [dropcap]3  Information Sheet You Can Take to Your Doctor or Other Health Professional:

Click here.

• [dropcap]4  Manage Your Medications Safely:

[box type=”shadow” ]

Certain prescription drugs cause iron and/or protein deficiencies which predipose to lung infection. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about this possible adverse effect. Do not stop prescribed medications without supervision.

This is not a complete listing.

CHOLESTEROL DRUGS

• Colestid® and Questran® deplete Iron and others.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES  disrupt intestinal permeability.

• Aspirin and Salicylates deplete Iron and others.

ANTACIDS / ULCER MEDICATIONS

• Pepcid®, Tagamet®, Zantac® deplete Iron and others.
• Magnesium and Aluminum Antacid preparations (Gaviscon®, Maalox®, Mylanta®) deplete Iron and others.
• Alka Seltzer®, Baking Soda deplete Protein when taken with food.[/box]

• [dropcap]5 Nutritional Supplements To Help Correct Deficiencies:

[box type=”shadow” ]

• Multi-vitamin/mineral supplement once a day giving 100% (not thousands). This is a safe dose, but always check with your doctor to avoid interactions with medications.
• Ferrous fumarate or as prescribed by doctor based on blood studies to determine iron needs. Do not take with other supplements because of interactions.  Always check with your doctor when taking supplements to avoid interactions with medications.
• Probiotics that include lactobacillus and acidophilus strains are necessary to offset the damaging effects (in the digestive tract and in females, the vaginal tract) of antibiotics used in the treatment of lung infection.  This applies to intravenous route of administration also.

Storage Note: Store container tightly sealed, away from heat, moisture and direct light to avoid loss of potency. That is, in a safe kitchen cabinet – not in the bathroom or on the kitchen table.[/box]

• [dropcap]6 Manage Natural Remedies: 

[box type=”shadow” ]Hydration Is Necessary In Fever:

• Eight glasses of water are recommended per day unless there is a contraindication such as kidney or heart disease. The Institute of Medicine recommends approximately 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of total water, from all beverages and foods, each day for women and 3.7 liters (125 ounces) daily of total water for men.
• If you are thirsty, drink water. Add fresh, squeezed lemon to water. Lemon is anti-inflammatory, alkalizing and provides vitamin C.
• Hydration Test: Urine should be pale yellow. Fingertips should be plump, without pruning but this may not be reliable when fingers are swollen with edema. Lips should be plump, without puckering. The feeling of thirst can be unreliable.
• What is wrong with soda, coffee, tea, and alcohol? These drinks are dehydrating, increase acid, and deplete nutrients.[/box]

[box type=”shadow” ]Carminatives. The following  anti-inflammatory plant sources called carminitives help heal the digestive tract. They also tone the digestive muscles which improves peristalsis, thus aiding in the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestine to relieve digestive colic and gastric discomfort.

Carminative Food Remedies:

• Raspberry.
• Carrot is also a cleansing digestive tonic.
• Grape is also bile stimulating and a cleansing remedy for sluggish digestion and laxative.
• Redbeets also stimulate and improve digestion and are easily digested.
• Cabbage also stimulates and improves digestion and is also a liver decongestant.
• Lettuce also stimulates and improves digestion and is also an alterative, meaning it improves the function of organs involved with the digestion and excretion of waste products to bring about a gradual change.
• Potatoes are antispasmodic (due to atropine like properties) and a liver remedy.

Carminative Herb Remedies:

• Sage is also a digestive, astringent, bile stimulant and energy tonic that heals the mucosa.  Drink as tea or use in cooking.
• Chamomile, lemon balm, and fennel, (as a tea) also help relieve nervous tension.
• Parsley also relieves indigestion.
• Rosemary as a tea and in cooking also is a nervous system tonic for stress and fatigue, bile stimulant, and can relieve headaches and indigestion.
• Thyme is also soothing remedy useful for stimulating digestion of rich, fatty foods.

Carminative Spice Remedies:

• Cloves are also antispasmodic.
• Nutmeg is also useful for indigestion.
• Ginger.[/box]

[box type=”shadow” ]Exercise Helps Even If Bedridden:

Exercise improves circulation and rids the body of toxins.

• Stretching improves flexibilty. Read more about Exercise and Fitness.

Note: Exercise is important, but the amount and type of exercise undertaken depends on your health. Your first priority is to heal. [/box]

What Do Medical Research Studies Tell About Lung Abscess in Celiac Disease?

RESEARCH STUDY SUMMARIES

“Lung cavities in patients with celiac disease.” This study evaluating the occurrence of lung abcesses or cavities in 7 out of 600 patients with celiac disease seen over a 20 year span demonstrated that the development of respiratory symptoms should be regarded as a potentially serious and life-threatening event in middle-aged celiac patients.

Six of the 7 patients died. Staphylococcal infection, Klebsiella pneumoniae, bronchial carcinoma and previous TB accounted for the cavities in 4 patients. In the 3 other patients a definite cause could not be identified. Lung abcesses should be added to the list of respiratory diseases associated with celiac disease.⁵ 

Sources:

1. Stevens FM, Connolly CE, Murray JP, McCarthy CF. Lung cavities in patients with celiac disease. Digestion. 1990;46(2):72-80. [↩] [↩]
2. Stevens FM, Connolly CE, Murray JP, McCarthy CF. Lung cavities in patients with celiac disease. Digestion. 1990;46(2):72-80. [↩]
3. Cummins AG, Thompson FM, Butler RN, et al. Improvement in intestinal permeability precedes morphometric recovery of the small intestine in coeliac disease. Clinical Science. Apr 2001;100(4):379-86. [↩]
4. Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2003;18:479-91. [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
5. Stevens FM, Connolly CE, Murray JP, McCarthy CF. Lung cavities in patients with celiac disease. Digestion. 1990;46(2):72-80. [↩]