Respiratory failure is pretty serious, coz it means your lungs can’t keep up with giving oxygen (O2) to your body or clearing out carbon dioxide (CO2) and it gets complicated from there. There’s two main types: hypoxemic, where there’s not enough oxygen in the blood, and hypercapnic, where CO2 levels go up coz the lungs aren’t removing it effectively. With hypoxemic, you might see symptoms like shortness of breath, fast heart rate, confusion - due to low O2. Hypercapnic can add fatigue or even headaches since high CO2 messes with brain function too.
In Ayurveda, dealing with respiratory health is all about balance. You know, doshas and all. When it involves lungs, Kapha dosha plays a big part coz it’s about structure and can pile up mucus if it’s out of whack. Herbs like Vasa (Malabar Nut), Pippali (Long Pepper) and Licorice (Yashtimadhu) are known to support lung function. Vasa supports clearing the respiratory tract, while Pippali can improve lung capacity and acts on digestion too, and Licorice helps soothe and clear out excess Kapha.
Breathing exercises! Definitely, Pranayama can do wonders, stuff like Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing) or Kapalbhati to boost lung power and clear out toxins. But you gotta do them regularly, not just once in a blue moon. Lifestyle is huge too - avoid pollutants, don’t smoke, and a big one people miss, stay hydrated coz it thins out mucus, makin’ it easier for lungs.
Diet-wise, Ayurveda steers you away from heavy, mucus-forming foods, so like fried, dairy-heavy stuff. Lighter meals with warm soups, spices like ginger or turmeric can aid digestion, keeping Agni (our digestive fire) strong and balanced, reducing mucus production. Every body is different tho, so adjustments might vary. Those who’ve used Ayurveda usually notice changes with consistent effort - it’s not magic, but it can really enhance respiratory function if you stick to it!
