Why Breathing Salt Water is Beneficial to Cystic Fibrosis Patients
When Ryeson was 2 weeks old he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), “a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time.” via the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s website.
Essentially this means that his body cannot fight off sticky mucus that we all have in our bodies as much as others can. So that sticky mucus sticks to a CF patient’s lungs and creates a whole set of issues with breathing, etc.
Cystic Fibrosis Treatments
As part of his Cystic Fibrosis treatments starting at one month he had to start doing twice-daily breathing therapy that involves a nebulizer filled with Albuterol to help expand his lungs, and then a Saline solution to help break up any built up sticky mucus in his lungs.
At six-months he also started using a shaky vest. This is what we call it, but the idea is that Vest Therapy is another way to clear excess mucus from the lungs.
In addition, whenever he eats he has to take enzymes to help him digest his food properly so he can grow. CF patient’s also deal with pancreatic issues.
From the very start of Ryerson’s life, we tried to make it a point to also go to the ocean as much as possible. We lived in Sonoma County with the Sonoma Coast only 45 minutes away, so we went about every other month. Rye’s grandparents live in a Long Beach suburb so every time we would take a road trip to LA we would definitely make a stop at the warmer beaches in Southern California.
Why? Well, it is because:
Salt Water is Beneficial to Cystic Fibrosis Patients
For individuals with CF, getting in the salty water is more than just fun. It is also an important part of their Cystic Fibrosis treatments. In fact, the Saline (aka salt water) Ryeson uses daily as part of his breathing treatments has a direct correlation with saltwater *AND* surfing.
“Doctors in Australia noticed that surfers with CF had significantly better lung function compared to other CF patients.
They associated this observation with regular saltwater inhalation, which acts like saline instillation and helps rehydrate the airways. This natural saline therapy loosens accumulated, stubborn mucus and facilitates clearance.
Years ago, this prompted the formulation of a hypertonic saline solution, which today is an essential component of CF patients’ daily regimen.” - via Lung Disease News Toda’s article, CF Patients Benefit From Saline Therapy Naturally Through Surfing.
That’s right - Cystic Fibrosis Patients who spent their days surfing off the coast of Australia had healthier lungs than other people with CF in the area. And not that long ago, Saline was added to the daily Cystic Fibrosis treatments for thousands of people with CF. 💙
This breakthrough in nebulizer treatments has led to longer lifespans for cystic fibrosis patients.
And kids who start with Saline treatments in their nebulizer, as Ryeson has done, don’t get sick as often because the continuous salt air treatments cleanses their lungs.
In fact, when Ryeson is sick or my husband or I feel a tickle in the back of our throats — we up our daily nebulizer treatments to three or four times a day. Just to make sure to flush out any bad germs.
Because of the pandemic, we haven’t made it to LA county beaches in a while. But our family lives in the East Bay, and we try to make it out to beaches along the San Francisco Bay which doesn’t have waves that crash, but you can definitely smell the salt air as soon as you step out of your car.
And as soon as we can, we are planning on signing Ryeson up for surfing lessons. For now, we found a local private pool with saltwater instead of chlorine, and we are doing swim lessons.