In case of coughing, you should not breathe over a pan of hot potatoes: the doctor explained the danger

During a cough, in case of a cold, the patient should not breathe over a pan with hot potatoes. To adhere to such a folk method of treatment is foolishness, which can lead to the complication of an existing disease and the development of new ones.

This was stated by a pulmonologist, thoracic surgeon, associate professor of the Department of Surgery No. 1 of Kyiv Medical University, head of the All-Ukrainian Respiratory Club, candidate of medical sciences Yevhen Simonets.

“When the respiratory tract is inflamed, the mucous membrane swells. If you inhale hot steam over a kettle or a pot of potatoes, the heat will expand the blood vessels. The blood flow will increase – and the swelling will increase. Consequently, the lumen of the bronchi will narrow. And the usual ARVI or bronchitis that begins will develop into broncho-obstructive syndrome,” he explained.

According to the expert, this is a dangerous condition, because due to the edema of the mucous membrane, the lumen of the bronchi decreases, and the goblet cells produce mucus even more.

“It cannot get out, and as a result, all this bubbles up, grumbles in the lungs and grows into obstructive bronchitis. When ventilation is disturbed and a lot of sputum accumulates, ideal conditions are created for pathogenic microflora to join. In the end, pneumonia develops,” Simonets stated.

In addition, he noted, in the case of obstructive bronchitis, any thermal procedures are prohibited: mustard seeds, cans, warming compresses. Also, you can't rub the chest with fat – in particular, badger, bear, and goat fats are minimally absorbed through the skin.

“They are refractory, so the body needs incredible efforts to convert them into polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is they who participate in the formation of the membranes of the wall of the alveoli – the unit of the lungs, which ensures gas exchange. There is no improvement in the condition, but the pancreas and gall bladder are under attack,” the doctor emphasized.