How does ankylosing spondylitis affect the lungs?

Condition analysis:
Ankylosing Spondylitis should not make you any more susceptible to lung or chest infections. However, it may affect the rib joints and the muscles between the ribs making breathing, sneezing, coughing or yawning painful. As a result, the lungs fail to become fully ventilated. You will find some advice in the exercise section of this booklet to help you maintain normal chest wall movement. Sometimes the lungs may get scarred, a condition know as apical pulmonary fibrosis. This will show up on an X-ray but does not usually cause any symptoms. In the late stages of AS the chest wall may become quite fixed and affect air entry in and out of the lungs. This does not mean you stop breathing! The diaphragm muscle continues to work and your stomach moves in and out as you breathe. Large meals and tight clothing will increase the effort of breathing so you may find it more comfortable to avoid these. It is also vital to avoid smoking since this will not only make breathing more difficult but it could cause potentially serious lung and chest infections.

Instructions:
Devil’s Claw: It is a herb that is being used and advised for bone pains like back pain and hip pain. It can reduce the severity of symptoms in arthritis and ankylosis. It has benefits in treating other bone and joint conditions like gout, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, tendonitis and bursitis.

It is natural and beneficial. It is always used for its anti-inflammatory properties that are important in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. It lowers the pain associated with the disease. The effect of this herb has been studied and quantified. It showed a visible reduction of pain and discomfort caused by ankylosis. It has confirmed a role in reducing the lower back pain in osteoarthritis and research is thought to be initiated in finding its benefits in Ankylosis. The herbal experts suggest that it has a major role in ankylosing spondylitis treatment.