You probably do not think about breathing until you are having a problem doing it. Minerals like magnesium are important for health, but magnesium may have added benefits if you have emphysema, a chronic illness that affects the lungs and breathing. If you have emphysema, do not start taking magnesium supplements. Talk with your doctor about whether intravenous magnesium is an option for your treatment.
About Emphysema
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease encompasses multiple lung diseases, and one of them is emphysema. Emphysema is a disease that involves gradual destruction of the air sacs of your lungs, making it harder to breathe. The disease also affects the elastic fibers in your lungs that keep the airways open that lead to the sacs. Emphysema is typically caused by long-term exposure to irritants in the air, and smoking cigarettes is the main cause of the disease, notes MayoClinic.com. While there is no cure for emphysema, the goals of treatment are to slow down the progression of the disease.
About Magnesium
Magnesium helps maintain healthy heart, muscle and kidney function, helps keep bones and teeth strong, aids in energy production and helps regulate levels of other nutrients in the body. It is rare to be significantly deficient in magnesium, and dietary sources include whole grains, nuts, legumes, molasses, baked potatoes, chocolate and oatmeal. Although magnesium supplements are typically taken orally, for some diseases, including emphysema, it may be given intravenously.
Magnesium and Emphysema
Although magnesium or a lack of it does not cause emphysema, individuals with COPD often have low levels of this mineral due to medications to treat COPD that deplete magnesium, or from poor nutrition, which is common in these patients, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. This mineral is important for healthy lung function, and patients who received intravenous magnesium were found to spend less time in the hospital for a COPD flare up, according to the University of Maryland. More research needs to be done, and this may not be appropriate for everyone. Talk with your doctor about whether you may benefit from added magnesium.
Considerations
While magnesium is crucial for normal organ function, too much can lead to nausea and vomiting, a drop in blood pressure, slowed heart rate and death. If your calcium levels are low, taking added magnesium can cause a calcium deficiency, as the two minerals compete for absorption, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. Intravenous magnesium may not be for everyone with emphysema, and your doctor can check your magnesium levels and discuss with you whether this would be appropriate for your situation.
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