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A NAC for breathing easy

During our unfortunately smoky summers, an increasing number of people are dealing with breathing issues.

In the pharmacy we start to notice the number of inhalers and puffers we dispense increase.

Sales of cough syrups and lozenges also start to increase, indicating that a lot of folks are having some difficulty keeping their lungs clear and breathing easily.

While the above are definitely options to help keep you more comfortable and breathing better, there is yet another option with quite a bit of clinical and anecdotal evidence supporting its use.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (or NAC) is helpful in loosening thick mucus which can hinder your breathing. Here’s how it works: NAC reduces disulfide bonds present in mucoproteins, thereby reducing the elasticity and viscosity of mucus. This action will help reduce the thick mucus in your respiratory system and make breathing much more comfortable. It’s long been used to help loosen thick mucus in people suffering from cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to help ease their breathing.

In addition to its mucolytic property, NAC is also used in cases of acetaminophen poisoning (NAC restores glutathione levels in your liver and binds to toxic acetaminophen metabolties) and also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

Speak to your doctor and the Live Well Team at Pharmasave Summerland if you are having difficulty breathing or want to learn more about the benefits of N-Acetyl Cysteine.

Dan Cassidy, Nutritional Product Advisor