COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is used to describe progressive lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema,non-reversible asthma, and some forms of bronchiectasis. This disease is characterized by incrementing breathlessness.
Many people misconstrue their incremented breathlessness and coughing as a mundane part of aging. In the early stages of the disease, you may not descry the symptoms. COPD can develop for years without conspicuous shortness of breath. That’s why it’s important that you verbalize with your physician as soon as you descry(noticed) any of these symptoms. Ask your physician about taking a spirometry test.
Signs and Symptoms of COPD
- Incremented Breathlessness
- Frequent Coughing (with or without sputum)
- Wheezing
- Tightness in chest
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How Common COPD
COPD affects more than 30 million individuals in the U.S., and half of them have symptoms of COPD and do not know that. Early screening can identify COPD before the major loss of lung function occurs.
Risk Factors and Common Causes of COPD
COPD is caused by most cases of inhaling pollutants; that includes smoking and second-hand smoke.
Fumes, chemicals, and dust found in many work environments are contributing factors for developing COPD.
Genetics can additionally play a role in an individual’s development of COPD.Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is the most common genetic risk factor for emphysema2. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin cognate COPD is caused by a deficiency of the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin protein in the bloodstream. Without the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin protein, white blood cells commence to harm the lungs and lung deterioration occurs. The World Health Organization and American Thoracic Society recommend that every individual diagnosed with COPD be tested for Alpha-1.
Treatment for COPD
Treatment can reduce symptoms, obviate(prevent) complications, and generally slow disease progression. Your healthcare team may include a lung specialist (pulmonologist) and physical and respiratory therapists.
Medication
Bronchodilators are medications that avail relax the muscles of the airways so you can breathe more facile. They’re conventionally taken through an inhaler. Glucocorticosteroids can be integrated to reduce inflammation in the airways.
To lower risk of other respiratory infections, ask your physician if you should get a yearly flu shot, pneumococcal vaccine, and a tetanus booster that includes aegis from pertussis whooping cough.
Oxygen therapy
If your blood oxygen levels are low, you can receive oxygen through a mask to help you better breath. A portable unit can help you.
Surgery
Surgery is for severe COPD or when other treatments have failed, which is more likely when you have emphysema. One type is called a bullectomy. That’s when surgeons remove air sacs from the lungs. And another is lung volume reduction surgery, which abstracts(remove) damaged lung tissue.
Lung transplant is an option in some cases.
Lifestyle changes
Certain lifestyle changes may help your symptoms reduction or provide mitigation.
This include:
If you smoke, quit. Your physician can recommend appropriate products or support services.
Whenever possible, always try to avoid secondhand smoke and chemical fumes.
Get the alimentation(nutrition) your body needs. Work with your physician or dietician to engender a healthy diet plan.
Verbalize with your physician about how much exercise is safe for you.
Exercise
Pulmonary rehabilitation a program of exercise, disease management, counselling and coordinated to benefit an individual. Who has had a recent exacerbation, pulmonary rehabilitation appears to improve the overall quality of life and the competency to exercise. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to amend the sense of control of a person has over their disease, as well as their emotions.
The optimal exercise routine of non-invasive ventilation during exercise and intensity of exercise suggested for people with COPD. Performing endurance arm exercises help people with COPD and reduce breathlessness. Breathing exercises in and of themselves appear to have a constrained role. Pursed lip breathing exercises may be subsidiary. Tai Chi exercises appear to be safe to practice for people with COPD and may be benign for pulmonary function and pulmonary capacity when compared to a customary treatment program. Tai Chi was not found to be more efficacious than other exercise intervention programs.
