Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – C.O.P.D. Understanding the issues faced by someone suffering from COPD. Knowing that 16 million Americans suffer from diagnosed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and an estimated 16 million more have yet to be diagnosed. To understand that this is one of the most preventable illnesses. Dr. Alan Radin of the Arbor Medical Group in Wilton CT has joined an expert group of internists and pulmonologists to help spot this condition as early as possible and lead the patient on a course that eases it’s symptoms or better yet avoids the disease entirely.
COPD refers to a group of diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Over time, COPD makes it harder to breathe. You can’t reverse lung damage, but lifestyle changes and medication changes can help you manage the symptoms.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for a range of progressive lung diseases that makes it harder to breathe over time. Smoking, air pollution, and exposure to chemicals, dust, or fumes are the main causes of COPD, with smoking being the primary cause. COPD symptoms include coughing with mucus, difficulty taking a deep breath, shortness of breath, and wheezing. AAT deficiency, a genetic disorder, is a lesser-known cause of COPD. However, not all smokers develop COPD, and other factors such as age, exposure to air pollution, and having many respiratory infections during childhood can increase the risk of developing COPD. It is important to treat both asthma and COPD if a person has both conditions. Early reporting of symptoms and regular check-ups are important to catching COPD early.
Narrowed airways and damaged lung tissue cause breathing difficulties. Treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and prevent respiratory infections. Medications such as bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory drugs, and oxygen therapy are commonly used. Other treatments include rehabilitation programs and vaccinations.
People with COPD should avoid smoking and exposure to air pollutants. Hand washing and avoiding exposure to people with cold or flu symptoms are also important for preventing infections that can further damage the lungs. Warning signs of an infection include increased shortness of breath, coughing up mucus, fever, and fatigue. If these symptoms are present, medical attention should be sought. To relieve symptoms and prevent respiratory infection, treatment include medications, oxygen therapy, rehabilitation programs, and vaccinations.
10 Proven Tricks for Better Breathing with COPD provides tips for getting restful sleep with COPD, which often results in poor sleep quality. The article explains how quality sleep can help manage COPD and strengthen the immune system, and also reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. The tips include elevating your head while sleeping, creating a bedtime routine, practicing meditative relaxation, and using supplemental oxygen at bedtime. The article also emphasizes the importance of trying one new tactic at a time, rather than implementing multiple strategies all at once. The article further notes that having COPD raises the risk of developing sleep apnea, and if someone has both conditions, it is essential to manage them properly to avoid complications.
READING
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Cleveland Clinic
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8709-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd
10 Proven Tricks for Better Breathing with COPD, Health Central, Danielle Gamiz
