Chronic obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD ), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a progressive lung disease that increases in severity over time. This illness is increasingly familiar, involving billions of Americans, and is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. Don't despair as COPD is frequently treatable; and while not curable, there are things you can do to help you or your loved one manage it. If you have a chronic condition like COPD, follow these steps:
Begin a COPD Exercise Program
COPD exercise is a proven treatment for many conditions, including asthma and bronchitis. Exercises for copd include walking, chair exercises, breathing exercises and lifting light weights. Exercises for COPD can be done at home while using supplemental oxygen to help you breathe. Just make sure you don't trip over your tubing and check your oxygen saturation throughout the exercises to make sure your oxygen doesn't go below 90. You may want to look for COPD chair exercises. If you have a history of COPD, your doctor may prescribe another medication to manage it enough so you can do your exercise program and help you control the symptoms.
Do Breathing Exercises the Right Way
Keep your lungs strong by incorporating breathing exercises into your COPD exercise routine.
Exercise helps reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood and reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that help you breathe more effectively. This includes breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you inhale and exhale, never hold your breath. By using a pulse oximeter to measure your oxygen saturation and heart rate, you can keep track of how your exercise is helping you. If your oxygen gets below 90, it's time to slow down the workout and do three breathing exercises.
Medicines for COPD
Medicines for COPD are prescribed by doctors who have been trained to treat patients with COPD. If you have any problems with your respiratory system, a Pulmonary doctor may be able to help prescribe the right medications at the right time. This is especially important if you have asthma or other chronic conditions that affect your breathing. If you have an asthma attack, a pulmonary doctor may recommend taking medication to stop the attack. types of medicines for respiratory problems. Oral drugs like bronchodilators, nasal sprays and inhaled steroids can help reduce the risk of developing COPD. They also work as a natural treatment for some people with asthma, but not all COPD conditions. These medications are usually taken in small doses, but they are not a cure all.
Talk to Your Doctor for Help to Stop Smoking
The most common cause of COPD is smoking. Smoking causes the lungs to become more narrow and your airways dilate. This causes the lungs to expand and contract. When you smoke, your body uses oxygen as it moves from the lungs to your brain. This can make you feel like your breathing feel like your having to gasp for air. Smoking also causes heart disease. Smoking can lead to stroke, which is a fatal condition in people with COPD. Smoking also puts you at serious risk for lung cancer.
While smoking is a hard habit to break, it can be very dangerous if you don't quit. Next time you see your doctor, ask what's available to help you to quit. Smoking cessation is a simple way to reduce your risk of developing COPD by helping you stop the effects of chronic bronchitis or other respiratory problems that are caused by smoking like asthma and COPD.
So don't despair if you have COPD, it's not too late! There are many ways to manage this disease and slow down the progression.
Intervention includes exercise, smoking cessation, bronchodilator therapy (drug that opens the airlines) and pulmonary restoration, which is a supervised training program for people with COPD. Unlike asthma, COPD does not go away. According to the English Lung Association, COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death.
Doctor Meyer describes COPD as one of the most severe and harmful respiratory maladies, and COPD is the number one problem seen in most pulmonology offices. So do what you can now and slow down the progression to get your life back on track now.
Check out the Best Doctor Approved Exercises for COPD on DVD as Seen on TV
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References
Jones, P. W., Tabberer, M., & Chen, W.-H. (2011). Creating scenarios of the impact of copd and their relationship to copd assessment test (CATTM) scores. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 11(1), 42–42.
Das, R. (Feb. 2016). The Internet Of Medical Things: Digitization Revolutionizes Respiratory Care Management. Forbes.
Price, David B., et al. "Symptom-Based Questionnaire for Identifying COPD in Smokers." Respiration, vol. 73, no. 3, 2006, pp. 285–295..
Jones, P. W., Tabberer, M., & Chen, W.-H. (2011). Creating scenarios of the impact of copd and their relationship to copd assessment test (CATTM) scores. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 11(1), 42–42.