Saturday 17 September 2011

COPD and What You Can Do to Prevent It

Most cases of COPD develop over time, after the lungs and airways have suffered irreversible damage over several years and decades, from inhaling irritants with toxic particles and smoke. Cigarette smoking is the most often cause. Since COPD has a clear cause, it also has a clear path to prevention.

Quit Smoking
Quit Smoking ASAP!
If you've been a long-time smoker quitting will seem daunting and even impossible. More so, if you have tried several times in the past and failed. But if you've been diagnosed with COPD, the single most important thing you can do is to quit smoking immediately. Though there are other things you can do to cope with COPD, they do not compare in significance to what quitting smoking can do to help. Cessation of smoking will slow down the damage to lungs and advancement of the disease. Note that COPD is a progressive disorder that will get worse over time. There is no cure. This is so because the damage that the lungs and the airways, the tubes that carry air from your throat to lungs, suffer permanent damage.

Most smokers are diagnosed with COPD when they are in their early 40's or 50's. In many cases, since the patient is in early stage COPD, they do not take professional help. Meanwhile, lung damage progresses. Some smokers with COPD fail to realize how devastating it is on their lungs and persist with their addiction.
Quitting smoking is less intimidating if you speak to your doctor about the many options available today. You may seek the help of a specialist like a Pulmonologist who specifically treats lung and respiratory problems.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is found to be highly successful to help with quitting smoking. Several NRT products like transdermal patches and chewing gums can be used.Other alternative methods, such as counseling, support groups, hypnotherapy and acupuncture can also be helpful. Educate yourself and discuss with your doctor what might be best for you.

Avoiding Exposure to Pollutants
In some occupations, exposure to chemical fumes and dust is unavoidable. These lung irritants can lead to COPD over several years of exposure. Since this is nearly an everyday health hazard you face, talk to your employers and supervisors about providing the best ways to protect with aids such as a breathing mask. Speak about improving ventilation in the work area.

Timely Vaccinations
Vaccination against viral influenza and pneumonia is strongly recommended in all patients with cardiopulmonary diseases, including COPD.

Dealing with Genetic Risk Factors to COPD
If you have a rare deficiency which causes low levels of the protein alpha1-antitrypsin, stopping smoking is especially important. People who have this protein deficiency should get timely shots of alpha-1 antitrypsin that is obtained from human plasma. It is known to lower their risk for severe COPD.
For infants who are born with low birth weight, many times poor airway function is seen soon after birth. This is another known risk factor for COPD due to airflow obstruction that starts in infancy and continues well into early adulthood. A pulmonologist can advise proper breathing and physical exercises to help with better intake of air.

3 comments:

  1. (MUST READ: HOW I GOT CURED FROM CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE)
    I am Tirth from Canada, I was diagnosed of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in 2011 and I have tried all possible means to get cured, i even visited pulmonologist but all to no avail, until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbal doctor from South Africa who prepare herbal medicine to cure all kind of diseases including COPD, at first i doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try, when i contact this herbal doctor via his email he sent me COPD herbal medicine through courier service, when i received this herbal medicine, he gave me step by instructions on how to apply it, when i applied it as instructed i was totally cured of this deadly disease within 12-14 days of usage, Contact this great herbal doctor via his email ejiroherbalcure@gmail.com Goodluck

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  2. For people suffering from COPD, it is important for them to know that they are not alone. I was also a victim.
    I had experienced shortness of breath, coughing, recurring chest infections and bronchitis. But I didn’t realize that I had COPD until I went to my doctor and was diagnosed with COPD. The first thing I did was get myself informed. Having COPD hasn’t slowed me down. Even though I had COPD I still played golf and involved myself in different excercise though I started smoking at 19 years of age I smoked almost a pack a day. The doctor had told me to quit smoking, it was frightening and frustrating, I thought it was to avoid stress. I learned about Dr. Lance Herbal Medicine from a friend. Now my life has turned around for good because I consider myself most fortunate.
    There are so many people out there who have COPD and don’t realize it.
    If you have COPD, many things are available to help you live a full, comfortable life don’t be ashamed of it.
    I can’t speak for everyone. I can guarantee that this Herbal Medicine will work for you and I suggest you try it. It has done wonders for me. contact him on lancejustin54@gmail.com for more information and advice.

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  3. I am not sure of the cause of COPD emphysema in my case. I smoked pack a day for 12 or 13 years, but quit 40 years ago. I have been an outdoor person all my adult life. Coughing started last summer producing thick mucus, greenish tint to clear. I tried prednisone and antibiotics, but no change. X-rays are negative, heart lungs and blood and serum chemistries all are normal. I have lung calcification from childhood bout with histoplasmosis. I am 75 years old and retired.My current doctor directed me to totalcureherbsfoundation.com which I purchase the COPD herbal remedies from them ,they are located in Johannesburg, the herbal treatment has effectively reduce all my symptoms totally, am waiting to complete the 15 weeks usage because they guaranteed me total cure.

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