COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and is the group of lung diseases. It is the kind of progressive disease and the common ones are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. People suffering from COPD can have both these conditions also. Emphysema destroys the air sacs of lungs and this interferes with air flow outwards. Bronchitis is another lung condition which actually leads to narrowing of bronchial tubes. Hence, this narrowing causes the buildup of mucus. If you have COPD, it implies that there are a group of lung diseases making it hard to breathe. The symptoms of COPD may be just restricted to coughing, shortness of breath and can be mild in the beginning. It becomes very difficult to breathe once the disease progresses. COPD treatment is needed to treat the breathing difficulty, tightness of chest and wheezing. There may be episodes of flare-ups if nothing is done.
Smoking is the leading cause
Smoking is very harmful for lungs and respiratory health. People who are smokers generally have COPD. It is important to stop smoking now if you show signs of COPD. Then, any exposure to chemicals for prolonged period of time can also cause COPD. Proper diagnosis of the condition is required. The doctor can prescribe blood tests, imaging test, and most importantly, lung functioning test.
Is the treatment effective?
There are several treatments for COPD but we can’t say how effective they are. The treatment may ease the symptom of COPD but might not be able to cure it completely. You have to follow all the guidelines given by your doctor to keep a check over it. The quality of life really improves if the symptoms are improved. Some of the best treatments are oxygen therapy, proper medications and if these don’t work out then surgery is the cure. If you don’t address COPD timely, it can lead to problem in the respiratory tract and also cause heart ailments.
Who should undergo tests for COPD?
If you show symptoms like tightness of chest, shortness of breath, sudden weight loss, fatigue, difficulty breathing, you are a suitable candidate for the test. The ones who smoke must also undergo tests to track the health of respiratory system and lungs. People who are exposed to certain lung irritants at the jobsite need to undergo the test. If there are other respiratory conditions like asthma or others, then undergo a test for COPD.
Treatment options for COPD
For arthritis, there is suitable arthritis treatment and same goes with COPD. A combination of treatments can bring about relief from the symptoms. Proper treatment might ease COPD symptoms, prevent further health complication and also slow down COPD progression. A respiratory therapist, lung specialist and also physical therapist are required. Bronchodilators will be used to ease breathing difficulty. It tends to relax muscles of airways to make it easy to breathe. The doctor can administer flu shots to reduce the chance of respiratory infection. Oxygen therapy is needed if the blood lacks oxygen. During this process, the doctor uses nasal prongs and masks to help one breathe easily.
When is surgery required?
If COPD has worsened to a great extent, surgery may be required. Bullectomy is the kind of surgery whereby the surgeons get rid of air sacs from lungs. No matter what treatment you adopt, lifestyle changes are required. Whether it is treatment for COPD or cerebral palsy treatment, look for a specialist.
