COPD Treatment Options And Tips To Improve Quality Of Life

COPD Treatment Options And Tips To Improve Quality Of Life

Best treatments for COPD
COPD lungs

Have you arrived here looking for COPD Treatment Options And Tips To Improve Quality Of Life? Well, you have found the best place for information on what COPD is, what are the causes of COPD and what are the very best treatments for COPD.

Perhaps you already have a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or perhaps a family member or friend has this horrible lung disease, if that is the case you already have knowledge of why people get this lung disease and why not being able to breathe properly affects your daily life so badly.

COPD is a very harmful dangerous condition , in fact, males and females who smoke are twelve to thirteen times more inclined to die from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder than people who have never smoked in their lives.


What is the definition of COPD?

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder is identified by restricted airflow to the lungs usually caused by smoking or exposure to toxic gases or air particles, these invaders trigger inflammation in the lungs it gets progressively worse, in most chronic cases it can’t be reversed.

It is a preventable disease according to this study (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013121506.htm) by the year 2020 it is expected along with chronic bronchitis and emphysema to be the third highest cause of death worldwide; the scientific community haven’t come up with any new way to treat COPD in the past 20 

5 ways how to prevent COPD

Best treatments for COPD
Smoke-damaged air sacs

Having a healthy lifestyle can assist you to keep your lungs in a healthy state:

1. Stopping smoking must be the number one goal in reducing the risk of COPD happening to you, don’t start smoking, if you are a heavy smoker STOP NOW!

There are many choices nowadays to help you to stop smoking including Vapes and smoking cessation programs, ask your doctor for advice.

2.  Secondhand smoke has been shown by researchers to be a major contributing factor to the risk of contracting, in fact as reported by the WHO as many as ten percent of deaths are caused by secondhand smoke, avoid second-hand smoke or if you live with a smoker please ask them not to smoke in the house.

3. Family history can play a part in getting COPD, there is a genetic component (called alpha 1 antitrypsin) found in some families a deficiency that can be inherited so you don’t have to be a smoker in this case to get COPD, a simple blood test will determine if you have this gene or not.

4. Air pollution is a major cause of COPD in third-world countries they use wood fires a lot for cooking the smoke from the fires triggers the lung disorder, in America the EPA advises people to check the air quality daily (www.airnow.gov) the causes of air pollution are smoke from biomass, non-ventilated stoves, and dust

5. Job-related exposure: people who work in mines or factories where there is a lot of mineral dust, concrete dust, grain dust, cotton dust, or chemical fumes are at risk of COPD, in one study job-related exposure contributed to approximately a 20% increase in COPD cases.

COPD Indicators

We now know what your risks of COPD are, so let’s talk about the indicators or symptoms of COPD

Symptoms of COPD include what sounds like a smoker’s cough, it creates a lot of mucus your breathing is difficult (specifically when exercising) you have a kind of wheeziness and tightness in your chest, you become more aware of frequent chest colds that seem to take more time to get rid of than usual, these symptoms are progressive and get worse as time goes on.


Speak to your doctor if you have the following

You are over 40 and smoke or you did smoke

You have constant COPD symptoms

Family history includes COPD or the alpha deficiency Alpha 1

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You have been exposed to chemicals, dust, air pollution, or second-hand smoke.


A pulmonary function test-Why it is done

Your doctor will send you to have a COPD test if:

1. You are having signs of lung disorder

2, You are frequently subjected to airborne elements in your place of work or outside.

3. Monitor the pathway of chronic lung diseases like COPD or asthma.

4. You may have had surgery the test is done to test your lung capacity

A Pulmonary Function Test can help to diagnose

  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Respiratory infection
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • COPD (Emphysema)
  • Sarcoidosis (lung inflammation)
  • Lung fibrosis
  • Lung cancer
  • Asbestosis
  • Weakness of the chest wall and muscles
  • Scleroderma 
  • bronchiectasis (the airways in the lungs stretch and widen)
  • Lung cancer
  • Asbestosis a condition caused by exposure to asbestos
  • Pulmonary tumor

Pulmonary function test procedure

Best treatments for COPD
Pulmonary function test

During a pulmonary function test forced expiry volume and forced vital capacity are measured by a diagnostic device known as a spirometer.

It will measure the volume of air that you breathe in and breathe out as well as the time it takes you to exhale effectively after taking a deep breath.

The spirometer is attached to a machine for the pulmonary function test, it records capacity measurement, to get a consistent reading, you may be requested to breathe in and out a few times.

The spirometer readings are then compared with typical measurements for somebody of your age group, the readings will determine if your airways are inhibited.


Additional COPD tests

In some cases, additional tests are needed, these tests may indicate how bad the COPD is allowing your doctor to design a treatment program.

Peak flow test

A peak flow meter may be used to measure your breathing over a few days and at different times to validate that you have COPD and not asthma, your doctor will expect you to take repeated measurements of your breathing. The peak flow meter measures how fast you can exhale.

Blood oxygen level

If your oxygen level is low, you may need to be assessed to see if extra oxygen would be of assistance to you. ​a pulse oximeter is used to measure your oxygen level, this is attached to your finger.

Breathing tests

Should the symptoms seem poor or worse than normal from the spirometry test the doctor may order some more in-depth lung function tests in a hospital?

Cat scan

A CT scan can give more information compared to an X-ray and can help make a diagnosis of other lung diseases or find changes to your lungs because of COPD.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency blood test

If you are under 35 and this condition is in your family or you have symptoms of COPD more than likely you will have this blood test to check if you are deficient in alpha-1-antitrypsin.

Heart test

To check whether your heart has been impaired by COPD your doctor may send you for an ECG (electrocardiogram) or an echocardiogram.

Phlegm test

To check if your phlegm has an infection the doctor will ask for sample phlegm.

Diagnosis

​So, you have had your diagnosis with COPD, what is the best treatment?


What are the best treatments for COPD?

Best treatments for COPD
Stop smoking

​Stop smoking,

It has been proven that people who have COPD in the early stages and have given up smoking successfully with the help of tablets, gum, or patches have seen a decline in the damage to their lungs and breathing, not only that by giving up smoking you will feel better in yourself.

Stopping smoking doesn’t come easy to many people, I should know because it took me many years to finally stop smoking, it happened after I watched a documentary on lung disease, I thought that it could happen to me, but psychologically my mind switched to wanting to give them up.


Inhalers

Best treatments for COPD
Bronchodilator

There are two types of inhalers Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers and Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers, if you are prescribed an inhaler you will be given instructions on how to use them properly.

Most people don’t have any difficulty but if you do a spacer may be used to deliver the medicine correctly.

Short-acting bronchodilator: 

The purpose of this is to get the medicine to assist the muscles in the airways to loosen up and relax, there are two kinds

  1. beta- 2 against like salbutamol, formoterol and indacaterol
  2. antimuscarinic like ipratropium​

​Long-acting bronchodilators: 

​​These are used if the first one doesn’t work, the long-acting bronchodilators work much the same, but the effect lasts longer, up to 12 hours, there are two types.

  • beta-2 agonist, like salmeterol and formoterol
  • antimuscarinic inhalers, tiotropium

Steroid inhaler

Also called corticosteroid inhalers designed to reduce inflammation in the airway, these may be used if you are experiencing flare-ups even with the 12-hour inhaler a steroid inhaler may be prescribed as part of the treatment


Everything condition has a cause; if you take away the cause, and apply the science of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, your body should in normal circumstances have the ability to help repair itself with a little assistance from Serrapeptase.

Best treatments for COPD
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In 2006, Mike Tawse was confined to his wheelchair and his friends were planning his funeral. His lungs and, as a consequence, his heart, were rapidly coming to a full stop.

All the doctors could do was add another drug to a total of 14. Luckily for him, he was introduced to the plan from my book.

Within weeks he was recovering and now 10 years later he is still on those drugs. He still has Cerebral Palsy but now he has a life. He carried out my plan to the letter and made most of the diet changes.

Compare that to Margaret’s father with asbestosis. She contacted me and was very anxious about his limited life as he was sitting in his chair, strapped to an oxygen mask.

The doctors had told her that such a condition is terminal and he could only get worse. Unfortunately, like many men, he would not consider the diet change but she did persuade him to accept one step of the plan – supplementing with Serrapeptase.

“Occasionally he took two steps,” says Margaret. “Nevertheless, he discarded his oxygen mask and enjoyed getting about, going to the shops, and chatting with all his friends. He was sufficiently satisfied with that and that it would extend his life…and it did.

Note: As with all enzymes or drugs results will vary for each individual.

Try Serrapeptase therapy for COPD


Other Medications

Theophylline pills

Again, if the flare-ups persist even with a combination of the other inhalers your doctor may try theophylline tablets, these are used to relax and loosen the airway muscles and open them up.

If these pills are taken regularly you will be asked for a blood sample as there may be side effects that will need to be addressed, these may include headaches and increased heart rate.

Mucolytic pills- capsules

These pills or capsules make the phlegm and mucus thinner so that it is easier to get it up, particularly good for people that are experiencing a persistent cough, bad flare-ups, and a lot of thick phlegm.

 Steroid tablets and Antibiotics

The flare-ups will need to be brought under control, so your doctor will prescribe a short course of steroid tablets, side effects are unusual on a low dose if taken for less than 2-3 weeks however if taken for longer you will need to be monitored for side effects.

Nebulizers

Best treatments for COPDA nebulizer is used for serious cases of COPD if you find that the other inhaler devices have not worked for you. The nebulizer machine will deliver medicine through a mouthpiece/face mask.

It comes in liquid form and turns into mist which allows for it to be taken all at once. The nebulizer may or may not be suitable for you, your doctor or specialist will decide.

Oxygen therapy-long term

Should the oxygen levels in your blood stay persistently low you may need to be treated with long-term oxygen therapy, this may be delivered through a nasal tube, mask, or cannula.

A test called pulse oximetry will check your level of oxygen in the blood, this therapy means you will need to take it for a minimum of fifteen hours per day in your home through a tube attached to a machine, if you need to leave your home a portable oxygen tank is used.

NB, these oxygen tanks are highly flammable so don’t smoke when using them.


 (NIV) or Non-invasive ventilation

This treatment is used again when you have a flare-up, a mask is used to push air into your lungs and helps you to breathe in an artificial way

Pulmonary rehab program

This type of exercise program is designed for people with chronic lung issues to help increase their lung capacity, confidence, and mobility, it is based on activities such as walking, cycling, and arm, and leg strengthening exercises.

The physiotherapist and dietarians will educate you on COPD, diet and coping mechanisms in social settings, this therapy can help you to improve the quality of your life.

Surgical operation

Surgery

Because parts of the lung don’t function anymore they may be removed by surgery, this could be an option for certain types of COPD, the statistics show that people who undergo this treatment do better for roughly 3 years, about one person in 4 doesn’t get any advantage and approximately one in 20 will die during the operation or not long after, so it is only an option for a small number of people because of the high risks involved.

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8 Comments

  1. fintan duggan

    Hi Chloe,

    Thank you for your kind comments. Fintan

  2. fintan duggan

    Thank you Tracy

    Fintan

  3. fintan duggan

    Hi Dane,

    Thank you 

    Fintan

  4. fintan duggan

    Hi Ablue,

    There is no magic solution to stopping smoking, however there are vaping, and nicorette patches which might help. I believe that the key to giving up smoking is convincing your mind that you will die prematurely or have a terrible disease if you don’t quit.

    Fintan

  5. Shelley

    COPD is really dangerous and if anyone were ti come across the symptoms, they must not take it with levity hands. This requires urgent attention as it can even lead to death. But thankfully you have suggested the various means through which it can be cured if properly addressed. This is nice to know of. Thanks so much for coming up with this article because I am sure this would help countless number of people. I am a health counsellor and I know of a lot of smokers on my list, I will surely share this to them.

  6. Alblue

    Thank you for sharing this information. My uncle has suffered the early stage of COPD, so yeah he must stop smoking to prevent the disease hurt his body even more. The issue is his smoking habit. He is a very heavy smoker, so it is hard to find something to replace his smoking habit. Do you have any recommendation to stop or replace his smoking habit quite drastically? We are just worried he doesn’t really care about his body anymore.

  7. Dane

    Wow, this is a really serious situation that needs to be given proper attention as it involves one very serious organ in our body, and the lungs isn’t to joked with. I’m particularly interested in sending a message to smokers as this is onr ailment that comes with smoking. Some of these smokers may be having such problem already but do not know about  it. I’m glad you gave the symptoms and even a suggestion drug to use. I’ll inform others about this educational post.

  8. Tracy

    Smoking has always been identified to be very bad to our health in general and I always find it hard to comprehend or resonate with all these smokers and the kind of dangers they expose them selves too.. It is just disheartening to realise that anyone would intentionally lead themselves to being diagnosed of this COPD. To me, and going by what ibread here, it is very dangerous and could lead to death rather quickly and soon. I’d rather try my best to get this post shared out to everyone I know than to allow anyone else to be diagnosed of this COPD. Thanks for the details

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