Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is not a single condition. It refers to a group of respiratory failures and discomforts that develop among children and adults of all ages. Primary symptoms include inflammation and breathing difficulties. COPD is chronic and can only be managed with prescriptions, changes in daily nutrition, lifestyle, and post-treatment care. Here is everything to know about the causes, symptoms, and suggested treatments for a better long-term outlook.
Known causes
One of the main triggers of COPD is the inhalation of harmful chemicals, fumes, allergens, pollutants, and other environmental exposure. Even secondhand exposure to any of these pollutants significantly increases the risk of COPD among adults. In addition, a small group of people diagnosed with an Alpha-1 deficiency might be at an elevated risk of developing the condition.
Signs and symptoms
Shortness of breath is one of the main signs of developing respiratory failure. In the case of COPD, one might experience mild breathlessness even after performing light physical activity. In addition, a persistent cough, throat pain, wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and fatigue are some common symptoms observed among patients. As the condition worsens, COPD can also trigger a chronic cough, cause an accumulation of mucus, and trigger multiple bouts of respiratory infections. One might also notice swelling near the feet or ankles, unexplained changes in weight, and experience severe fatigue. With COPD, prompt and timely diagnosis is necessary as these symptoms can overlap and confuse when noticed, among other health complications.
Suggested treatments
Pulmonary specialists suggest prescriptions, simple respiratory assist machines, and rehabilitation therapies to improve breathing for the first round of treatment. Prescriptions can be either single or combination doses of various treatment options like enzyme inhibitors and antibiotics. For breathing relief, specialists will also suggest bronchodilators, and combination inhalers to relieve inflammation in the airways to better manage the severity among various stages of COPD. For more severe cases, specialists will suggest surgical procedures to improve breathing and respiratory function. Common procedures include bullectomy and lung volume reduction surgery. Also, some patients may require a complete lung transplant as a last resort to restore respiratory function. Surgical procedures can also remove degraded lung tissue and replace it with healthy donor tissue. Post-surgery, pulmonary doctors also suggest exercise, counseling, and disease management therapies to speed up recovery from the discomforts.
Effective changes in lifestyle and nutrition
Doctors also suggest trying simple home breathing exercises for long-term relief alongside suggested treatments and therapies. Yoga, pranayama, and mindfulness techniques can overcome the stress and anxiety triggered due to persistent discomforts. Stress management is necessary to bring down cortisol levels in the body, which affects immunity. In addition, changes in daily nutrition can help boost respiratory function. One must also eliminate trigger foods that worsen any breathing discomforts. Dairy, lean meats, poultry, and fish are rich sources of protein that can help restore muscle function for respiration. Studies indicate including more foods rich in vitamin D can help lower the risk of deficiencies that cause respiratory failure. Assorted green vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and fresh fruits are loaded with antioxidants that prevent oxidative damage to healthy cells. Antioxidants also lower the risk of inflammation and prevent symptoms from flaring up unnecessarily.