Getting to Know Copd

COPD stands Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, here we go another disease for the drug companies to capitalize on. So what the heck is this COPD anyway?

COPD(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a progressive disease that keeps your lungs from functioning normally. It is characterized by a gradual loss of lung function. The airways in your lungs are blocked, and breathing takes more effort. You may have started to limit your activities due to shortness of breath. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, you may become less able to do for yourself and be more dependent on others.

Currently in the United States, more than 36.1 million adults are afflicted with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

In short, it's a lung problem stemming from smoking or exposure to other toxins that have damaged your respiratory system.

Like any disease we discover we have emotional trauma can become a factor. It may cause irritability, mistrust, frustration, lack of energy, etc, and make the fight against the disease all the more difficult. A support group readily understands the patient’s problem and works towards controlling the disease.

There are numerous COPD support groups. Some provide information on medicines available to the patients, and others provide information on the exercises and correct eating habits.

COPD is not cure-able and of course the very first thing you must do is Stop smoking if you do. Apart from this, many types of medicines are available to keep COPD in check. The use of bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents are often suggested to patients who experience severe breathlessness. Similarly, antibiotics are prescribed to patients suffering from acute exacerbations.

In severe cases surgery may be an option, either a lung transplant or a volume reduction may be in order.

Knowing what COPD is and understanding the harm that exposing your lungs to damaging situations should at least make us stop and think for a moment. Unfortunately the lungs are one organ that does not regenerate itself.

Learn a little more about this.