Pulmonary diseases are diseases that everyone looks forward to avoid, once they catch, you may spend your life with a prolonged illness. COPD is also one such disease and needs timely care.

COPD means Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; any pulmonary disease is directly related to your lungs. Lungs amount to be a very important organ of a person’s body. Your life highly depends upon the function of your lungs and hence protecting them against all odds is very important.

What Is COPD?

These days COPD has become one of the most commonly spreading diseases among many people. In many instances, it goes usually undiagnosed and by the time, people get to know about it, it has already been very late and a lot of damage has been done. COPD arises due to the blockage of air passage, it stops air to flow back and forth in the lungs, and hence breathing related issues may take place.

Kinds of COPD

Two common kinds of COPD conditions may comprise chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These two kinds differ from one another and to understand the condition of COPD, it is very important to understand these two kinds as well.

  1. Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a lung disease that takes place in the lungs of smokers; it causes a lot of inflammation in the bronchi, a part of our lungs. People who suffer from chronic bronchitis tend to develop lung infections repeatedly.

The symptoms associated with this kind of COPD condition may comprise mucus and cough, asthma attacks, wheezing sounds while breathing.

  1. Emphysema

Emphysema is also a common kind of COPD and people who suffer from this condition may face the alveoli walls being damaged. This condition is common among people who have been smoking for years and years. The damage done by emphysema is irreversible and the damage may never be compensated back.

People who suffer from emphysema may develop the symptoms of discomfort while breathing shortness of breath with light activities and even persistent mucus and cough production.

People who suffer from COPD may develop the same symptoms as a combination of the above given two kinds. COPD symptoms are a mirror image of emphysema and chronic bronchitis and hence anyone facing such signs must get themselves checked immediately.

What Causes COPD? (i)

COPD causes are also equally important to be understood so that a person may make efforts to prevent them in the first place. It is usually found common among smokers; no matter you smoke a cigarette, consume pipe or tobacco. Moreover, if you are subjected to someone in your surroundings who smoke you may develop this medical condition and hence such environments must be avoided. In addition, if you work in a certain environment where pollutants and chemical fumes are commonly inhaled you may be at risk of developing COPD.

Diseases Given Rise by COPD

Every medical condition brings with it a new medical disease accompanied with it; similarly, people who suffer from COPD may tend to develop other kinds of diseases as well.

  • People who are already having a problem in their lungs may face respiratory issues and are prone to contracting viral infections quickly. Cold, flu, and other viral infections are found to be common among such people.
  • COPD may also increase the risk of heart attacks as well and hence too much smoking may end up in heart failure.
  • People who suffer from COPD may come across lung cancer eventually.
  • High blood pressure is also related to the underlying condition of COPD.

How to Prevent COPD? (ii)

It is always thought that prevention is better than cure, and hence when it comes to preventing the condition of COPD a few preventive measures that a person may take comprise of the following:

  • Smoking is the main reason that leads to COPD later and when you at once avoid smoking, you may protect yourself against the development of this condition.
  • Even if you are not smoking on your own but are in an environment where there are smokers around you, it may be unhealthy for you by avoiding staying in such kind of environment you may also protect yourself against COPD.
  • Getting your lung examination done at least once a year may help you keep your health on a safer side, even if by chance, you develop a minor trace of COPD immediate medication and treatments may help you overcome it completely.
  • If you are working in an environment that is highly polluted with harsh chemical fumes, you must keep yourself in protective gear at all times so that you can protect yourself against such diseases that damage your lungs.
  • Make sure you have an appropriate ventilation system at home. Many times lack of ventilation may end up circulating harmful chemical fumes in your living space and this may cause COPD to develop due to inhaling harmful gases.

Treatment Options for COPD

When it comes to having an eye on the COPD treatment, your doctor may suggest treatment according to your condition. However, a few common ways to deal with COPD may comprise of the following:

  • Inhalers may be prescribed by doctors to help control the lack of breath.
  • Drugs to control the spread and intensity of inflammation may be suggested.
  • Vaccinations for pneumonia and flu may help lowering down the symptoms and their worst impacts.
  • Oxygen therapy may be recommended in the worst cases.
  • Certain exercises to help you improve breathing have proven to be very effective.
  • Surgery may be a last resort, sometimes a minor surgery may be enough, and sometimes when a lot of damage is done a lung transplant may be required.

COPD treatments vary from person to person and from case to case. However, people who have been diagnosed with COPD may also incorporate some lifestyle changes as well so that they may peacefully spend their life. Like having a healthy diet, avoiding depression, having yoga sessions, and incorporating certain exercises in their routine that helps to improve their breathing.