Bebout Family Medicine
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Today (11/20/2019) is World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day. This day of remembrance and education is celebrated on the third Wednesday of November every year. COPD is not a single disease. It is a collection of illnesses that has the main defining feature of limitation in lung airflow.
What diseases encompass COPD?
- Emphysema – changes in the lung that include abnormal and permanent enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles that is accompanied by destruction of the airspace walls.
- Chronic bronchitis – defined as a chronic productive cough for three months in each of two successive years.
- Asthma – a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning.
It is important to remember that seldom does one have a pure form of any disease and there can be disease overlap.
Main risk factors for COPD:
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Indoor air pollution
- Outdoor air pollution
- Occupational dust exposure
World Health COPD Day facts
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive life-threatening lung disease that causes breathlessness (initially with exertion) and predisposes to exacerbations and serious illness.
- Globally, it is estimated that 3.17 million deaths were caused by the disease in 2015 (that is, 5% of all deaths globally in that year).
- More than 90% of COPD deaths occur in developing countries.
- The most common symptoms are: breathlessness (or a “need for air”), excessive sputum (mucous) production and chronic cough.
- The primary cause of COPD is exposure to tobacco smoke (either active smoking or secondhand smoke). Other risk factors include exposure to air pollution and occupational dusts and fumes.
- Some cases of COPD are due to long-term asthma.
- COPD is likely to increase in coming years due to higher smoking prevalence and aging populations in many countries.
- COPD is not curable, but treatment can relieve symptoms, improve quality of life and reduce the risk of death, and many cases of COPD are preventable.
- According to the latest WHO estimates (2004), currently 64 million people have COPD and 3 million people died of COPD. WHO predicts that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030
While there is no cure, there are effective treatments. The primary “treatment” is awareness and prevention.
People suffering from COPD are highly susceptible to Influenza and pneumonia and these diseases can prove to be fatal. Vaccinate for these diseases today!
I started on COPD Herbal treatment from Ultimate Health Home, the treatment worked incredibly for my lungs condition. I used the herbal treatment for almost 4 months, it reversed my COPD. My severe shortness of breath, dry cough, chest tightness gradually disappeared. Reach Ultimate Health Home via their website at http://www.ultimatelifeclinic.com I can breath much better and It feels comfortable!