What is COPD and what can help?
COPD stands for Chronich Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and is a term used to describe diseases that cause breathing problems and airflow blockages. It commonly includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
What causes COPD?
The common causes of COPD are due to smoking ( 40-60%), but in reality, it is exposure to harmful irritants, so even non-smokers can get COPD.
What are the symptoms of COPD?
The biggest symptom of COPD is breathing difficulties, or shortness of breath. The shortness of breath or breathlessness is initially felt on more strenuous activities, but as the disease progresses the shortness of breath can be even when you are resting. Tiredness and a productive cough can also be symptoms, although some patients have a dry cough. Wheezing and recurrent chest infections can also be signs of COPD.
How is COPD diagnosed?
The most important tests is the ung (pulmonary) function test. This test measurer the amount of air you can inhale and exhale, and whether your lungs deliver enough oxygen to your blood. A chest X-ray can show emphysema, one of the main causes of COPD .
What treatments are available?
There are several treatments available to help you manage with COPD, but unfortunately once the damage has happened it cannot be reversed. The quicker you get to the doctor the better if you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned above.
Although there is no cure for COPD, the sooner you start treatment the progression can be delayed or even stopped so you can avoid or limit permanent lung damage. If you are a smoker the biggest and most important thing you can do is to stop smoking.
Your doctor can help you with this. Even people who only smoked a bit previously or people who have been exposed to secondary smoking can get COPD. The doctor can also prescribe medicine and inhalers. Occasionally if you are experiencing a flare-up you might benefit from receiving some medicine through a nebulizer. This will deliver the medicine in droplet form into the lungs.
You may need home oxygen therapy if the disease advances.
Respiratory physiotherapy can also be very beneficial. A special type of breathing exercises are learned, tips about how to handle the breathlessness and general issues in the daily life is considered.
Sometimes gadgets called incentive spirometers are used. These work to increase your ability to breathe deeply into your lungs.
Sometimes manual techniques are used to loosen the phlegm in your lungs. Targeted exercises are also taught to increase strength and endurance of your body.
Our physiotherapist Sanne has many years of experience in treating patients with COPD.
