If you or someone you know has recently received a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis, you might be wondering what your next steps are.
COPD is a progressive lung disease that often causes breathing difficulties. A COPD diagnosis can feel defeating, but with the right knowledge, support, and treatment methodologies, it is possible to manage the symptoms of COPD while maintaining a flourishing quality of life.
What Is COPD?
COPD is a term for a group of lung diseases that obstruct the airflow and cause difficulty breathing. The two most common COPD conditions are emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Emphysema describes damage to the air sacs in the lungs. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflamed bronchial tubes, which are responsible for carrying air to and from the lungs.
These conditions result in the progressive decline of lung health and function, which makes it increasingly difficult to breathe.
Managing Symptoms of COPD
There are steps you can take to manage the symptoms of COPD for a better quality of life.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, so quitting is one of the most critical steps you can take to slow the progression of COPD.
If you smoke, consider getting help from a professional or support group so you can quit. You should also avoid exposure to secondhand smoke and other irritants, like dust and air pollution.
Take Medications Properly
There are some doctor-prescribed medications designed to help improve lung function, like bronchodilators, which relax the muscles around the airways. If your doctor has prescribed medication for your condition, it’s important for you to take it as prescribed.
Rehabilitation & Oxygen Therapy
Pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy are additional ways to manage COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation involves improving your overall health and well-being through education, nutritional counseling, exercise training, and professional support.
These programs typically involve increasing your exercise capacity and improving your breathing.
Oxygen therapy is for individuals whose blood oxygen levels are too low. This program involves using supplemental oxygen to help you breathe better and maintain healthy levels of blood oxygen.
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, is another method patients are exploring to help manage COPD symptoms. It involves helping your body heal itself so it can function optimally. With COPD, stem cell therapy may help repair damaged lung tissue to improve lung function overall.
This is made possible by the ability stem cells have to differentiate into various types of cells, such as those found in the lungs.
There Is Hope After a COPD Diagnosis
A COPD diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but with proper management, it is possible for you to maintain your health and a good quality of life despite COPD. Quitting smoking, participating in rehabilitation programs, and exploring regenerative medicine and medications are just a handful of ways you can manage COPD.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for hair, also Stem cell treatment for COPD. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.