COPD – Underrated respiratory disease – Know about it
We all have heard about the disease asthma and every 2 people in 13 people are affected by asthma. But have you heard about COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)?
What is COPD?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a disease of the lungs in which the patient has great difficulty in breathing. The lungs are very spongy, when we inhale air, oxygen gets into our blood and carbon dioxide goes out, but COPD is a disease that stops this process. Patients with COPD have difficulty breathing and oxygen cannot reach their body completely. The most common and preferred way to treat COPD is using a BiPAP machine with an oxygen concentrator.
There is a misconception that asthma and COPD are the same diseases because the symptoms are very similar such as cough, phlegm and difficulty in breathing. However, these two diseases are quite different from each other. COPD is called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a more serious disease than asthma. COPD is rapidly affecting people across the globe, so it is important to know about COPD.
What are the symptoms of COPD?
COPD patients often have difficulty breathing. Although the symptoms of COPD may initially be mild with just coughing and shortness of breath, as the disease progresses, patients with COPD begin to have difficulty breathing. Patients affected by this disease experience chest tightness with symptoms like wheezing. Smoking is a major cause of the development of this disease. Prolonged exposure to toxic gases such as chemical irritants and other harmful external agents can also cause COPD. Nevertheless, COPD is a disease that takes a long time to develop in patients suffering from this acute respiratory disease.
What is the treatment for COPD?
However, it should also be remembered that if COPD is not treated, serious heart disease can occur and respiratory infections can worsen in patients. There are many people around the world who, despite suffering from this disease, are unaware of its presence in their bodies. To slow the progression of the disease, it is best to consult a pulmonologist or respiratory therapist. Medications that help relax the airway muscles, such as bronchodilators are usually prescribed to patients with the disease.
There are many medications to bring patients relief but the most effective way to treat COPD is the Bilevel positive airway pressure and it has two distinct pressure settings both for inhaling and exhaling. The low pressure while exhaling makes it more comfortable to breathe out. The machine helps in relieving the difficulty of breathing by pushing oxygen to the lungs. BiPAP machine with an oxygen concentrator is used in patients suffering from severe COPD where the patient cannot breathe on their own at all. A BiPAP device helps efficiently expel the CO2 to prevent a dangerous condition called hypoxia. The BiPAP machine with oxygen concentrator must be purchased from an authorised and trusted company such as Resmed BiPAP machine and NIV BiPAP machine.
Diagnosis of COPD is usually made by imaging, blood tests and LFT (Lung Function Test). There is hardly any cure for this disease. But some treatments can help reduce the symptoms of the disease and reduce the likelihood of complications that generally improve the quality of life of COPD patients.