Giving COPD Patients Something to Breathe Easier About

As they say, quality of life is priceless. But for many people suffering from COPD, this can seem like a distant dream.

Short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we hear the term used on those television ads showing a middle aged man or woman looking for relief from their breathing difficulties. While some viewers who have seen these ads may not be aware of the disease and its devastating effects, those that suffer from its symptoms are all too familiar with the pain that it causes.

Often mistaken for other ailments such as asthma and acute bronchitis, COPD is an umbrella term for two diseases — chronic bronchitis and emphysema.  Characterized by a persistent airflow limitation, the disease is the fourth largest killer in the United States, and affects over 16 million Americans. The main causes of COPD include smoking and long term exposure to lung irritants.

While more information is released on a regular basis about COPD, many of those patients suffering from its symptoms still aren’t aware of new treatment options available. From inhalers to steroids, most of the information available promotes preventive care or medications that manage the patient’s symptoms as the disease progresses. Because COPD is a progressive disease, reversal is not possible through conventional medicine.

By:

About the Author: