Answering The Frequently Asked COPD Questions

Chances are if you have been recently diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease then you have a more than a few questions.

Such as what exactly is COPD, how will this affect my everyday life, will I be stuck in the house 24/7, what are my treatment options, or how long do I have to live?

These are all valid questions and remember you are not the first with a question about COPD and you will certainly not be the last, so never feel ashamed of asking a question. The following questions will help you find the answers you are looking for, and they will help you better understand the overall disease as well as what you can do to slow the progression of COPD.

Now these are just a few of the most frequently asked questions throughout the COPD community, if you have any further questions be sure to bring them up to your doctor because they are your best possible resource for information.

COPD, What's That?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is mainly caused by smoking or inhaling second hand smoke, but can also be caused from inhaling dust particles, fumes, chemicals or other toxins that are present in the workplace.

COPD is a broad term that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

The lungs become damaged and weakened when exposed to harmful irritants such as smoking for long periods of time, COPD makes the heart work harder by making it increasingly difficult for airflow to flow in and out of the lungs.

How Can I Slow the Progression of my Disease?

The affects that your body has felt from intense exposure to lung irritants cannot be reversed, however there are ways of slowing down the progression of your COPD.

The most important thing to do if you are still smoking is to quit, speak with your doctor about methods to help you quit.

Speak with your doctor about medical grade oxygen if you are already not prescribed, if you are prescribed medical oxygen then this has numerous beneficial factors in the treatment for COPD.

Oxygen concentrators take the air around it which is 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, and removes the nitrogen and produces 90 - 95 percent pure medical grade oxygen.

What makes oxygen therapy so beneficial is that it supplements and raises oxygen levels in the bloodstream, this will give patients more energy to do activities they love, patients will sleep better, and this helps patients regain their breath during times of symptom flare-ups or also known as exacerbations.