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| What Does COPD Look Like |
More than 16 million were diagnosed with COPD in the year 2000 and 2.74 million died. You can get COPD from secondary smoking also. COPD encompasses two things -- chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Plain and simple, if you do not quit smoking, you cannot get better and will most likely die.
People with Regrets - COPD a Curable Disease
We all have regrets and none more so then those who started smoking at an early age to look "cool." My father started smoking at an early age while he was in the army, but when he saw the damage it was doing to his health, he gave it up. Some 30 years later though, those previous smoking habits would lead to his death. He smoked for 20 years and the damage it did to his lungs remained with him till his death. He would drown in his own bodily fluids and there was nothing anyone could do.
My sister, Julie had COPD and she got the disease from her husband who is a heavy smoker and who has refused to give up smoking, even if it means his death. He has smoked all of his life and he has the feeling he is invincible and although he only smokes outside, the life he leads with constantly near death experiences and one heart attack are so dramatic.
My sister decided the only way to save her life was with gastric bi-pass surgery. So she did the surgery and lost 100 pounds. She needed a full body cosmetic surgery to remove the excess skin that was sagging, but unlike my father Julie is alive and has recovered completely from COPD with a healthy diet, loss of 100 pounds and a regular exercise program.
Julie realizes that unless she keeps up this lifestyle that she will have no chance for survival and the huge desire to live has provided her with incentive enough to change the way she was heading. She also realizes that Don must change or one day she will be burying him, just like we did dad.
What is COPD?
COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the US. According to WHO COPD will be the 3rd leading cause of death by the year 2020 due to the expected increase of people smoking. COPD results in an obstruction of the airways leading to the lungs. As a result, COPD causes severe shortness of breath (dyspnea). COPD is usually a disease that results from years of smoking.
This respiratory illness is aggravated by second-hand smoke and environmental toxins like silica and cadmium. This potentially fatal disease shows promising results with the use of a healthy diet and natural supplements.
According to AARC.org, "In technical terms, COPD is a slowly progressive disease that is characterized by a decrease in the ability of the lungs to maintain the body's oxygen supply and remove carbon dioxide.[8] As a result of this decrease in lung function, COPD patients alter their lifestyles because they become short of breath after minimal exertion.
For example, instead of climbing a flight of stairs COPD patients take the elevator. Physical activities also take longer to complete. Lawn mowing that a COPD patient might have finished in 40 minutes only a year ago may now take an hour to do."
Symptoms of COPD
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, "At first, COPD may cause no symptoms or only mild symptoms. As the disease gets worse, symptoms usually become more severe. Common signs and symptoms of COPD include:"
- An ongoing cough or a cough that produces a lot of mucus (often called "smoker's cough")
- Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
- Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe)
- Chest tightness
Current COPD Treatments Available
Current COPD treatments will include slowing the accelerated decline in lung function; relieving COPD symptoms, such as shortness of breath and cough; improving lung function; decreasing exacerbations; and improving ones quality of life. Your doctor will have you do things such as change your diet, start walking daily and using a bronchodilator.
The first thing you will have to do is cease to smoke. As stated above you cannot expect to recover if you do not. In essence a person who refuses to give up smoking is committing suicide.
No one expects you to quit all at once, but your life is in danger and you must begin to quit whether slowly or all at once. I knew a woman who fasted every day for 30 days. She was completely cured of smoking by the end of the 30 days. She was convinced that living was much more important than smoking.
Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Changes
A plant-based diet, like the one Dr. Joel Furhman recommends, is instrumental in helping COPD sufferers recover. The plant-based diet rids the body of foods that create mucus, like milk and cheese. The diet promotes the consumption of organic fruits and vegetables. Many natural hygienists also recommend avoiding animal products, including eggs. Many studies indicate that adding broccoli to the diet greatly improves the symptoms of COPD patients.
Omega-3 oils are also beneficial to COPD patients. Omega-3 oils are found in fish oil supplements and in foods like fish, flax seeds and walnuts. "Fatty" fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Natural remedies and a strict diet can improve COPD symptoms.
7 Tips to Avoid Shortness of Breath While Eating:
http://copd.about.com/od/livingwithcopd/tp/Shortness-of-Breath---Eati...
Resources:
AARC
Thorax
Natural Society
