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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is the third leading cause of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization. COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs.
The main cause of COPD in developed countries is tobacco smoking. In the developing world, COPD often occurs in people exposed to fumes from burning fuel for cooking or heating in poorly ventilated homes. People with COPD are at increased risk of other diseases too, such as heart disease, lung cancer and a variety of other conditions. Although COPD is a progressive disease, it is also treatable.
"If you catch it at an early phase, treatment may consist of helping the patient to stop smoking or taking the patient away from the polluted environment that may be contributing to the disease," says Dr. John Costello, a consultant pulmonologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London. "For those with more advanced disease, long term rehabilitation programs have been very successful in centers that specialize in pulmonary disease."
As a part of rehabilitation, treatment for advanced COPD can include the use of medications, inhalers and oxygen therapy.
On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Costello discusses how COPD is diagnosed and the treatment options for COPD.
To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
Connect with others talking about COPD in the Lung Health support group.
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Why is there no cure for healing the alveol ?
This is normally what is damaged in copd patients correct?
I know the alveol Can heal
So there has to be a cure somewhere ..?
That is an interesting question, and the answer is very complex. First, alveoli damage, one part of COPD and emphysema, happens very gradually, and often by the time it is recognized the damage is extensive, too much to repair with current medical knowledge. Second, the damage is often ongoing, especially when people continue to smoke or vape, or are otherwise exposed to irritants. In those cases, treatment may not be able to keep up with continuing deterioration.
So, the answer is, sometimes alveoli can heal a little using all the recommended therapies, which include medication, pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise and avoiding respiratory infections. But all parts of the therapy must continue to keep the improvement. Stopping any part of the rehab, or resuming smoking, undoes any efforts towards healing. You can compare this to the athlete who stops training - they lose many of the benefits of the hard work of training.
So, while there is no cure per se, progression can be slowed, and sometimes the condition of the alveoli can be improved with continued effort.
Have you been diagnosed with an airway disease?
Sue
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2 ReactionsMy husband has sleep apnea
And copd with asthma..
He was at 34% lung capacity now he’s at 41..
He stopped using his c pap and got sick last year ended up in the hospital for 2 days..
With an exasperation..
Since that time he has done therapy and is now walking 2.5 miles every other day..
Sometimes double that ..
He also had to stop working as his trade as a pipefitter requires him to be around a lot of dust and chemicals
So on…
I’ve been doing a lot of research on all this..
Also he was diagnosed with copd around 2007 I think..
He uses albuterol when needed and trelegy
No one has ever showed us what his lungs look like..
So we have no clue..
But the pulmonary doc sounded really positive saying she was sure we could get him into moderate copd..
He’s had also every heart test and his heart and vascular is all good..
That’s is a long answer but this is why I ask..
I’m determined
@hunebabe1983, you may wish to join one or more of these support groups related to the conditions your husband has:
- Asthma support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/asthma/
- COPD support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/
- Lung Health support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/lung-conditions/
- Sleep Health support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/sleep-health/