Contents:
- Medical Video: Understanding COPD
- What is COPD and flare-up COPD?
- What are the tips to prevent COPD recurrence?
- 1. Stop smoking
- 2. Avoid air pollution
- 3. Avoid exposure from work
- 4. Know family history
- 5. Get a vaccine
- What else can be done to prevent COPD recurrence?
Medical Video: Understanding COPD
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience flare-up, that is, the time when their symptoms recur becomes worse than usual, and makes them more susceptible to infection. During these times, COPD patients may need to visit the hospital to get medical help.
Flare-up which often happens to make the patient's condition develop faster. Fortunately, prevention of COPD recurrence is possible.
What is COPD and flare-up COPD?
COPD is a deadly condition that can affect both men and women. COPD can increase the risk of other serious lung diseases. That's why you and your family members should have your lungs checked regularly. The most common cause of COPD is smoking.
Other factors that trigger the risk of COPD are:
- You are a smoker or ex-smoker over the age of 40.
- You have a family history of COPD or alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency.
- You experience persistent symptoms of COPD.
- You have a history of exposure to cigarette smoke or air pollution, or have worked with chemicals or dust that can cause lung damage.
COPD often causes flare-upaka recurrence. You can predict flare-up to prepare medical assistance for family members. The best way is to contact a doctor. Some warning signs flare-up COPD includes:
- wheezing, or wheezing more than usual
- cough more than usual
- shortness of breath that is more severe than usual
- increase in the amount of mucus
- mucus color changes to yellow, green, brown, or bleeding
- short or fast breathing, more than usual for you
- fever
- dazed or excessive drowsiness
- palm or ankle swelling
What are the tips to prevent COPD recurrence?
You can prevent COPD flare-ups by undergoing healthy lifestyle habits. Here are some tips that can help keep your lungs and family members healthy:
1. Stop smoking
The first tip is, of course, to stop the main causes of COPD. If your family member never smokes, don't start. If your family members smoke, they must stop for their own health and family. Even if you have smoked, stopping can help slow the progression of COPD and limit lung damage.
The risk of smoking also applies to passive smokers. According to the World Health Organization, 10 percent of smoking-related deaths are caused by cigarette smoke.
Quitting smoking is very important if you have low levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin protein (the protein needed to protect the lungs and liver). People who suffer from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can reduce their risk of severe COPD if they get regular alpha-1 antitrypsin injections. Family members of someone suffering from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency must be tested for this condition.
2. Avoid air pollution
Cooking in an open fire furnace or wood stove can increase the risk of COPD and flare-up COPD. This is especially true for people who live in rural areas. Other airway irritations (such as air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust) can also make COPD worse, but smoking is far more important in causing this disease.
3. Avoid exposure from work
Some jobs are exposed to high pollution, such as miners and chemical workers. COPD will worsen if patients are exposed to work hazards such as coal dust, chemical fumes, concrete dust, mineral dust, and cotton dust or grain dust. One study found that exposure when working can contribute to around 20 percent of COPD cases.
You should encourage family members to talk to your boss or look for ways to reduce exposure, for example you can tell them to use masks while working.
4. Know family history
COPD can have genetic factors that put your family at a higher risk factor for COPD, especially if someone in your family has COPD. If so, you should have your family checked for the "COPD gene." A blood test can indicate whether you carry the gene.
5. Get a vaccine
We recommend that your family get the COPD vaccine. Common injections are for flu, pneumonia, and pertussis vaccine (also called whooping cough).
What else can be done to prevent COPD recurrence?
Apart from the precautions mentioned above, here are tips to help your family members avoid relapsing COPD.
- Check with your doctor regularly according to the scheduled visit.
- Keep yourself clean by washing your hands every half hour or always carrying it hand sanitizer.
- Sleep a lot. When your body is tired, you will be more susceptible to getting sick.
- Drink plenty of water to thin mucus in the lungs.
By having a good prevention strategy, you can prevent it from happening flare-up COPD. If your family members experience too often flare-upYou should see a doctor for emergency medical help.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
