COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), also known as chronic obstructive lung disease, is the name given to the co-occurrence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pair of commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed.
- Chronic means long term or persistent
- Obstructive refers to the narrowing of the airways caused by both chronic bronchitis and emphysema
- Emphysema is damage to the smaller airways and airsacs (alveoli) of the lungs.
- Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (the airways of the lungs).
- Pulmonary means 'affecting the lungs'.
COPD is most commonly caused by long term tobacco smoking. Chronic bronchitis causes an inflammation of the lining of the lungs and excessive sputum production and emphysema causes the inflammation and destruction of the lining of the alveoli in the lungs.
What are the Symptoms of COPD? As most cases of COPD are the direct result of tobacco smoking, the disease is gradual and symptoms build up over time. Which is why most people are over 40 by the time symptoms begin.
There are a number of common conditions which are
associated with COPD:
- Chronic cough with sputum production – also known as smokers’ cough.
- Shortness of breath or dyspnea – a tightness of the chest often described by suffers of COPD as “My breathing requires effort” or “ I can’t seem to get enough air in”.
- Wheezing.
- Breathing out – taking a longer time than breathing in.
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- Cough is usually the first symptom to develop. It is productive with sputum (phlegm). It tends to come and go at first, and then gradually becomes more persistent (chronic). You may think of your cough as a 'smokers cough' in the early stages of the disease. It is when the breathlessness begins that people often become concerned.
- Breathlessness ('short of breath') and wheeze may occur only when you exert yourself at first, for example, when you climb stairs. These symptoms tend to become gradually worse over the years if you continue to smoke. Difficulty with breathing may eventually become quite distressing.
- Sputum - the damaged airways make a lot more mucus than normal. This forms sputum (phlegm). You tend to cough up a lot of sputum each day.
- Chest infections are more common if you have COPD. Wheezing with cough and breathlessness may become worse than usual if you have a chest infection. Sputum usually turns yellow or green during a chest infection.
What's the difference between COPD and asthma?
Asthma and COPD cause similar symptoms. However, they are different diseases.
- In COPD there is permanent damage to the airways. The narrowed airways are 'fixed', and so symptoms are chronic (persistent). Treatment to 'open up the airways' is limited.
- In asthma there is inflammation in the airways which causes muscles in the airways to constrict. This causes the airways to narrow. The symptoms tend to 'come and go', and vary in severity from time to time. Treatment to reduce inflammation and to 'open up the airways' usually works well.
During the Halotherapy treatment process the overwhelming majority of patients with different forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) demonstrate positive dynamics of symptoms that proved the disorders of respiratory drainage; decrease in cough frequency and intensity, easier expectoration of sputum, which becomes less viscous and changes in its nature. Such a dynamic of clinical symptoms is an evidence of mucociliary transport activation and intensification of respiratory drainage.
Outside allergens: pollens, grasses etc
Indoor allergens: pet dander, dust mites, mould spores etc
How Halotherapy helps patients with COPD
Inhalation of salt aerosol is clinically proven to cleanse the respiratory system of the human body and to speed up the elimination of toxins. The size of the particles is the same as in natural Salt Caves — 1-5 μm. These so-called breathable particles penetrate into the bronchial tree in the form of finest crystals. diffused dry saline works as a “bronchial brush” for the airways.
A salt aerosol proved to have bactericidal effects, cleansing microbial flora of the respiratory tract, slowing down bacterial growth and increasing resistance to respiratory tract diseases. Salt aerosol is a well known decongestant; it reduces inflammation widening of the airway passages, restoring the normal transport of mucous secretion and free blockages in the bronchi and bronchioles leading to rapid elimination of the residual tar and foreign allergens. It also has a hyposensitizing effect: the body becomes less sensitive to a substance producing an allergic reaction and immunomodulating effect: it’s reducing IgE levels in the body. IgE is the antibody involved in allergic reactions.
Dry sodium chloride aerosol eliminates airborne pollen particles from the airways. The air composition strengthens immunity and better immunity decreases allergic reaction to pollens and other allergens. The treatment's efficacy is estimated at 75 - 98%.
Advantages of Halotherapy
Halotherapy is 100% natural, safe and drug-free, providing effective long-term relief. It can be used as a complementary treatment to prescribed medications or as a sole treatment. When Halotherapy is used as a complimentary treatment, it can increase the effectiveness of prescribed medications, and decrease the amount prescribed medication. In order to help you choose evidence-based complementary/alternative treatment we would like you to get a better understanding of asthmatic disease and the treatment options available.