Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a debilitating and devastating disease. Many people who suffer from COPD are disabled, and the disease has been linked to several other medical conditions like heart disease, hypertension and congestive heart failure. COPD is a progressive disease, and there is no known cure for it. Detection is one of the biggest issues in the identification of patients who may have COPD. One of the reasons for this is because many people who have been stricken with COPD, don’t have any idea they have it. People who have a history of conditions like asthma and upper respiratory disorders generally disregard their symptoms of COPD as symptoms relating to their asthma or other respiratory condition. Even though there is no known cure for COPD, there are treatment options available to help manage the effects of the disease. Three of the top COPD treatment options include: pulmonary rehabilitation, medications and oxygen therapy. There are also new and emerging treatments that patients can discuss with their doctors, some of which are changing how patients are treated. Consider these questions when pursuing the top COPD treatment options.
Many of the symptoms manifested by COPD resemble those of other medical disorders. As with any other medical condition, education and understanding the early warning signs of COPD would go a long way in being able to make an early diagnosis. Often times, people are not diagnosed with COPD until the disease is in its final stages.
The majority of the people who are diagnosed with COPD are those who have smoked cigarettes in the past. Current smokers are also at risk for developing this disease. People who live with a smoker are also at risk of developing COPD at some point in their lives. People who are exposed to other substances known to irritate the lungs, like fumes from chemicals, dust, and other environmental air pollutants are also at risk.
Other new treatments coming soon for COPD patients include soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors, which ease tobacco-related inflammation. Another upcoming drug class is selective glucocorticoid receptor modulators, which help currently used steroids work better with fewer side effects. Doctors are also experimenting with stem cell therapy as a means to repair lung tissues damaged by COPD.
Developments in COPD research is already paying off with new options. One of the newest treatment breakthroughs is a class of drug known as phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors. This drug class can reduce the frequency of COPD flares, and it is already available in inhaler form as Roflumilast. Scientists are currently working on new drugs that can reduce the inflammation caused by COPD. These drugs are already changing how people with COPD are treated.
Most people who suffer with COPD tend to have a certain amount of anxiety relating to their inability to obtain enough air. A class of medications called Anxiolytics or Anti-anxiety medications like Paroxetine are often prescribed. Because there is a lot of tissue irritation and swelling associated with COPD steroids like prednisone are also prescribed. Other medications associated with the treatment of COPD include bronchodilators, antibiotics, and smoking cessation medicines.