Respiratory Disease: COPD

COPD: Brief Description 

COPD stands for “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease”, a progressive lung disease that makes it problematic to breathe. COPD can cause swelling, soreness, narrowing, and damage to the airways and lung tissue, leading to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing. COPD is typically caused by long-term smoking. Other causes can include contact with chemical fumes, air pollution, and genetic influences. (Devine, 2008).

COPD: Treatment 

It is a prominent notion that there is no cure for COPD. Initial diagnosis and treatment help in slowing the development of the disease in the patient. Holistic and traditional treatments can both be beneficial for managing COPD. The COPD patient should consult a healthcare professional for their personalized treatment plan. Here are some examples of holistic and traditional treatments for COPD:

Holistic Treatments

Breathing exercises such as yoga and tai chi can improve lung function, reduce stress, and increase relaxation. Acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Dietary changes can help improve overall health and reduce inflammation, which is often associated with COPD. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains can be helpful. Herbal remedies such as eucalyptus, ginger, and ginseng may help relieve symptoms of COPD, but it’s important to talk to a healthcare professional before taking any supplements (Fletcher et al., 2011).

Traditional Treatments

Bronchodilators and anti-muscarinic agents are medications that help in comforting the muscles near the airways. This makes the COPD patient easy to breathe. Corticosteroids decrease swelling and soreness in the airways, which can help relieve symptoms. Oxygen therapy is also a beneficial treatment for chronic COPD patients with low oxygen levels in their blood. “Pulmonary rehabilitation” is a program that chains medical education, breathing techniques, and education to facilitate improving overall health especially lung functioning. In severe cases of COPD, surgery may be recommended. This can include “lung volume reduction surgery” (to remove damaged lung tissue) or a lung transplant.

In addition to these treatments, several lifestyle changes can help manage COPD symptoms. These include leaving smoking, eluding contact to air pollutants and follow a healthy lifestyle (with guidance from a healthcare professional). (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), 2022)

COPD: Secondary Disease Type

COPD is a secondary disorder that occurs in chronic smokers. It is called a secondary disorder because smoking is the major cause of COPD. The number of packs smoked is directly proportional to the disease severity, and treatment time. Smoking leads to chronic obstructive impairment of the airways. COPD is classified as Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Bronchiectasis.

COPD: Impact on Society, Healthcare System, and Resource Usage

COPD has a significant impact on society in terms of businesses and healthcare resources. COPD can lead to a decrease in workforce productivity due to missed workdays, hospitalizations, and decreased ability to perform physical tasks. This can result in increased costs for businesses in terms of healthcare expenses, disability payments, and lost productivity. COPD is a leading cause of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and healthcare costs. This can lead to a strain on healthcare resources, including hospital beds, medical equipment, and healthcare personnel. In addition, people with COPD often require ongoing care and management, which can further increase healthcare costs. COPD requires a significant amount of healthcare resources, including medication, oxygen therapy, rehabilitation programs, and frequent doctor’s visits. This can lead to a strain on healthcare resources, particularly in areas where access to healthcare is limited (Lakiang et al., 2018). In 2010, the USA spent 50 billion dollars on the global cost of COPD (Guarascio et al., 2013). This global cost is directly proportional to the severity of the illness. As COPD is progressing vigorously in the modern World, it is the third prominent reason of mortality in the United States. Healthcare research and care centers must devise radical measures to timely cure this disease.

References

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). (2022, April 11). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/respiratory/index.htm

Devine, J. F. (2008). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Overview. American Health & Drug Benefits, 1(7), 34–42.

Fletcher, M. J., Upton, J., Taylor-Fishwick, J., Buist, S. A., Jenkins, C., Hutton, J., Barnes, N., Van Der Molen, T., Walsh, J. W., Jones, P., & Walker, S. (2011). COPD uncovered: An international survey on the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] on a working age population. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 612. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-612

Guarascio, A. J., Ray, S. M., Finch, C. K., & Self, T. H. (2013). The clinical and economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the USA. ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research, 5, 235–245. https://doi.org/10.2147/CEOR.S34321

Lakiang, T., Nair, N. S., Ramaswamy, A., & Singhal, U. (2018). Economic impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A cross-sectional study at teaching hospital in South India. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 7(5), 1002–1006. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_75_16