VISITING ANGELS LAKES REGION, NH 603-366-1993
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Elderly Assistance Experts Explain Everything You Need To Know About COPD

Even if you’ve never heard of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), you’ve probably heard of some of the conditions that fall under the umbrella: emphysema and chronic bronchitis, to name a couple. COPD is chronic and causes your airways to get blocked. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 12 million adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with COPD, and 120,000 die from it each year. That is a massive amount of people, and indeed it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. In order to detect and treat it early on, elderly assistance experts say the best thing you can do first is to understand COPD entirely. From symptoms, signs, causes and treatments, here are some of the most important things you need to know about COPD.

COPD is chronic, and there isn’t a cure

Like any chronic disease, there isn’t a cure for COPD, meaning that patients diagnosed with it will likely deal with it for the rest of their lives. However, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost when you or a loved one is diagnosed - there are plenty of things you can do slow down the progression of the disease and live your full life relatively pain free.

Smoking is the most common risk factor, but there are others

When we think of emphysema, normally the image of a lifelong chain-smoker comes to mind. But experts say that there are other risk factors and that not everyone who ends up with COPD was ever a smoker. Other risk factors include: inhaling air that is poor in quality, and a genetic predisposition called Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.

A variety of symptoms can tip you off

There are many common symptoms of COPD that you might be suffering from. Some of the most common symptoms of COPD, according to elderly assistance experts, are:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing cough
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Weight loss
  • Swelling in feet or ankles
  • Lips turning blue
  • Confusion

Finding the right treatment depends on the person

Elderly assistance experts stress that all treatments aren’t the same for everyone, and it might take some trial and error before you find what works for you. Some of the most common treatments are: breathing exercises, supplemental oxygen and sometimes even surgery. 

Serving the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and surrounding towns

Visiting Angels LAKES REGION, NH
401 Gilford Ave #208
Gilford, NH 03249
Phone: 603-366-1993

Serving the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and surrounding towns

Visiting Angels LAKES REGION, NH
401 Gilford Ave #208
Gilford, NH 03249
Phone: 603-366-1993