Symptoms and treatment of COPD with folk remedies at home

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, has long been highlighted as a separate disease. It is characterized by inflammation in the bronchi and impaired airway. Do not confuse COPD with chronic obstructive bronchitis or bronchial asthma. This ailment leads to insufficient oxygen saturation of the body and has a lot of side effects. What symptoms does this disease have and is it realistic to find a cure for COPD with folk remedies? You can read more about this later.

COPD - what is it?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease most often occurs in cold, damp periods: autumn and spring. COPD is traditionally most often affected by children and the elderly. The occurrence of this disease is affected by the environmental situation, congenital and acquired pathologies, weak immunity and other factors. COPD is often confused with chronic bronchitis. This is not entirely true. COPD is almost always accompanied by bronchitis, shortness of breath and other disturbing “bells”. But the most dangerous is not this, but changes in the lungs at the structural level. The walls of the alveoli, which are involved in gas exchange with the pulmonary capillaries, become inelastic. As a result, they cannot participate in gas exchange, and the area of ​​the lungs, which saturates the blood with oxygen, decreases. Because of this, shortness of breath and inflammatory processes appear: pneumonia and bronchitis. Unfortunately, COPD is a progressive disease. Tissues of the lungs that have already been damaged are not restored, and the lungs begin to work worse. But the process can be slowed down if you adhere to the recommendations of doctors, avoid negative factors and treat acute conditions on time. Treatment of COPD with folk remedies is also quite effective.

Causes

What are the causes of COPD? Most often, this disease occurs due to long-term smoking. Inhaling tobacco smoke for years, a person literally kills his lungs. Over time, the alveoli become contaminated and lose their elasticity, and the volume of inhaled and exhaled gases decreases. As a rule, obstructive pulmonary disease does not develop immediately - for this to take years. Therefore, COPD is affected mainly by age-related patients over 60 years old. However, in smokers, it begins much earlier. Recommendations for the treatment of COPD necessarily include quitting smoking, regardless of the stage of the disease.

Causes of the disease can also be congenital pathologies, which most often cause COPD in children. This prematurity, diseases of the central nervous system, genetic disorders. If the child often suffers from infectious diseases, then the risk of developing chronic lung disease in the future increases significantly. The environment also has a rather strong effect on the state of the lungs. For example, among some professions that are associated with harmful substances, COPD is quite common. The adverse ecology of large cities, although it cannot be the only factor in the development of the disease, nevertheless significantly worsens the condition of people who already have breathing problems. Therefore, among the recommendations for patients with obstructive disease, one can often find advice to take long walks or even move out of town. Chronic lung disease is treated mainly during periods of exacerbation, and in severe cases, maintenance therapy is prescribed. It is possible to treat the symptoms of COPD with folk remedies, but only in addition to the main drugs prescribed by the doctor.

Degrees

Treatment of obstructive pulmonary disease is not possible without the correct determination of the severity of the disease. There are four degrees in total, and each of them has its own symptoms and indications.

• The first, easiest degree is characterized by wet cough and slight shortness of breath during physical exertion. The first degree of the disease is sometimes not detected by the patient, since it practically does not bother with any manifestations. Continuous maintenance therapy is not yet required at this stage. Treatment of COPD with folk remedies is most effective at the first symptoms of the disease.
• In the second stage, a person begins to suffer a long cough with viscous sputum and secretions from the lungs. The disease begins to occur with periods of exacerbation and remission. During exacerbation, severe shortness of breath and continuous coughing begin, and during a period of remission, a person can almost not bother anything. Most often, exacerbations occur in the spring and autumn, when viruses are most active, which undermine the already weak immunity and lung protection. How to distinguish this stage from others? During breathing, the wings of the nose, intercostal muscles are involved.
• In severe COPD, the period of remission decreases, the patient always breathes with wheezing. Severe shortness of breath, persistent cough and the impossibility of even minimal physical exertion - all this indicates a neglected disease. Oxygen is sorely lacking, so the physical activity of a person is reduced to a minimum.
• The most recent - the fourth - stage of the disease is characterized by acute respiratory failure. The body is in dire need of oxygen, so the patient is prescribed oxygen masks and continuous supportive therapy. Unfortunately, the average life expectancy of patients with stage 4 COPD is only 2 years.

Symptoms

How to determine chronic obstructive pulmonary disease without visiting a doctor? This can be quite difficult to do, since obvious manifestations of the disease appear only in the third stage. Prior to this, the disease can be "masked" by SARS or a regular cough. Nevertheless, there are a number of symptoms that help to recognize the development of COPD.

• Coughing is the first and most basic symptom of a disease. In the first stages, it appears infrequently and is not too intense.
• Increased colds and pulmonary diseases. With the development of COPD, the lungs lose their elasticity and ability to resist infections. Therefore, any virus or ARI leads to prolonged coughing, bronchitis, or even pneumonia. If you are often diagnosed with obstructive bronchitis, then this is an occasion to check for COPD.
• Shortness of breath during physical exertion. At the beginning of the disease, it is completely invisible, but still present. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that smokers (who are the main risk group) often do not pay attention to this symptom, as they take it for granted. But if untreated, shortness of breath progresses, and soon a person can not go up several floors without stopping and catching his breath.
• Dry or wet rales begin to be heard in the lungs, breathing becomes harsh. In the period of exacerbation, this is especially noticeable. A good specialist with the help of a phonendoscope can quickly understand that something is wrong with the body.
• Involvement of ancillary muscles. In the later stages of the disease, it becomes difficult for a person to take a breath - because the active volume of the lungs is becoming less and less. Therefore, the human muscles are included in the work: intercostal, muscles on the wings of the nose, which help to take a breath. Patients with COPD are characterized by a sunken chest.

It is important to identify symptoms and treatment of COPD not at home, but in a hospital setting, under the supervision of specialists.

Diagnostics

Several different analyzes and studies are ongoing to diagnose and treat COPD in the future.

• Blood analysis. It shows whether there are inflammatory processes in the body, and helps doctors see the general picture of the disease. With exacerbation of ESR, as a rule, it increases, as does the number of neutrophilic white blood cells. In the later stages of the disease, patients have an increase in the number of red blood cells, high hemoglobin and low ESR.
• Analysis of sputum is a mandatory study for patients with COPD. It shows whether there is an inflammatory process in the lungs and how pronounced it is. If atypical cells were detected in the analysis, then patients are checked for the development of cancer foci, which often appear in age-related patients with chronic obstructive disease. Sputum is often observed in patients with abundant secretion of mucus, the main component of which are macrophages.
• Determining the volume of peak expiratory flow rate is not the most reliable study, since prolonged expiration may indicate other lung diseases. Nevertheless, it is sometimes carried out to obtain a complete picture, especially since it does not require special equipment and painful procedures.
• Bronchoscopy is the most indicative study, which is carried out only in extreme cases, since it has many contraindications. Bronchoscopy is performed only under complete anesthesia, during which the lumen and mucous membrane of the bronchi are examined. Sometimes a piece of tissue is taken for biopsy. This method allows you to accurately determine the condition of the human pulmonary system.

In addition to the above tests, doctors carefully study the symptoms of COPD and prescribe treatment based on the overall picture.

Complications

Many people do not pay attention to shortness of breath and coughing until the condition becomes critical. Therefore, it is especially important to stop the development of the disease at an early stage when it is still possible to maintain a high quality of human life. Without treatment, COPD can lead to sad consequences.

• Disability.
• Pulmonary heart.
• Spontaneous pneumothorax.
• Problems with the cardiovascular system.
• Disability.
• Respiratory failure.
• Pneumonia.
• Chronic obstructive bronchitis.
• Pneumosclerosis (a condition in which normal lung tissue is replaced by connective tissue).
• Cyanosis.
• Persistent cough.
• Dyspnea.

In order to avoid the above consequences, it is necessary to start treatment on time. What methods are there to relieve COPD?

Treatment of COPD with traditional medicine

In medicine, there are many modern drugs for the treatment of obstructive pulmonary disease. Medicines are the basis for the treatment of chronic lung disease of any severity. Doctors usually prescribe inhalation therapy, which prevents acute relapse of the disease.

• Bronchodilator drugs help to increase the active lumen of the bronchi and, accordingly, the effectiveness of breathing. As a rule, these are drugs such as Berodual or Atrovent. In the early stages of the disease, these drugs are enough to eliminate shortness of breath and ease breathing. True, for a long period it is better not to use them.
• Mucolytics are drugs that relieve shortness of breath and spasm of the bronchi due to the removal of excess sputum. The most effective intake of bronchodilators with inhalation. The most popular drugs are Fluimucil and Lazolvan.
• Glucocorticosteroids have an anti-inflammatory effect. They can not be used for a long time, so doctors usually prescribe a course of 10-14 days. Medicines such as Fluticasone, Budesonide, relieve allergy symptoms and eliminate inflammation. These drugs are used to treat exacerbation of COPD.
• Antibiotics are prescribed for infectious diseases, which often provoke a relapse of chronic lung disease. Often, a patient with COPD fails to cope with the infection on his own, so antibiotics help the body quickly return to normal.
• Treatment for lung disease COPD includes supportive care. Immunomodulators are adjuvant therapy that allows a weakened body to more effectively resist bacteria and viruses.

ethnoscience

Treatment of COPD at home is possible if all the recommendations of doctors are followed. As a rule, people with severe illness and children require special equipment for use outside the hospital. First of all, it is a compression inhaler, which allows you to effectively break down drugs into small particles and deliver them directly to the lungs. However, it is possible to treat COPD at home with folk remedies. Only this should be done not instead of traditional medicine, but together with them. Then the chances of a favorable course of the disease increase markedly. What folk remedies can help a patient with chronic obstructive disease?

• Anise seeds are used for bronchospasm, as well as for sputum discharge. No wonder anise is used in many natural antitussive tinctures. In order to get the medicine, you need 1 teaspoon of seeds to pour a glass of boiling water and let it brew for 10 minutes. The resulting solution is taken 4 times a day before meals.
• Marshmallow is extremely effective for coughing. It is on its basis that the medicine "Mukaltin" was made. With proper preparation, marshmallows can eliminate or reduce the severity of coughing. It should be taken before meals several times a day.
• Thyme, also known as thyme, has been used in folk medicine for several centuries. It has anti-inflammatory properties and well removes sputum from the bronchi. This is a great way to prevent or treat COPD.
• Badger fat has long been used as an external and internal remedy for combating cough and lung diseases. When used together with milk, it can significantly improve the well-being of the patient.
• Propolis is usually used for inhalation. To prepare the solution, add 5-7 drops of tincture to boiling water, cover your head with a diaper and breathe for several minutes. This method is still familiar to our parents, but it is still effective.
• Ginger - improves the general condition of the body, removes toxins from the blood and has expectorant properties. To prepare the mixture, you need to take 200 g of ginger and 500 g of vodka, mix them and send to infuse. Take the tincture you need on a teaspoon twice a day.

Traditional medicine for the treatment of COPD is not suitable for everyone. Herbal tinctures have a lot of contraindications: they are not recommended for pregnant women, children and people with kidney and liver failure. If you decide to use herbs for the treatment of chronic lung disease, then they should not be taken during an exacerbation, and it is better not to expect a quick effect from them.

Prevention

Like any other disease, COPD is much easier to prevent than to treat. Painful procedures and expensive drugs can be avoided if you monitor your health and consult a doctor on time. For smokers who want to avoid this ailment, there is only one way out - getting rid of a bad habit. Most smokers get chronic lung disease sooner or later, it's only a matter of time. For people in poor environmental conditions or working in contaminated places with bad air, it is very important to timely carry out preventive examinations by specialists. Such examinations help to recognize the disease in the early stages and prevent deterioration.

Breathing exercises

The treatment of COPD with folk remedies is well complemented by respiratory gymnastics. This is a series of exercises that are performed to strengthen and improve lung health. Respiratory gymnastics solves the following tasks:

• Eliminates congestive circulation in the lungs.
• Reduces shortness of breath.
• Strengthens the lungs and muscles.
• Increases blood oxygen saturation.
• Reduces respiratory failure.
• Prevents accumulation of fluid in the pleura.

Breathing exercises should be repeated at least five times a day. Here is some of them:

• Sitting on a chair with a straightened back, you need to quickly inhale and slowly, with effort, exhale air through compressed lips.
• In a sitting position, a person should inhale slowly, hold his breath for several seconds and exhale as slowly. Exercise should not cause discomfort or pain in the lungs. The number of seconds with holding your breath should increase as much as possible.
• Put your hand on your chest and, simulating a cough, lightly press on it at the same time as you exhale. This exercise helps to remove phlegm from the bronchi.
• Sitting on a chair, at the same time as you inhale raise your shoulders, and lower them with exhalation.
• At the end of each workout, you need to perform a relaxing exercise: sitting, lower your head to your knees and wrap your arms around your ankles. You need to completely relax and sit for a couple of minutes.

Daily exercise can be of great benefit in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. But it is important not to forget to take traditional medicine. Together, these two techniques can prolong the remission of the disease for a long time.

Doctors advice

At the moment, COPD is an incurable disease. . - , . , . . , .