According to statistics, more than 11 million individuals in the US have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. This umbrella term encompasses several illnesses, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
The illness impedes proper airflow and causes abnormal inflammatory response and can make breathing very difficult. One of the major reasons for this condition is smoking.
The Stages of COPD
- Stage no.1- Mild
- Stage no.2- Moderate
- Stage no.3- Severe
- Stage no.4- Very Severe
Every stage is characterized by different symptoms and the more severe the stage, the higher the risk of death. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disease, but there are beneficial methods that may be of aid in alleviating the symptoms.
In addition to the therapy prescribed by your doctor, you should know that there are additional remedies that you can try out and find relief.
How to Naturally Alleviate COPD Symptoms
- Eat a healthy diet
Boost your consumption of anti-inflammatory foods, including nuts, healthy grains, berries, healthy oils like coconut oil, chia seeds, flaxseed, wild-caught salmon, etc. These foods are rich in omega3s that will help the body heal. Stay away from conventional dairy, processed and canned foods, and foods abundant in refined sugar and additives, preservatives, and dyes.
- Work out on a regular basis
When you exercise on a regular basis, you strengthen the cardiovascular health and lungs and increase the respiratory endurance. Moreover, exercise also elevates the endorphin levels in the brain and boosts the mood, lowers anxiousness and depression, and may ease your capacity to cease smoking.
- Drink more water
People with COPD need to constantly remove mucus from the lungs, which is often uncomfortable and causes ongoing coughing. To reduce the coughing and dissolve the mucus and make it easier for removal, boost your water intake. Opt for eight or more glasses of water on the daily. What’s more, improve the air moisture in your home- one way is by using a humidifier. Dry air is not good for COPD sufferers as it may irritate the lungs, increase the coughing, and cause more chest ache.
- Avoid crowds and cold air
COPD sufferers should stay away from smoke and pollution as much as possible. Also, cold air is not good for them because it may cause bronchospasm and cause a constriction of lung muscles. So, when the temperatures outside are cold, reduce the time you spent outdoors or at least limit it. When you need to go out in the cold, make sure you put on a mask that will prevent you from breathing in the air directly. What about large crowds? People who are prone to respiratory infections need to pay extra attention when in a large crowd because of the risk of contracting a respiratory infection.
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