Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition that affects the lungs. It develops from damage of airways becoming obstructed. Medical conditions that can be given the term COPD include emphysema and bronchitis. These can show up together or separately.
When COPD occurs the airways in the lungs progressively narrow and make it very hard to breathe. This is very different from asthma because the damage cannot be reversed. In the case of emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs lose their elasticity and constrict. This makes it really hard to breathe. If the COPD is characterized as bronchitis then a persistent cough with a lot of mucous is present for 3 months of the year, for more than 2 years in a row. This persistent cough causes the airways in the lungs to become inflammed and results in damage to the lung tissue.
COPD is not a medical disorder that shows up overnight. The symptoms show up gradually and continue to worsen over time. The most apparent sign is a shortness of breath that worsens during exercise. A person with COPD will also feel fatigue because the body is not getting the required amount of oxygen. Other symptoms that can show up are cough, wheeze, loss of weight, headache, blue lips and excessive mucous.
COPD does not appear for just any reason. It is usually caused by damage we do to our own bodies. Smoking is the biggest cause of COPD because the chemicals in a cigarette cause damage to the airways in the lungs. Second hand smoke, fumes from chemicals and pollution are also to blame for causing COPD. The likelihood of getting COPD is amplified by your age, genes, frequency of smoking cigarettes and how long you have been smoking for. These factors can put you on a list for developing severe COPD.
If you think that you might be dealing with COPD then go visit your doctor. They will want to know about your history of smoking and will perform a complete physical exam. They will run several tests before determining whether you are suffering from COPD or not.
If COPD is the diagnosis then you should strongly consider stopping smoking. You may need to either take medication or use a portable oxygen cylinder to assist you in breathing. If you are looking to stick with a natural regimine then you should discuss this with your doctor first. Kali mur is a natural ingredient that helps the respiratory system to do it's job and eases wet coughs. Kali Sulph will help to make phlegm coughs more tolerable and lower the congestion in your sinuses.
Author Resource:-
Dee Braun, a single mom of 6, is a Cert. Aromatherapist & natural health practitioner. Click now to visit Natural Holistic Health Blog which offers info on more natural home remedies & healing techniques for common health, emotional ailments & conditions at http://www.Natural-Holistic-Health.com/
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