According to the American Lung Association, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that affects 12.5 million people in the United States. This chronic illness causes inflammation in the lungs that leads to difficulty breathing.
Although symptoms are experienced chronically, they can worsen when you have a COPD flare-up. Learn some of the best strategies for helping to prevent flare-ups in this guide.
Reduce Exposure to Pollutants and Smoke
Any kind of smoke, whether from a campfire, a cigarette, or even an incense stick, can further irritate your lungs and airways, causing a flare-up. Pay attention to the air quality in your area. If pollution is an issue, stay indoors as much as possible.
Know the Signs
It’s crucial that you know the signs of a COPD flare-up. You can experience symptoms like:
- Excessive mucus production
- Coughing more often
- Severe fatigue
- Headaches
- Swollen ankles or legs
- Difficulty sleeping
By learning to spot these indicators, you can take steps to prepare for the flare-up, including reaching out to your doctor if necessary.
Avoid Crowds
Catching an illness is much easier to do if you’re in a large group of people. Any respiratory illness, including a simple cold, can worsen COPD symptoms. So, it’s a good idea to reschedule meetups with loved ones if one of them is sick. And if it’s impossible to avoid being in a large group, wear a mask.
Get Vaccinated
Stay up to date on all of your vaccinations, including those for the flu. Giving your immune system all the help, it needs has the potential to prevent COPD flare-ups.
Protect Yourself from Flare-Ups
If you have COPD, you may not be able to rid yourself of all the chronic symptoms. However, you can prevent flare-ups by taking simple precautions. By protecting yourself against respiratory illnesses, pollutants, and more, it is possible to better manage the worsening of COPD symptoms.
Regenerative Medicine for COPD
Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, utilizes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for their ability to differentiate into different cell types and possess immunomodulatory and regenerative properties.
MSCs can release anti-inflammatory molecules, promote tissue regeneration, and interact with the immune system to suppress excessive inflammation. Studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of MSC therapy in COPD. MSC administration has the potential to reduce lung inflammation, decrease oxidative stress, improve lung function, and enhance lung tissue repair.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide acces/autois to Regenerative Medicine for hair, also Stem cell therapy for COPD. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.
