Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD for short, is an insidious disease that makes breathing more difficult because it affects the upper, middle and lower airways. There is no cure yet, but fortunately there are many ways to ease the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.
COPD is usually caused by things that irritate your lungs, such as cigarette smoke or air pollution. These bad substances damage the airways and lungs, making breathing difficult. The symptoms can range from a little shortness of breath to serious breathing problems, such as coughing, wheezing and fatigue.
What COPD does to your breathing
Your respiratory system consists of several parts: the upper respiratory tract (nose, mouth and throat), the middle respiratory tract (trachea and bronchi), and the lower respiratory tract (smaller bronchioles and alveoli). In COPD, all these parts are damaged, but it is the middle and lower airways that are most affected.
How to treat COPD
There are many ways to treat COPD. Think of medication, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and in very serious cases even a lung transplant. A popular method of treatment is the use of a nebulizer, a device that converts medicines into a mist that you can breathe. These nebulizers can really help reduce the symptoms of COPD and improve the quality of your life.
Nebulizers are especially useful because they can mainly reach the middle and lower airways, the places where COPD causes the most damage. The mist of medicine can penetrate deep into your lungs and act directly on the inflamed and narrowed airways, helping you breathe better.
Living with COPD
COPD is a serious disease that slowly gets worse, but fortunately there are good ways to control symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. The use of a nebulizer can be an important tool in this regard. If you or a loved one is struggling with COPD, it's a good idea