Chapter 6:  Surviving COPD And Its Effects On Your Life

 

As we’ve talked about, one of the key elements to surviving chronic bronchitis and emphysema is to get help as soon as you realize that you are ill.  That means seeking your doctor’s attention and asking for the right tests if you have experienced bronchitis more than two times per year or you are a smoker (or live in a smoking house.)

 

But, how is a condition like this actually treated?

 

There are several key things that need to be taken into consideration here.

 

Quality Of Life

 

One of the largest factors facing those that suffer from chronic bronchitis and emphysema is that of quality of life.  As the disease moves from being an irritating cough to being in its advanced stages, it gets harder and harder to maintain the things that you enjoy doing. 

 

At first, you can’t catch your breath.  As it moves through its seriousness, you may need to use an oxygen supplement and many will eventually need a mechanical respiratory to provide them with assistance.

 

Most that suffer from this condition face limits in the physical exertion they can put out, their ability to do chores around the house, their ability to be social and to engage in family activities and they severely lack the ability to work as they used to.

 

The Job OF Medications

 

There is no cure for chronic bronchitis.  There is no cure for emphysema.  There is no way to reverse the damage that has been done to your lungs and bronchial tubes because of these conditions.

 

The medications that are used to treat chronic bronchitis is designed to aid in several things, though.  First, it can slow the amount of deterioration that happens in the lungs so that the disease does not progress as fast as it would have without the medications. 

 

In addition, medications are used to treat the symptoms of chronic bronchitis.  This means providing relief to the vast number of symptoms you face including coughing and the inability to do many things.