Primary Causes of COPD and Alternative Options for Treatment
Have you heard of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD? This disease is brought about by heavy smoking, exposure to environmental pollutants, and even second-hand smoke. As per the World Health Organization's (WHO) website, in 2015, there were about three million deaths caused by COPD globally. That accounts for 5 per cent of deaths around the world in that year. Hence, if you don't want to be another statistic, you'd do well to learn more about it.
Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke remains to be the leading culprit behind COPD. Because we now live in a highly competitive world where stress levels are at their peak most of the time, people resort to smoking as a coping mechanism for stress so they could stay functional.
Worse, cigarette carries with it about 7,000 chemicals of which 69 are carcinogenic. Eighty to 90 per cent of deaths are wrought by chronic bronchitis and emphysema, both being under the COPD umbrella. It has also been repeatedly shown by researches that smokers die earlier than non-smokers.
Alternative Modes of Treatment
Today, with the skyrocketing cost of drugs coupled with very prohibitive healthcare services, more and more people are compelled to seek out alternative and more affordable means to address COPD.
· Use of Herbs
Nature is teeming with remedies that are generally safe for COPD patients. There's CBD hemp oil, and you can see customer testimonials about this online. There are dietary supplements and beverages that can meet the health needs of patients suffering from COPD. Eucalyptus oil has been a proven expectorant which may be mixed with the humidifier to help the patient breathe more easily. Herbs and food rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like walnuts, flaxseed, canola oil, sardines, salmon and mackerel contain substances with anti-inflammatory properties that may address the swollen bronchial tubes and pipes to make breathing easier. You should never discount cbd vape oil and how it can help you, so make sure to ask your doctor.
· Mind-Body Coordination
More and more COPD patients are claiming to have achieved greater relief and longer hours of peaceful sleep with mind/body coordination like relaxation therapy, guided imagery or mediation. The music industry has recorded numerous selections of relaxing music to soothe stress and alleviate pain in patients. Patients also benefit from thinking with optimism or dispelling negative thoughts and fears.
· Yoga's Deep Breathing Exercise
Since COPD is characterized by chest tightness and difficulty in breathing, yoga as an alternative modality greatly facilitates breathing as this form of exercise puts emphasis on proper breathing techniques. The deep-breathing exercises help reduce stress since the expansion of the lungs are maximized, thus making it more comfortable for the patient to breath. This plus herbal cannabis might be a good combination to combat COPD.
What makes COPD a serious ailment is having no known cure to treat the permanent damage on the air sacs and other critical parts of the lungs. This is why discovering ways to manage the discomfort and the complications for COPD patients remains to be a challenge for the medical research industry. Try to learn more about cannabis, as well as how it can help you treat COPD.