According to study, 90 percent of people smoke and about 20-30 percent of smokers in the country develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a lung disease caused mainly due to excessive smoking or exposure to chemicals. COPD makes it harder to inhale and exhale. There is no cure for COPD, but treatment can help to diagnose the symptoms. Its diagnosis usually involve imaging tests, blood and lung test. If left untreated, it can cause heart problems, lung infections and even death in severe cases it could lead to death.
Symptoms
At early stages, COPD patients feel shortening of breath especially after physical activity, clearing of throat regularly and recurring cough. You may avoid walking and start skipping physical activities. As the time passes, symptoms become worse and you may feel dizziness, chest pain frequent cold, loss of energy, lung infections and many more.
Causes
The main cause of COPD is subsequent years of smoking. Most people above 40 years old suffer from COPD and mostly will be smoking person.
Diagnosis
There is no special test for COPD, but when you visit a doctor make sure to tell him about the symptoms that you are facing. Tell them about family members (if any) who are suffering from COPD. Tell him about all the medications and allergies you are having.
Treatment
As said earlier, there is no pure cure for COPD, but treatment can give you strength to fight this disease. It prevents complications and generally slows down the progression of the disease.
Different type of treatments available for COPD:
- Medication
- Oxygen Therapy
- Surgery
- Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle change is the best option to avoid this problem and medication such as using various COPD inhalers can help. Surgery is reserved for severe cases of COPD, i.e., lung transplant.
List of COPD Inhalers that you should know
- Proventil
Proventil is a rescue COPD inhaler that helps to give a fast relief from sudden breathing problems. It consists of medications like albuterol, a bronchodilator. It gives immediate relaxation to lungs and eases the breathing process.
Side Effects
- It causes infection in the throat, ears, and nose
- It causes nervousness, vomiting and rapid heartbeat
- Atrovent
Atrovent is one of the most popular COPD inhalers in the market today. It consists of ipratropium which is an anticholinergic bronchodilator. It is used in the treatment of COPD but not a rescue inhaler. It can’t cure sudden certain breathing problems.
Side Effects
- Feeling of chest pain during new dose
- Blurred vision and eye pain can be one of the side effects
- It may feel pain during urination
- Brovana
Brovana is considered as one of the top inhalers especially for COPD patients. It is not at all recommendable for asthma patients. Also, it can’t be used as rescue inhaler as its aim for long-term treatment. It should be taken twice a day once in morning another in evening.
Side Effects
- It can cause sudden shortness of breath after its intake
- It also causes the rises in blood pressure and heart rate
- It causes an allergic reaction such as skin rash and tongue swelling
- Breo Ellipta
This inhaler is made by combining two types of medications that is fluticasone furoate and vilanterol. Vilanterol helps in relaxing of muscles around your airways and also helps in clearing mucus. This medication is just once every day for COPD patients.
Side Effects:
- It also causes a rise in blood pressure and fast heart rate
- It causes some certain types of allergic reactions in the body such as a headache, swallowing, tongue and lips swelling
An inhaler is very important in the treatment of COPD, so take it only after proper doctor’s prescription as it can have side-effects on your health. You are not allowed to forget your dose on daily basis as per your doctor’s advice. It is advisable to take a long treatment inhaler along with one rescue inhaler for sudden breathing issues.
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Three ways to get rid of phlegm: Home remedies
Read moreOur mucous membranes secrete a thick liquid substance called phlegm. It is generated to support our respiratory system. The phlegm-secreting membranes are present in the mouth, nose, throat, sinuses and lungs.
Excessive phlegm may cause coughing. We mostly become aware of its presence at the back of the throat when we have a cold or flu.
What causes phlegm?
Here are some of the most common causes of phlegm:Excessive mucus accumulation
Phlegm might build up overnight due to excessive mucus accumulation in the throat or the nose. Throat irritation and coughing are common symptoms. It might also lead to congestion.Cold, flu and allergies
Clear, thin mucus is produced in the nose and the throat when you catch a cold. This mucus starts to turn yellow or green when the body reacts with the virus. You might also develop phlegm if you have seasonal allergies. You must get yourself checked if you experience symptoms like coughing, itchy eyes or sneezing.Dairy Products
If you’re prone to phlegm and developing excessive throat mucus, you should avoid consuming dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt. Milk items contain protein molecules called casein. Casein increases mucus secretions. You should also avoid drinking excessive caffeine beverages and non-herbal teas as well.Effective home remedies for treating phlegm
If phlegm is causing you irritation or making you uncomfortable, you should take steps to remove it.Here are three effective natural ways to get rid of phlegm:
Stay Well-Hydrated
You might be getting this advice often for a lot of ailments. As clich as it sounds, it is indeed effective! Water helps in thinning the mucus and relieving congestion. You should have warm fluids at frequent intervals to get rid of the uncomfortable symptoms of phlegm.Try drinking warm apple juice and having warm soups or broths. Lemon water keeps you hydrated as well. The warm fluids can relieve congestion caused by phlegm by helping the mucus flow.
Follow a diet that is good for your respiratory health
You should consume a diet containing ingredients such as ginger, garlic, and lemon. These ingredients have medicinal values. They help relieve the symptoms of phlegm by curing excess mucus and treating colds and coughs.Spicy foods such as cayenne and chilli peppers contain capsaicin. Including these in your diet helps in thinning the mucus. Eat berries, licorice roots, pomegranates and oral zinc and drink guava tea.
Humidify and moisturize the air: Have a sauna bath
Steam is known to treat congestion caused by phlegm. This is also one of the most effective ways to get rid of phlegm. Let the bath water run till it begins to steam. But be careful not to burn yourself. Have a steam bath with the shower head pointed away from you. You may also lean over a bowl of steaming water. Trap the steam by placing a hand towel over the head. Be careful not to scald your skin.You may consider buying a humidifier from the drug store. If you live in a warm climate, choose a cool mist humidifier.
These are some easy home remedies for treating phlegm. If symptoms persist despite these natural remedies, you must consult your doctor and take medicines.
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Metal storage cabinets – Uses and more
Read moreThe metal storage cabinets are wonderful solutions to store products in an organized manner. They can be used to store contents in the home and office spaces. The versatile nature of the metal storage cabinets makes them effective to be used in kitchens, offices, classrooms, and storerooms.
The metal storage cabinets are available in different makes and models. They come in varying sizes and configurations that cater to the different storage needs. Some of them are stand-alone, and wall mounted. Some metal cabinets are small in size and can be easily fitted on the countertops. Thus cabinets can be used in limited spaces. Some metal storage cabinets come with single doors while others have double doors.
The metal storage cabinets also have a storage combination solution which has more drawers with hanging rods that give more space to store multiple items. Different materials are used to create the storage cabinets. Other the metal, wood, and plastic is used to create the storage cabinets.
The metal storage cabinets are highly secure. They have locking doors which provides security and restricted access to the stored products. Some metal cabinets have a three-point locking system which places the rod in the top and bottom. Apart an activated cam-lock is provided behind the doors. Some metal cabinets have key locks and slot locks that provides spaces for storing valuable products. These cabinets are highly customisable have adjusting shelves that can be configured to meet the individual storage needs. You can adjust the spaces to create smaller office storages such as notepads, papers, and other office material. Also, the hinges can be adjusted, depending on your specific needs.
You can purchase metal storage from both offline and online stores. Browse the extensive selection of the metal storage cabinets and explore their functionality. You can even save money by grabbing the discounts on metal storage cabinets.
If you want to use ready-made solutions, it is advised to use the pre-assembled metal storage cabinets. All you need is to install them and organize the contents in them.