How to manage COPD in Older Adults?
Aging can have a significant effect on the functioning of the lungs due to anatomical and physiological modifications and can lead to health-related complications. One such disease, relatively common in the elderly generation, is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It occurs due to inflammation in our bronchi. The disease can cause a persistent airflow limitation, which gradually progresses with time. It impacts the working of the lungs, the health status of the individual, and their ability to perform daily tasks.
The treatment of COPD is basically focused on slowing its progression and improving the functioning of our lungs with the help of medication and certain lifestyle changes. While we were too busy growing up, our parents and grandparents were turning old day by day. There are many aspects of life in which now they are dependent on us, from lifting heavy objects to taking medicine on time. Elders with COPD may require more care and support.
In this blog, we will be discussing all the aspects of this medical issue that you must know if your senior parent has been diagnosed with COPD. Having accurate and basic information about the disease will surely help you understand what elders face during COPD and help you take better care of them. Continue reading to know more.
An Overview of COPD
COPD is a common term for two lung-related diseases: emphysema or chronic bronchitis. These two conditions often occur together and cause breathing-related difficulties. Also, the treatment procedures for both of these are quite similar. This is the reason for grouping these diseases under a singular term, i.e., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
What are the causes of COPD in elders?
Several factors can lead to the narrowing down of our lung airways and cause COPD. Having a history of asthma can make you more likely to get the illness. Although smoking is one of the primary risk factors for developing COPD, persons who never smoke may still develop the condition due to the following reasons:
- a history of respiratory illnesses as a child
- exposure to smoke from a wood- or coal-burning stove
- Genetic conditions
- Passive smoking
- Respiratory infections that affect the development of the lungs
The lungs achieve maximum functionality in the early 20s for women and in the mid-20s for men. Once the lung is completely mature, its workings gradually decline with age. So, facing any respiratory infections before the 20s significantly impacts the development of the lungs. If any of these factors influence your elders, then you must reach out to a qualified health advisor.
Symptoms of COPD in Senior Citizens
The progression of COPD is gradual. However, keep an eye out for these signs:
- Breathlessness
- a persistent cough with or without mucus
- Sputum generation
- Difficulty in performing daily tasks
- Chest tightness
- Appetite decline
- Feeling tired
Breathlessness is a symptom of COPD. Regretfully, a lot of senior citizens relate this as an impact of aging or a lack of physical fitness. The lungs are remarkable organs; even after 50 percent damage, they can operate efficiently. This makes it obvious for people to ignore these symptoms. That is why many elders with COPD don’t even realize that they have it until there’s noticeable damage to the lungs.
Treatment of COPD
Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for older adults with COPD to prevent the disease’s progression. With effective treatment, we can ease the symptoms, avoid complications, and gain control over the disease’s further development.
Getting the right care and support at home plays a crucial role in handling the condition and reducing the likelihood of going to the hospital. Receiving the appropriate treatment and support at home is one of the most important things in treating the illness and lowering the risk of hospitalization. So, the treatment process can be divided into two subgroups.
- Making Lifestyle changes
- Opting for suitable medication Procedures.
Now, we are going to delve into these aspects extensively
Making Lifestyle changes
Caring for elderly people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) might be difficult, but it is crucial to their health and welfare. Seniors with COPD need specialized care, which includes changing their lifestyles, managing their medications, and receiving oxygen therapy.
However, excessive medicine dosage may have numerous side effects and lead to further complications. The truth of the matter is that homoeopathic medicine does not have side effects. So, you may prefer homoeopathic treatment options for being on the safer side. Now, we will mention lifestyle modifications for a person with COPD; it’s our duty to make sure that these guidelines are followed and implemented by elders with COPD.
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Eliminate smoking habits
We have previously also mentioned that a common cause of COPD in many individuals is smoking. However, many of us indeed have a memory of seeing our grandparents sitting on the couch and smoking their cigars. But, it needs to be understood that smoking is the key factor in the progression of the disease. So, quitting smoking and avoiding the situation of secondhand smoke are only two options left. To overcome the addiction, you may seek help from professional consultants or family members and can also look for appropriate medication prescribed by a qualified doctor.
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Promote good lifestyle choices:
Seniors with COPD can benefit from healthy lifestyle choices, like healthy eating habits and frequent exercise. Encourage them to move as much as they can, even if it’s only taking a little walk around the home. Maintaining a nutritious diet might also aid in symptom management and avoid problems.
What should you include and what should not be included in your diet?
Foods that are good to eat
- You can have carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and tomatoes in the vegetables
- You can have bananas, apples, oranges, and limes in fruits.
- Opt for milk, oats, cheese, eggs, and wheat bread.
- When preparing cuisine, use garlic, ginger, and red and green peppers.
- Consuming meat and fish won’t have any side effects.
- Instead of regular tea or coffee, opt for Green tee
- bananas, apples, oranges, and limes
Foods to stay away from
- For vegetables, cauliflower and cabbage must not be preferred.
- For fruits, apricots, peaches, and melons are not a good choice.
- Avoid fast foods, junk foods, and over-fried foods.
- Pickles or other eatables with strong flavors or spices must not be consumed.
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The quality of air in the environment in which you live
Talking about the environment and surroundings, the air we breathe can also be impactful. To lessen the symptoms of COPD and the likelihood of a flare-up, the following things should be avoided:
- Polluted areas,
- Fumes, including those from burning cars,
- Smoke,
- Air freshener sprays or plug-ins,
- Strong-smelling cleaning supplies (unless there’s lots of airflow)
- Anything with solid fragrances like scents, soaps, etc.
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Offer emotional support:
COPD may be a stressful and socially isolated illness. You can give people with COPD emotional support by listening to their worries, encouraging them, and getting them involved in social activities.
With these lifestyle changes, COPD patients also require regular consultations and visits to healthcare professionals. Opting for Homeopathic natural treatment for asthma can be more beneficial. As mentioned above, the great degree of customization available in homoeopathic medicine is advantageous since it lowers the possibility of adverse consequences.
Opting for suitable medication Procedures.
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Allopathic treatment for COPD
Allopathic treatment involves the usage of certain types of steroids in the treatment plan. These steroids help in controlling the future inflammation of bronchitis. These types of medicines are consumed by patients in different variants, such as inhalers or pills. However, the issue is that these steroids have numerous side effects. Some of these are very serious and can lead to other complications. The other important point to address here is that once the course of allopathic medicines is initiated, with variations in dosage, a significant number of people will continue them for their lifetime. The allopathic industry also includes the use of antibiotics. However, antibiotics are normally not advised for prevention, although they can assist in treating instances of worsening COPD. Now, before you look for surgical and therapeutic procedures, why not look for an option with no side effects and that is equivalently effective as these medical procedures?
Homeopathy significantly enhances the quality of life by delivering symptomatic relief to patients and diminishing their reliance on steroids, antibiotics, and bronchodilators.
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COPD treatment homeopathy
Homeopathy is a complementary approach that focuses on stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. When it comes to chronic conditions like COPD in elderly people, homoeopathy can play an impactful role in minimizing symptoms for all types of COPD and enhancing the overall functioning of the lungs. According to homoeopathy, they are only signs of a deeper, underlying problem, and treating the underlying cause can aid in the full resolution of symptoms. Homeopathic medicines can assist with the following by addressing the underlying issue:
- Slows down the progression of COPD.
- Minimise reliance on bronchodilators and steroids, which is common among the majority of patients with long-term respiratory conditions.
- Natural, all-encompassing therapy with minimal side effects.
This science adopts a comprehensive approach, implementing treatment based on the similarity of symptoms and addressing the root causes of COPD rather than simply alleviating its symptoms.
Why Choose Bharat Homeopathy?
Bharat Homeopathy offers top-notch therapy for COPD. Our homoeopathic specialists work hard to pinpoint the precise kind of care that our elders require. We offer homoeopathic therapy for COPD and depend on patient information and contemporary homoeopathic medicine, unlike other homoeopathic clinics that quickly prescribe expensive and pointless medications. The patients who have been receiving our homoeopathic treatment for COPD are really happy with it. The patients who come to Bharat Homeopathy are important to us.