COPD Help May Come in the Forms of These

If you have COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) you will need a lot of oxygen. Even though you cannot get fresh air to the lungs like you could with normal lungs, your body is still required to take in as much oxygen as it needs to stay healthy. In other words, your system has to work harder, and for longer, in order to compensate for a lack of oxygen to the lungs. That is one of the challenges to COPD: having a system that continually has to work overtime to keep pumping air into your lungs. Your doctor may prescribe a drug, such as Flovent, to help with this issue.

Another way to help deal with COPD is to use inhalers. Inhalers, or bronchodilators, work by filling the airways of the lungs with medicine that slows, and in some cases, completely stop, the flow of air. Many different types of inhalers are available, from those that work on only one type of COPD to ones that will help both the patient and the COPD breathe easier. There are even COPD inhalers that are made to prevent wheezing, a common symptom of COPD.

While many COPD help patients are prescribed medications, there are also a variety of other ways to treat COPD. One of these is through complementary treatments, which usually include lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. Along with lessening the number of medications taken, these changes will also help decrease the side effects of COPD, as well as making the patient more comfortable overall. There are also several over the counter supplements available that can be used along with certain medicines for COPD, such as Acetazolamide. These products should be used with the supervision of your doctor or pharmacist to avoid interactions.

Long acting inhalers are also available as supplements. These are typically used by those who either cannot take the medications that their COPD allows them to, or who do not like the idea of taking more medication with potentially undesirable side effects. They are also commonly used for those who have been taking antibiotics to treat their infections and have not been cleared by their doctor to use them for bronchodilators. This type of inhaler should not be used without the express written advice of your doctor or pharmacist, as some of these products can cause respiratory distress. Long acting bronchodilators are also typically used for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, especially when administered intravenously, as repeated dosages could lead to adverse effects.

Smokers who quit are often advised to get a supply of long-acting bronchodilators to start using once they've quit, so they can resume normal breathing easier than before. There are two different classes of COPD bronchodilators, depending on how potent they are. Domain names such as Strongvent and Levalbuterol are associated with stronger-quality drugs, while generic versions are available for users with weaker respiratory symptoms. If you're unsure which you need, it's best to speak to your doctor, as only your doctor can accurately determine what type of bronchodilator is right for you.

When a patient is diagnosed with COPD, their doctors might prescribe them with either an inhaler or a nebulizer, which are basically the same thing but with one difference - the nebulizer uses compressed air to breathe in instead of the liquid or air delivered via a traditional inhaler. To get the best effect from an inhaler, however, the patient should learn how to properly use it, such as making sure to breathe in through the mouth (which releases far less air than through the nose) and taking regular deep breaths. This will ensure that the lungs are receiving the oxygen they need and to prevent excessive pressure building in the bronchial tubes. A nebulizer works in the same way, but its air delivery system is much faster, as it pumps air directly into the lungs. However, since a nebulizer isn't as reliable because there's no exchange of air when using it, some patients might have problems using it.