Both asthma and COPD have a great impact on the health of your lungs, and only in asthma can a lung be restored to its full health. Managing both asthma and COPD is largely dependent upon properly diagnosing the condition in the early stages so that appropriate medication can be taken in time before returning to surgery alternatives.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term that is used to describe respiratory diseases that are progressive such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
While Asthma, contrary to being mistaken as a form of COPD, is a separate respiratory disease in its entirety. However, both COPD and asthma have a lot of similar symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Given that asthma is a long-term medical condition, it can be managed if the right treatment regime is righteously followed. One of the basic steps for the treatment is to ensure that you are aware of the triggers and you make sure you avoid them consciously. The treatment options, whatever prescribed for your case, has to be closely monitored so that the medications have their due effect. Some of the common treatment options for Asthma include:
- Bronchodilators
Quick relief medication such as bronchodilators which serve as short-acting beta agents and can be taken in the form of both oral and intravenous corticosteroids.
- Allergy meds
Taking allergy medication specific to your triggers in the form of immunotherapy or omalizumab (Xolair).
- Corticosteroids
Long-term asthma control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta-agonists, combination inhalers and theophylline bronchial thermoplasty, a process by which the smooth muscles of the airways are shrunk using an electrode to lessen the tightening of the airway and induce a long-term solution for preventing asthma attacks.
Similar to asthma, COPD is a long-term respiratory condition as well, and the main objective of the treatment is to ensure that one’s health and lifestyle is not disrupted from regularity. Given that COPD is also a progressive condition, the treatment is aimed at controlling the condition from worsening. Common treatments for COPD may overlap slightly in terms of treatment methods, such as:
- Smoking cessation
One of the primary ways to control COP is to quit smoking as well as not exposing oneself to passive smoking in any form. Some of the methods prescribed for quitting involves nicotine replacement medication alongside therapy, support groups, and hypnosis.
- Medications
Medicines in the form of bronchodilators, steroid inhalers, a combination of bronchodilator and steroid inhalers, oral steroids, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, theophylline, and antibiotics. The medication prescribed is based on the individual’s condition and can change as the symptoms get checked or worsen.
- Oxygen therapy
Oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation programs that offer a through therapy with counseling to help you cope with COPD and make necessary changes to your lifestyle to be more healthy and active without giving in.
- Surgery
There are also surgeries such as lung volume reduction surgery and bullectomy that have proven to be effective in keeping the COPD from worsening and help with improvement in breathing as well.
