Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung condition that reduces airflow and prevents patients from breathing easily. The condition is typically caused by emphysema or chronic bronchitis. COPD patients experience trouble breathing, increased mucus production, and frequent coughing and wheezing.
Often, COPD results from long-term exposure to irritants. While smoking cigarettes is the most frequent cause of COPD, extended exposure to pollutants, respiratory illnesses, and genetics can also play a role.
How COPD Affects Lung Function
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis, the main contributors to COPD, cause significant damage to the lungs.
Emphysema develops when weakened and ruptured air sacs (alveoli) can no longer move oxygen efficiently from the lungs to the blood. The more damage the air sacs incur, the more breathless a person may feel, even while resting.
Chronic bronchitis refers to inflammation in the bronchial tube lining. The bronchial tubes route air to and from the lungs’ alveoli. Increased inflammation in the bronchi leads to coughing and increased mucus production.
Many patients develop COPD so gradually that they don’t initially realize its impact on their breathing. As a result, they might experience significant lung damage before their symptoms are noticeable.
COPD Complications
The damage that occurs to the lungs through COPD can make patients more susceptible to other medical concerns, including:
- Pneumonia
- Chest infections
- Heart disease
- Collapsed lungs
- Osteoporosis
- Hypoxemia
- Edema
- Anxiety and depression
A lack of oxygen in the bloodstream places more pressure on the heart and other organs, contributing to heart disease, swelling, and cognitive difficulties.
Can Lungs Regenerate with COPD?
Unfortunately, COPD has no cure, and the lung’s damaged tissue does not regenerate. However, COPD treatments can slow the disease’s progression and improve symptoms.
Typical treatments for COPD include:
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and swelling
- Bronchodilator medications to open airways
- Expectorants to loosen phlegm
- Oxygen therapy to increase oxygen levels
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Surgery to remove damaged lung tissue
- Lung transplant surgery
In addition, COPD patients who develop infections in their lungs may require antibiotics or other treatments to ensure the condition doesn’t aggravate their symptoms.
Even patients who are receiving treatment under a doctor’s care may experience an acute exacerbation, where symptoms worsen for days or weeks. An acute exacerbation can lead to lung failure if not treated quickly.
Maintaining your health with COPD requires ongoing, comprehensive medical care. While you cannot reverse the damage caused by COPD, you can improve symptoms and your overall quality of life through proper disease management.
Many patients are discovering promising options with regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy. Studies have shown patients have improvements in their overall lung function, energy levels, and activity endurance.
This therapy utilizes the amazing potential of stem cells and their secretomes for the management of symptoms of COPD. They have special properties to differentiate into many tissues within our bodies and begin the healing process with regenerative abilities and by lowering inflammation.
If traditional medications or treatment options are not providing optimal results, stem cell therapy may be an option to best next explore.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for hair, also Stem cell treatment for COPD. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.