COPD is an acronym for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). While you may not be familiar with COPD, you’ve probably heard of the diseases that fall under the COPD category, which include pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma, according to Stanford Healthcare.
According to the American Lung Association, 16 million Americans reported that they had COPD in 2018. While there currently isn’t a way to “cure” the diseases that make up COPD, according to the National Health Service, that doesn’t mean that folks who live with this disease don’t have options to help them with their symptoms. From taking bronchodilators that help to open up blocked air passages to inhalers or oxygen therapy that makes breathing easier, there are plenty of ways to ease the symptoms of COPD (via WebMD). As is true for many chronic illnesses, there are also alternative ways to help with symptoms, like quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy diet, as well as preventing other forms of illness that could exacerbate symptoms by making sure to stay away from germs and getting your flu shot.
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