Tips To Help You Avoid Developing COPD

July 6, 2022

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to various chronic lung diseases. Diseases including asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, etc., have symptoms like increased breathlessness, dry coughing, wheezing, and the feeling of tightness in the chest. There are environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors that cause COPD. Environments that have extensive amounts of dust, or fumes and chemical-filled environments encourage the disease.

Genetically, some people are more prone than others to getting COPD when exposed to these types of environments. On a behavioral level, smoking causes harm to the lungs, and people who consistently expose their lungs to smoke usually end up with COPD at some point in their lives.

Try Your Best to Avoid Occupational Dangers

If you work in an environmentally unfriendly place that is laden with chemicals, fumes, dust and other toxic substances, you need to do your best to protect your health because studies have shown that such environments are connected to COPD. For example, miners mining gold and cadmium have higher rates of COPD and other studies have shown that nineteen percent of COPD cases is caused by toxic environmental exposure. If the pollutants in your work environment happen to be unavoidable, take protective measures like wearing a dust mask, gloves, safety goggles, etc. and ensure you wear them on a consistent basis. Do your research and learn what protective measures are best suited for your line of work.

Learn About Your Family History

There is also a genetic component that determines your COPD risk, so it is important to learn about your family history and your risk of getting COPD. People who have COPD in their family history tend to get COPD sooner than those who do not and get more serious cases of COPD. If you have a genetic predisposition for it even milder forms of exposure can result in COPD, so it is essential to learn about your risk level and take appropriate protective measures. To determine if you have a predisposition for COPD, you need a simple blood test from your doctor. It is better to take precautionary steps rather than be caught by surprise and deal with fixing the problem.

Avoid Smoking And Second-Hand Smoke

The behavior of smoking is linked to COPD. In fact, it is the leading cause of COPD and takes up approximately ninety percent of all COPD cases. Tobacco smoke damages the airways, air sacs, and lung linings and causes emphysema and chronic bronchitis which produces symptoms like shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, chronic dry cough, and these symptoms worsen over time. Research has shown that second-hand smoke can also result in COPD and second-hand smoke is responsible for nine percent of all smoking-related deaths.

The best way to avoid COPD caused by smoking is to quit first-hand smoking and completely avoid second-hand smoke. Come up with a strategy for quitting smoking that suits you best. Strategies may include avoiding certain triggers like alcohol or coffee, trying a nicotine-replacement therapy, going cold turkey, substituting healthier behaviors like increasing exercise or repeating self-affirmations.

Protecting Yourself From Air Pollution

Hazardous work environments are not the only risk to your health that can lead to COPD. The pollution in the air can also be a risk factor especially in major cities and in underdeveloped countries. To help protect yourself from the effects of air pollution, consider the following tips: Try avoiding exercise during times of the day when pollution levels are at its peak. Avoid exercising in congested areas. Do a daily check on the air pollution forecasts in the area where you live. Use home air filters.

Use the recycled air setting on your air conditioner when sitting in traffic, so you are not bathing yourself in the toxic fumes emitted by the vehicles. Pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you find yourself feeling headachy on a smoggy day or have tightness in your chest or allergy-like symptoms, consider removing yourself from the outdoors.

Eat Clean And Do Not Forget To Exercise

Eating plenty of foods high in antioxidants that help clean your body of toxins and to strengthen your immune system, will lower your chances of developing COPD. Foods naturally high in antioxidants include goji berries, dark chocolate, wild blueberries, kidney beans, cranberries, pecans, artichokes, elderberries, etc., so eat plenty of these. You should also ensure you are a healthy weight. Being underweight can weaken the pulmonary muscles and diaphragm while being overweight can put increased pressure on the heart and lungs.

Regular exercise will help you maintain a strong heart and lungs. It will also help you remain a healthy weight. Consider consulting with a physician before starting an exercise program as a doctor can recommend an appropriate fitness regime to suit your needs.

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