Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a lung disease that is more common in people who are exposed to pollutants or live an unhealthy lifestyle. The symptoms of this condition are in the form of long-term cough and constant mucus production. Over time, the lungs get damaged if proper care is not provided in a timely manner. Stores sell a wide range of over the counter medications to suppress the symptoms.
However, the long term benefits of these medications are unknown. Apart from these temporary relief, there are certain home remedies for COPD that you can follow to subdue subtle signs of this illness. You will also be able to protect yourself from many side effects from other sources, not just COPD:
1. Eucalyptus oil
This and many other essential oils help open airways when you have COPD. It has anti-inflammatory properties and soothing ingredients that do not usually cause adverse effect on the lungs. However, use caution while taking other medications with these oils as these may interact with one another.
2. Antioxidant diet
Foods rich in antioxidants, such as carrots, green tea, berries, apples, cherries, beans, fish and ginger are helpful in protecting the cells from free radicals. Lung inflammation caused by oxidants can make it harder to breathe for someone suffering from COPD. These foods can protect your body and keep symptoms like irritation or itchiness at bay. Following a COPD diet is a good choice if you want to take the holistic approach route.
3. Exercise
Exercise is one of the best solutions for COPD symptoms. Before you start your exercise, you need to take some things into consideration. How do you measure success in terms of your exercise goals? You will also have to select the right set of exercise to accomplish your goals like minimizing the side effects of prescribed medications if any. There are varieties of such programs available for mild or vigorous forms of exercise. Some of them include strength training, aerobics, swimming, stretching and meditation. The next thing to decide is how you are going to perform these exercises. Are you going to attend exercise classes, do exercise with a neighbor or while watching TV? And for how long will continue exercising? The answers to all these questions will clear your confusion and help you create an elaborate exercise plan.
4. Ongoing, proactive care
Last but not least, note that, COPD is a serious illness and therefore should be brought to the attention of your treating physician as soon as you can. When you have the complete evaluation of your health, you will have firsthand knowledge of any anomalies present in your lungs and other parts of your body. Through this information, your physician will recommend the right treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. Many of the tests used to determine this condition are used on a regular basis, so there is a very little chance for error in these tests. However, make sure that these evaluations are carried out by licensed and trained specialist and not by untrained individuals.
