Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/COPD, is the name for a group of chronic inflammatory lung diseases that obstruct airflow from the lungs. The two most common COPD conditions are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 

COPD is a progressive and chronic disease that will get worse over time. While there is no cure for COPD and its associated conditions, the symptoms can be effectively managed with the right treatment. With proper management, people with COPD can live relatively normal and active lives. 

What is COPD?

COPD isn’t just one disease, but is a term applied to several diseases that block airflow in the lungs and create breathing-related problems. The most common cause of COPD is smoking cigarettes or being exposed to second hand smoke on a regular basis. People with pre-existing respiratory problems like asthma are more likely to develop COPD. Prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals, pollution, and dust can also be a factor. 

The two most diagnosed types of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. 

1. Chronic Bronchitis: Bronchitis is an inflammation of your airways or breathing tubes, also known as your bronchi. Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of these tubes and causes excess mucus production along with frequent lung infections. To be classified as chronic bronchitis, a person must have a wet cough for most days at least 3 months out of the year, for two years in a row. 
2. Emphysema: Emphysema is the result of damage to the air sacs, or alveoli, in the lungs. As the disease progresses, the inner walls of these sacs become weak enough to break. This reduces the surface area of the lungs and makes it more difficult to breathe and for enough oxygen to reach the bloodstream. Many people with emphysema also suffer from chronic bronchitis. 

COPD Symptoms

Because COPD is progressive, symptoms tend to start out mild and become more severe over time. If it’s left untreated, the disease can end up progressing rapidly and cause potentially fatal complications. 

At first, COPD may seem like a cold. Symptoms include: 

• A mild but persistent cough
• Occasional shortness of breath
• Trouble with normal physical activity
• Needing to clear your throat of phlegm often 

It’s important to seek medical advice if you experience these symptoms for long periods of time. The earlier you start treating COPD, the better the outcome will be. 

If the symptoms continue to progress, you could end up experience more pronounced symptoms like: 

• Frequent shortness of breath
• A chronic cough that can be dry or wet
• Low energy levels 
• Wheezing
• Chest pain or tightness
• Repeated colds and respiratory infections

In the later stages of COPD, you might experience extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and swelling of your lower limbs. Any symptoms of COPD are made worse if you continue to smoke or expose yourself to pollutants. 

COPD Complications

Without proper management, COPD has the potential to cause serious health complications like heart problems and cancer. Complications linked to COPD include: 

• High blood pressure 
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Heart attack 
• Lung cancer 
• Weight gain
• Weight related diseases

Preventing COPD

COPD is one of the few diseases that has a clear and preventable cause. Since nearly all cases are related to smoking, the easiest way to prevent COPD from developing is by stopping smoking. While it’s better to have never smoked to begin with, quitting at any stage will have massive health benefits.

We know quitting is hard so if you need help or advice on how to successfully quit smoking for good, Pharmacy Planet can help with smoking cessation advice and medications.

Another way to prevent COPD is to take proper precautions when you are at risk of exposure to lung irritants like fumes, chemicals, and air pollution. Consider wearing face masks when outdoors if you live in an area with significant air pollution. If the hazards are in your workplace, ensure you adhere to safety standards and wear the required protective gear.

There’s evidence that getting the annual flu vaccine is one way to reduce your chances of COPD. Frequent respiratory infections and coughs can damage your lungs and make you more likely to get conditions like COPD. During cold and flu season, wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face.

COPD Treatment

Even if you are in a more advanced stage of COPD, medications and therapies can reduce your symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. One such treatment is a medicine called Trimbow. 

Trimbow is a type of maintenance inhaler therapy for COPD and asthma. It’s a triple therapy inhaler with three active ingredients called beclomethasone, formoterol and glycopyrronium bromide. Together, these substances work to help you breathe by keeping your airways open.

1. Beclomethasone is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid. It reduces inflammation in you airways to facilitate easier breathing.
2. Formoterol is a long-acting beta-2 agonist. It attaches to receptors in the muscles of the airways, causing them to relax and keep airways open.
3. Glycopyrronium bromide is a long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist. It works by keeping muscle cells in the lungs from constricting, keeping airways open and clear. 

Studies have shown that the Trimbow inhaler is highly effective in managing the symptoms of COPD and asthma. Not only has it been proven to prevent symptoms from worsening, but one of Trimbow inhaler’s benefits is that it can also improve how well a person can breathe day to day. 

The recommended dosage is two puffs per day to manage the symptoms of COPD and asthma. You should start to see an improvement in these symptoms within just a few minutes of first taking Trimbow and the effects should last about 12 hours. With regular use, you should see a noticeable improvement in your breathing in 3 months.

You may experience side effects when you first start taking Trimbow but these side effects should only be temporary. Side effects can include sore throat, headache, nasal congestion, and an irregular heartbeat.

Effective asthma and COPD treatment is available to buy online on our website. To improve your breathing and live your best life, start a consultation with us and have Trimbow inhalers delivered to your home.