Can elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease be cured?
Can elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease be cured?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the full name of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is like a "slow knife" hidden in the body, and it usually takes 5 to 10 years after the onset of symptoms to appear obvious. However, once discovered, most of the patients are already in serious condition and even die of respiratory failure.
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There is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly
Clinically, COPD is more common in the elderly. However, some elderly patients may only have mild symptoms such as cough, sputum, chest tightness, or even mild dyspnea in the early stage; when the disease gradually worsens, the patient will have obvious and persistent symptoms of dyspnea, and even develop pulmonary encephalopathy and involving the liver and kidney.
COPD can be relieved, but not completely cured. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by aggravation every autumn and winter, and it may lead to more serious complications such as respiratory failure when the resistance is poor and respiratory tract infection occurs. Therefore, elderly COPD should be actively treated. However, the tolerance to drugs is different between the elderly and the young. For example, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease aged 40 to 50, hormones can achieve good results; if the elderly use hormones blindly, it may lead to repeated infections, but the harm is greater than the harm. profit. Therefore, great attention must be paid to elderly patients with COPD, and symptomatic treatment such as anti-infection, cough and phlegm relief, asthma relief, and oxygen inhalation should be appropriately given clinically to relieve the discomfort of the patients and improve the quality of life of the patients.
Only quitting smoking can stop the progression of the disease
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in acute exacerbations are seriously ill, often complicated by heart failure, respiratory failure, and even pulmonary encephalopathy. Therefore, they should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment by a pulmonologist, and if necessary, hospitalization.
However, patients need not be too pessimistic. Although COPD is irreversible, it is controllable. As long as it is properly maintained, smoking cessation is successful, and supportive therapy is used to prevent the disease from progressing, it is possible to improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time. This is also the reason why some COPD patients live longer.
Patient Care Nine Notes
In the acute exacerbation period, anti-infective treatment should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor. Pay attention to oxygen inhalation, and the blood oxygen saturation is required to reach more than 92%. If oxygen is inhaled at home, the flow should be low, and very high concentrations should not be used.
If the airway is blocked and carbon dioxide is not easily excreted, hypercapnia will occur. At this time, oxygen alone is not enough, and a ventilator must be used to quickly expel carbon dioxide.
Don't go out on foggy days. The main components of smog are various floating particles and fine particles, especially the fine particles (PM2.5) with small diameters, which can enter the lower respiratory tract and even the alveoli with breathing, which is extremely harmful to the human body. Some people have done research and found that PM2.5 has a great relationship with the outpatient volume of COPD outpatient clinics, which can aggravate COPD disease, even lead to acute exacerbation of the disease and reduce lung function.
Avoid going to places with many people, including chess and card rooms, vegetable markets and tourist attractions with many people. The crowded places are also the places where bacteria meet. The respiratory tract immunity of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is low, and they are easily infected with bacteria and aggravate the airway inflammatory response. In addition, patients with stable COPD can travel, but try not to choose places that are cold in the northwest and slightly higher in altitude, where moist and warm air is beneficial to the lungs.
Quit smoking and drinking. Tobacco and alcohol damage the lungs. Not only can patients not smoke, but they are not suitable for social gatherings with many people and smoking. Second-hand smoke affects the human body as much as smoking itself, which should be especially noted.
Pay attention to rest and nutrition. COPD is a systemic wasting disease, which may lead to a decrease in people's ability to eat and cause abnormal body weight loss. The global treatment guidelines for COPD point out that the life expectancy of obese patients with COPD is generally higher than that of thin patients.
Avoid spicy and allergenic foods. Spicy food can stimulate the upper respiratory tract, destroy local immunity, lead to upper respiratory tract infection, and aggravate COPD. Frequently eating foods that are prone to allergies may aggravate the condition of COPD and reduce the effect of drugs.
Get pneumonia and flu shots. The most important thing in COPD is to prevent and avoid infections, especially colds and pneumonia. Pneumonia and flu shots can help prevent infection.
If complications arise, they should be treated accordingly. Such as heart failure to use diuretics for comprehensive targeted treatment, acute exacerbation should be under the guidance of a doctor, hospitalization if necessary.
Text/Li Cuiying Jiangyou Second People's Hospital
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