Heal with COPD Therapy

Understanding the problem is critical to determining the best therapy for treating COPD. Treatment for COPD varies with age and the extent to which the disease has advanced. Because COPD comes on slowly, and since everyone experiences a decline in lung function after their 20s or 30s, the best way to treat COPD is to first establish the stage of deterioration of the lung function and match the COPD therapy to the specific need. One measure of lung function is the forced expiratory volume (FEV1) that shows how much air a person can blow out in one second and provides the baseline for subsequent COPD treatment. In Stage 1, the FEV1 is greater than 80% and requires the least intrusive COPD therapy. Stage 2 is characterized by an FEV1 of between 79% and 50% and COPD treatment that addresses shortness of breath and respiratory symptoms. At Stage 3, the FEV1 is between 49% and 30% and COPD treatments focus on the persons’ reduced ability to exercise, and increased shortness of breath. By Stage 4, the patient has an FEV1 below 30% and requires treatment for COPD that address chronic respiratory failure and life-threatening exacerbations. Regardless of the level of severity, any COPD therapy aims to relieve symptoms, improve overall health and prevent complications. Among the approaches to treat COPD are smoking cessation, oxygen therapy, improved nutrition and exercise to build muscle mass, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, vaccines, surgery and antibiotics. Since people with COPD tend to produce extra mucus, respiratory relief to clear the airways of congestion can be an important part of daily COPD therapy. Such COPD treatment helps the body shake loose the congestion and move it up and out of the passages. Among the most effective devices for this form of COPD treatment are Med Systems’ Fluid Flo® 2500 pneumatic percussor and Electro Flo® 5000 airway clearance device. The amount of force applied to the chest to treat COPD is significantly greater with the Fluid Flo® 2500 and the Electro Flo® 5000 thereby breaking up more congestion. The Electro Flo® 5000 with force multiplying technology permits the patient to target their COPD therapy to precisely the area needed, that in turn, gives them control over their airway clearance. Although it is a progressive disease, appropriate COPD therapy allows a person to have a rich and full life. Use of the Fluid Flo®2500 and the Electro Flo®5000 as a part of the daily COPD treatment can go a long way to improving the quality of life.