What is COPD?

A collection of progressive lung disorders is known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most prevalent of these conditions. Both of these disorders are common among COPD sufferers.

Emphysema progressively kills the air sacs in your lungs, obstructing the passage of air outward. The bronchial tubes become inflamed and constricted due to bronchitis, which makes it possible for mucus to accumulate. If left untreated, COPD can hasten the onset of the illness, cause cardiac issues, and exacerbate respiratory infections.

What are the Symptoms of COPD?

Breathing becomes more difficult with COPD. Initial signs might include intermittent coughing and shortness of breath, which are moderate symptoms. As it worsens, the symptoms may become more frequent to the point that breathing may become more challenging.

It’s possible that you will cough, feel tight in the chest, or produce more sputum than usual. Some COPD sufferers experience acute exacerbations, which are significant symptom flare-ups. The early stages of COPD symptoms might be relatively modest. They could be misdiagnosed as a cold.

Early signs consist of:

• Occasionally having breathing problems, especially after exercising
• A slight yet persistent cough
• Often needing to clear your throat, especially in the early

You could begin to make little adjustments, like avoiding the stairs and missing workouts. Symptoms may worsen with time and become more difficult to ignore. As the lungs deteriorate more, you could feel:

• Even minor types of activity, such as going up a set of stairs, can cause shortness of breath.
• Higher-pitched loud breathing known as wheezing, especially during exhalations
• Chest constriction
• Mucus- or non-mucus-producing persistent cough
• Need to daily remove mucus from your lungs
• Recurrent respiratory illnesses like the flu or the cold
• lack of energy

The following symptoms may also appear in the later stages of COPD:

• Fatigue
• Feet, ankles, or legs swelling
• Losing weight

If you presently smoke or are frequently around secondhand smoke, your symptoms are probably going to be considered severe.

Why is India Considered a Top Destination for COPD Treatment?

How far the sector has progressed is clear from the tremendous changes that have occurred in Indian medical tourism over the last few years. Healthcare is one of the industries with the quickest growth among those that generate money. Many governmental and commercial groups provide assistance for the healthcare industry.

Due to the high success rate, accessibility of new technology in Indian hospitals, and low cost of operations, many individuals migrate to India in pursuit of better medical care.

India has an advantage over other countries when it comes to medical tourism because of the following:

• Most of the medical team members recruited by Indian hospitals have earned their training at hospitals in the US, Europe, or other advanced economies.
• Travelers of all backgrounds may afford first-rate services and luxurious accommodations.
• The significant majority of medical specialists are proficient in English.
• India is home to some of the nation’s finest nurses. India has about 1000 accredited nursing training programs, the majority of which are connected to teaching hospitals, and each year close to 10,000 nurses graduate from them.
• Large foreign corporations provide cutting-edge medical and diagnostic technologies to many of India’s leading hospitals.

What are the Causes of COPD?

Smoking tobacco is the primary cause of COPD in developed nations. The more you smoke and the longer you’ve smoked, the greater your chance of having COPD. Although many smokers with extended smoking histories may experience decreased lung function, only a small percentage of chronic smokers acquire clinically obvious COPD. Smokers might acquire less typical lung diseases. They could be incorrectly diagnosed with COPD up until a more complete examination is done.

Other factors include

• If you are exposed to chemicals and gases at work, you run the risk of developing COPD. COPD can also be brought on by prolonged exposure to air pollution and dust inhalation.
• Homes in poorer nations are frequently inadequately ventilated, requiring families to take in fumes from burning fuel used for cooking and heating in addition to cigarette smoke.
• Possible genetic propensity to COPD development. Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency affects up to 5 percent of persons with COPD, according to estimates.
• The liver may also be impacted by this deficit, which damages the lungs. There could also be other related genetic variables at work.

How is COPD Diagnosed?

Misdiagnosis of COPD is rather prevalent. Many COPD sufferers might not get a diagnosis until their condition is advanced. Your doctor will examine your signs and symptoms, go over your past medical and family history, and inquire about any exposure you may have had to lung irritants, particularly cigarette smoke. To diagnose your problem, your doctor may conduct a number of tests. Test include:

• Laboratory tests: Although lab tests aren’t used to diagnose COPD, they may be used to identify the origin of your symptoms or negate the presence of other diseases. For instance, lab testing may be done to identify genetic disorders like alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, which in some cases may be the cause of COPD. If you have COPD at an early age and have a family history of the disease, you could undergo this test.
• CT scan: A CT scan of your lungs can assist diagnose emphysema and assess whether you would benefit from COPD surgery. Lung cancer screening can also be done with CT scans.
• Arterial blood gas evaluation: This blood test evaluates how well your lungs remove carbon dioxide from your blood and provide oxygen to it.
• Tests of lung (pulmonary) function: These examinations check your ability to breathe in and out as well as how well your lungs are able to oxygenate your blood. To measure how much air your lungs can contain and how quickly they can expel it, you blow into a big tube that is attached to a tiny machine during the most typical test, known as spirometry. The six-minute walk test, pulse oximetry, and evaluation of lung volumes and diffusing capacity are further examinations.
• Chest X-ray: Emphysema, one of the primary causes of COPD, can be seen on a chest X-ray. Additionally, an X-ray can rule out heart failure or any lung issues.