Overview
 To
begin with, COPD is defined as a group of diseases that reduce the ability
to breathe, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The most common
cause of COPD is smoking, and 15% of smokers become stricken by COPD.
Those who are exposed to environments containing high levels of heavy
particulate for extended periods of time are also at risk.
In
the early stages, COPD is characterized by a gradual loss of lung function.
The condition can be reversed in the early stages, but most people do
not realize they have COPD until lung tissue damage and loss occurs. By
this time the condition becomes irreversible, which is why recognizing
the symptoms during the early stages is critical.
The
symptoms of COPD include:
- Years
of smoking, or exposure to heavy pollution such as chemical fumes, grains,
cotton, wood, mining dust.
- You
suffer bouts of asthma or bronchitis.
- Chronic
coughing / heavy phlegm.
- Morning
smoker’s cough.
- Colds
last weeks instead of days, and you suffer at least one prolonged bout
of bronchitis every winter.
- You’re
often breathless during ordinary activity.
- Your
cough has changed, shallow, as if something is lodged inside your chest.
- You
are over the age of 40.
- Additional
phlegm is being produced, and your cough becomes moist.
The
most important remedy for most people who develop COPD is to quit smoking.
Other than that, there are a variety of other natural methods that can
help minimize the effects of COPD.
Natural
Methods
- Communicate
to the patient the importance of a well-balanced, nutritious diet to
compensate for the extra calories expended just to breathe. Because
dyspnea and increased sputum can discourage eating and lead to weight
loss, help the patient maintain caloric intake. Encourage frequent oral
hygiene to stimulate his appetite and enjoyment of food. If the patient
has severe dyspnea, advise him to chew slowly and to eat small, frequent
meals to reduce fatigue and swallowing air. Recommend nutritious snacks,
including fruit juices and liquid enteral supplements for added calories
between meals. Including fresh fruit, vegetables and bran will help
prevent constipation.
- Consume
antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and E, carotene, and selenium. Deriving
these nutrients through what you actually eat is most effective. Beta-carotene
is found in dark green, orange, red, and deep yellow fruits and vegetables.
Beta-carotene offers little protection for those that are still smoking.
Foods high in selenium include seafood, organ meats, lean meats, poultry,
low-fat dairy products, and whole grains. Selenium offers strong protection
for smokers. (details following)
- Build
up energy. This is important since it requires about 10 times as much
energy for an individual with COPD to breathe. One way to do this is
to stay in good shape by exercising. Another is to eat properly.
- Eat
5 or 6 small meals a day instead of 2 or 3 larger ones. This helps prevent
bloating and shortness of breath.
- Drink
plenty of water to keep air passages moist to allow phlegm to be easily
coughed up. Soda will not help, since carbonation results in shortness
of breath.
Other
Care Measures
Avoid
pollutants, which can cause further damage and tissue loss to your
already vulnerable lungs. An air purifier will be helpful, since it is
difficult to avoid airborne pollutants altogether, especially when inside.
Steering
clear of products that may cause lung problems does not mean you can’t
have a home that’s fresh and clean. Here is a list of product lines
that are less likely to cause irritation because they are most often free
of solvents. They are available at most health food stores:
- Seventh
Generation, cleaning solutions and laundry detergents
- Ecover,
home cleaning products
- Earth
Rite, home cleaning products
- Citra-Solve,
makers of a citrus-based cleaning solution
Avoid
infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds. They are easily
passed through droplets in the air as well as on eating utensils. Wash
hands frequently, since cold germs can linger on items he handles or from
shaking hands with others. Get extra rest to increase resistance to infections.
Ask your healthcare practitioner about a flu and pneumonia vaccine each
fall.
Fight
the Flu. Two new drugs, oseltamivir (a pill) and zanamivir (an inhaled
aerosol), are available to help reduce the severity of influenza, a common
problem for people with COPD. For the best results, the drug must be used
in the early, symptomatic stages of the flu. Ask your doctor about them,
but remember they do not replace the influenza virus vaccine. Be sure
to get your shot every fall.
Learn
to Cope. Help your patient explore the impact of COPD on his life
and his family. Encourage steps that will help him deal with chronic anxiety
and depression. Allow him to express his fears about the illness. If he
is anxious, suggest relaxation exercises or biofeedback. Help family members
deal with the additional stress in their lives. Encourage patient/family
to join a support group.
Breathing
Exercises
- Hold
your breath and breathe deeply frequently, which allows your blood to
take in more oxygen. By doing this, make sure you are in an environment
with clean air. If the air has many pollutants, this will actually cause
you to take in more impurities, which can cause more harm than good.
- Concentrate
on pushing out your diaphragm when you breathe. The diaphragm is the
muscle between your rib cage and abdomen. Expanding it when breathing
allows you to take in more air. Place your hand on your diaphragm to
make sure it is expanding when you breathe.
- Use
controlled coughing to remove infection-causing phlegm in your lungs.
To do this, breathe deeply, hold your breath, and then cough twice.
First, loosen the phlegm, and the second to bring it to the back of
your throat. Immediately cough up this phlegm to spit it out.
- Avoid
anxiety, which results in muscle tightening and shallow breathing.
Oxygen
Therapy
Long-term
oxygen therapy, with an emphasis on ambulatory oxygen, improves the length
and quality of life for people with COPD. Now, new more compact oxygen
devices that weigh only 3.5 pounds and last for up to 10 hours make travel
easier and can dramatically increase your mobility. Pulmonary rehabilitation
improves all stages of disease, including those in patients with only
mild-to-moderate impairment who are already limited in their exercise
tolerance.
Research
Information
Based
on previous studies that indicated a correlation between high lung function
levels and a diet rich in various antioxidant vitamins, researchers at
the University of Nottingham, UK, set out to investigate the relationship
between lung function and the intake of magnesium, and vitamins C, E and
A.
Their
study began in 1991 when more than 2,500 subjects were surveyed to assess
the relationship between diet, asthma, and COPD. Nine years later the
same subjects were asked to join in a follow-up survey, and approximately
one half of the original group participated. As in the first phase, each
subject completed a food frequency questionnaire as well as information
regarding respiratory symptoms, smoking, and other variables. They also
had breathing levels tested in each phase.
After
adjusting for smoking, the researchers were able to deliver two important
conclusions: subjects who consumed higher amounts of vitamin C had better
lung function than those with lower levels of vitamin C intake; and higher
amounts of vitamin C and magnesium intake are associated with significantly
improved lung function in the cases of those suffering from asthma or
COPD.
Can
you significantly help your lungs stay healthy over the decades with a
diet high in vitamin C and/or vitamin C supplements? This study says “absolutely.”
And while this particular study didn’t make recommendations about
how much vitamin C you should be getting, the study revealed that the
average participant in the survey was not using mega-doses.
Great
ways to increase vitamin C through your diet, include: yellow or green
kiwifruit, mango, tropical guava or papaya, fresh persimmon, black currant,
or even just a glass of fresh O.J., or a bowl of grapefruit sections.
These are the stars that really deliver the vitamin C that we now know
can help preserve healthier lung function for years to come.
A
basic multiple vitamin-mineral and antioxidant formula will help protect
internally. The daily program should include at least:
Simple
Nutrient Plan
- Vitamin
C 1,000-2,000 mg.
- Beta-carotene
15,000-25,000 IU
- Vitamin
A 5,000-10,000 IU
- Zinc
15-30 mg.
- Selenium
200-300 mcg.
- Vitamin
E 400-800 IU
Dietary
Recommendations
No
support program for smokers will be as effective as stopping and then
working to regain the health lost by smoking. A wholesome diet and nutritional
supplements are essential however; the best program cannot offer immunity
to cigarettes.
While
the diet is, of course, important, some practitioners believe that for
smokers, taking supportive, protective nutrients is even more essential.
Many smokers tend to eat more meat, fatty and fried foods, and refined
foods than nonsmokers. It is important for smokers to avoid other addictions.
Sugar, coffee, alcohol, and meats should be minimized or avoided if possible.
A
basic, wholesome diet helps to at least reduce some of the risks of smoking
addiction, which may be influenced by nutritional deficiencies. This plan,
especially with adequate fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, will help
to provide some of the necessary, protective antioxidant nutrients, beta-carotene,
vitamins A, C, and E, and selenium, all of which will help lower risks
of cancer and other smoker’s maladies. In addition, some raw seeds
and nuts, legumes, sprouts, and other proteins should be consumed. Water
is an essential nutrient to balance out the drying effect of smoking.
A daily intake of two to three quarts is suggested, depending on how many
high-water-content fruits and vegetables, salads, and soups are consumed.
Caffeine beverages increase the need for water, as they are also dehydrating.
Smoking usually generates a mild acid condition in the body, and an alkaline
diet is helpful to balance this. A high-fiber diet also helps in detoxification,
maintaining bowel function, and reducing the risks of smoking.
An
alkaline diet is even more important during the cigarette withdrawal and
detoxification periods. Studies have shown, increased blood alkalinity
that results from a diet high in fruits and vegetables, even mainly raw
food consumption, helps reduce the craving for and interest in smoking.
The alkaline diet is not necessarily a lifelong program, although, it
is wise for our diet generally to be more alkaline than acid. During cigarette
withdrawal, a vegetarian or raw food diet may be sufficient for the average
person to help reduce nicotine craving. This can be used for three to
six weeks to aid in the detoxification process. Fasting has also been
employed by some smokers to help eliminate their habit. It does allow
for rapid transitions, but it can also be somewhat intense. It might be
reserved for the more durable and strong willed or the overweight or hypertensive
smoker.
The
vegetarian diet is high in chlorophyllic (green) vegetables and sprouts,
grains, fruits, and liquids, such as water, juices, soups, and herbal
teas. The raw foods diet is similar, with more seeds and nuts. Eating
whole, unsalted sunflower seeds (or carrot or celery sticks) can help
replace that hand-to-mouth addiction that is common in smokers; however,
we must be careful not to replace nicotine addiction with food addiction.
The
diet for detoxification is also low in fat and high in fiber. It is important
to keep the energy and bowels moving. The raw foods (and vegetarian) diet
helps with both. This includes several salads of leafy greens daily, and
some snacks of fruits, vegetables, nuts, or seeds. Some of the high-protein
algae, such as spirulina and chlorella, also help during withdrawal and
detox.
Supplements
Antioxidants
help reduce the toxicity of smoke in primary and secondary smokers and
also help lessen the free-radical irritation during the detox period.
Vitamin E, 400–800 IU daily, specifically helps stabilize the cell
membranes and protects them and the tissue membranes from the free radical
and chemical irritations generated by cigarette smoke. Selenium, as sodium
selenite or selenome–thionine, at a level of 200–300 mcg., supports
vitamin E and also reduces cancer potential, which is so much higher with
chronic smoking.
Vitamin
A reduces cancer risk and supports tissue health, and beta-carotene specifically
protects against lung cancer in smokers. Smoking clearly depletes vitamin
C levels, probably by increasing antioxidant demands and reducing absorption.
Therefore, smokers need regular vitamin C intake to help neutralize the
toxins. Supplementing 500–2,000 mg. four or five times daily is recommended.
(Note: Both vitamin C and niacin are mild acids, which may increase ulcer
risk, as well as nicotine elimination and craving in smokers. Extra zinc,
30–60 mg. a day, like vitamin A, helps protect the tissue and mucous
membrane health.
There
are many other helpful nutrients needed during smoking and detox. First,
we need to support the B vitamins that are more easily depleted in smokers,
mainly thiamine (B1), pyridoxine (B6), and cobalamin (B12). The B12 may
also help to decrease the cellular damage caused by tars and nicotine.
Niacin (B3) helps in opening up the circulation that is constricted with
nicotine. It also lowers cholesterol, which may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.
Pantothenic acid may reduce the aging of the skin and support the generally
stressful lifestyle. Folic acid should be taken in higher amounts, such
as 1–2 mg. daily. Coenzyme Q10 is also helpful in dosages of 30–60
mg. daily. Extra choline may support the brain and memory.
Besides
zinc and selenium, other minerals also are important. Magnesium and molybdenum
are needed in higher amounts than usual. Copper is needed at levels of
3–4 mg. daily, when used along with a higher zinc intake (60–100
mg.). Zinc also helps reduce cadmium absorption and toxicity. Vitamins
C and E, selenium, and L-cysteine also help to reduce cadmium toxicity.
L-cysteine
is very helpful to smokers and during detoxification. Along with thiamine
and vitamin C, it protects the lungs from smoking damage and from acetaldehyde
generated by smoke. It helps reduce smoker’s cough. Glutathione,
formed from L-cysteine, is part of the protective antioxidant enzyme system.
Heavy smokers might use 250–500 mg. of glutathione, up to 1,500 mg.
(500–750 mg. more usually) of L-cysteine, with 5–6 g. of vitamin
C, 150 mg. thiamine, and the total B vitamins and amino acids to balance
the specific ones used.
To
prevent obesity, it is very important to be aware of eating properly when
stopping smoking. Smoking reduces appetites and the taste for foods and
probably increases metabolism as well as nervous energy. It is natural
to want to eat more and enjoy food more when not smoking. Over half of
ex-smokers will gain weight, and this is more common in the heavier (use)
smokers. If weight gain is undesirable (many smokers are underweight),
a weight-control diet should be instituted as smoking is stopped. Research
has shown that smokers crave and eat fewer sweets than nonsmokers. This
changes with smoking cessation (the taste buds come alive again), so new
nonsmokers need to watch out for this.
The
alkaline, high-fiber, low-fat diet is helpful in maintaining weight. Another
amino acid, L-phenylalanine, can help reduce the appetite if taken before
meals in amounts of 250–500 mg. Because it has a mild tendency to
raise blood pressure, this should monitored if blood pressure is of concern.
Often, however, the blood pressure drops somewhat with smoking cessation.
More choline may improve fat utilization and maintain weight, as may the
amino acid L-carnitine. Regular exercise, walking, and getting used to
breathing deeply of the fresh air are also part of the new plan.
Adapted
from Staying Healthy with Nutrition by Elson M. Haas M.D. on Healthy.net
Home
Remedies Can Compliment COPD Medications
The
purpose of this section is to give information so that your patients can
incorporate natural methods of treatment in conjunction with prescribed
medication(s) to alleviate COPD symptoms. Hopefully, these ideas will
help reduce suffering, and prevent the need to increase medication dosage.
Take
a look at the vast number of bottles of Echinacea, ginkgo, and St. John’s
Wort in any supermarket or drug store, and it’s obvious that alternative
medicine has gone mainstream. An estimated one-third of US adults use
herbal remedies each year. Many people want the best of both worlds: herbal
remedies that have been used for centuries, and state-of-the-art, modern
medications to help their lungs function at their best.
Note:
Complementary therapies may be used with, but never instead of, the treatments
that the physician has prescribed. The “recipes” on the following
page may give an extra sense of comfort and well being. |