Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Overview of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Exacerbations and comorbidities contribute to the overall severity in individual patients.
• Extra-pulmonary effects include weight loss and skeletal muscle dysfunction commonly associated comorbid conditions include cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, the metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, depression and lung cancer. [1]
• The prevalence of COPD is directly related to the prevalence of tobacco smoking and, in low- and middle-income countries, the use of biomass fuels.
• Current estimates suggest that 80 million people worldwide suffer from moderate to severe disease. [1]

Causes of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Cigarette smoking represents the most significant risk factor, and the risk of developing COPD relates to both the amount and the duration of smoking.
• It is unusual to develop COPD with less than 10 pack years and not all smokers develop the condition, suggesting that individual susceptibility factors are important. [1]

Risk factor of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Exposure to air pollution
• Breathing second hand smoke
• Working with chemicals, dust and fumes
• A genetic condition called Alpha-1 deficiency
• A history of childhood respiratory infection [4]

Pathophysiology of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• COPD has both pulmonary and systemic components The presence of airflow limitation combined with premature airway closure, leads to gas trapping and hyperinflation, reducing pulmonary and chest wall compliance.
• Pulmonary hyperinflation also flattens the diaphragmatic muscles and leads to an increasingly horizontal alignment of the intercostals muscles, placing the respiratory muscles at a mechanical.
• The work of breathing is therefore markedly increased, first on exercise, when the time for expiration is further shortened, but then, as the disease advances, at rest Emphysema may be classified by the pattern of the enlarged airspaces as centri acinar, pan acinar or Para septal.
• Bullae form in some individuals. This results in impaired gas exchange and respiratory Failure.[1]

Sign & Symptoms of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• COPD should be suspected in any patient over the age of 40 years who presents with symptoms of chronic bronchitis and/or breathlessness.
• Cough and associated sputum production ‘smoker’s cough’.
• Breathlessness
• Physical signs are non-specific, correlate poorly with lung function, and are seldom obvious until the disease is advanced. Breath sounds are typically quiet.
• Crackles may accompany infection but, if persistent, raise the possibility of bronchiectasis.
• Tuberculosis [1]

Investigation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• A chest X- ray is essential to identify alternative diagnoses, such as cardiac failure, other complications of smoking such as lung cancer, and the presence of bullae.
• A blood count is useful to exclude anaemia or polycythemia, and in younger patients with predominantly basal emphysema, α1-antiproteinase should be assayed.
• Measurement of lung volumes provides an assessment of hyperinflation.
• Emphysema is suggested by a low gas transfer value (p. 653). Exercise tests provide an objective assessment of exercise tolerance and a baseline for judging response to bronchodilator therapy or rehabilitation programmed; they may also be valuable when assessing prognosis.
• Pulse oximetry of less than 93% may indicate the need for referral for a domiciliary oxygen assessment.
• The assessment of health status provides valuable clinical information.
• HRCT is likely to play an increasing role in the assessment of COPD, as it allows the detection, characterization and quantification of emphysema and is more sensitive than a chest X-ray for detecting bullae. [1]

Homeopathic Treatment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis.

which includes

• The medical history of the patient,
• Physical and mental constitution,
• Family history,
• Presenting symptoms,
• Underlying pathology,
• Possible causative factors etc.

A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions.

What Homoeopathic doctors do?

A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’?.

The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition.

The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic Medicines for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease :

The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications also taken into account for selecting a remedy.

Homoeopathic Approach:

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution, family history, presenting symptoms, underlying pathology, possible causative factors etc.

A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’.

The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease is not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness are also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition.

The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology is not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can be greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.

The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy.

Medicines:

          1.Aconitum Napellus:

• The first remedy that is often indicated at the onset of the infection. It is effective only within the first twenty-four hours.
• Useful when there is a short, dry cough, a temperature and an irritation of the throat, chest and trachea.
• There is a chilly restlessness, anxiety and a full, bounding pulse, with general weakness.
  
  2. Antimonium Tartaricum:

• Useful when there is a accumulation of considerable loose, rattling, moist mucus in the chest.
• For children breathing and a loose cough, but little phlegm is expectorated.
• There may be vomiting and labored breathing. Pronounced physical and mental exhaustion.3. Belladona:

• A high temperature, dry cough, a pounding, pulsating headache and a flushed face with a dry, hot skin.
• The cough is worse at night and when lying down.4. Bryonia Alba:

• A painful, violent, dry, stitching cough with a headache and pain in the chest wall.
• Worse with coughing and better when supporting the area with both hands.
• The expectoration is yellow and often blood streaked. The cough is worse after meals.
• Patient drinks large quantities of fluids at long intervals.5. Iodum:

• Difficult expansion of chest, blood-streaked sputum; internal dry heat, external coldness.
• Inspiration difficult. Croupy cough with difficult respiration; wheezy.
• Cold extends downwards from head to throat and bronchi. Great weakness about chest.
• Palpitation from the least exertion. Iodum cough.6. Calcarea carbonica:

• Extreme Dyspnoea. Suffocating spells, tightness, burning and soreness in chest.
• Chest very sensitive to touch, percussion or pressure. Longing for fresh air.
• Bloody expectoration.7. Phellandrinum:

• Respiratory remedy. Good remedy for offensive expectoration and cough phthisis.
• Tuberculosis, affecting generally the middle lobes. Everything tastes sweet.
• Dyspnoea and continuous cough early in morning.
• Cough, with profuse and fetid expectoration; compels him to sit up. Hoarseness.[3]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive, and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases.

Homeopathic Medicines used by Homeopathic Doctors in treatment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

• Aconitum Napellus
• Antimonium Tartaricum
• Belladona
• Bryonia Alba
• Iodum
• Calcarea carbonica
• Phellandrinum

What are the causes of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

• Cigarette smoking
• Exposure to air pollution
• Breathing second hand smoke
• Working with chemicals, dust and fumes
• A genetic condition called Alpha-1 deficiency

What are the symptoms of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

• Chronic bronchitis and/or breathlessness
• Cough and associated sputum production ‘smoker’s cough’
• Breath sounds are typically quiet