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Lung Problems
Is Your Winter Cough a Sign of Something More Serious?
Date: 29/11/10
Keywords: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), , Antioxidants, Co-enzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, respiratory problems, Vitamin C, Lung Cancer
COPD is a term used for a number of conditions; including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Approximately 900,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with COPD, but recent research suggests that COPD may be hugely under-diagnosed – based on reported symptoms, over 3.2 million people may have the condition.
The cold is biting out there! At least here in the UK it is and with weather reports warning everyone of widespread snow and freezing temperatures we must brace ourselves, wrap- up and do our best not to catch a nasty cough or cold...
At this time of year millions of people develop chest problems which are often caused by a respiratory infection. In most cases, it will clear up after a few days, although in more severe cases, it may take a couple of weeks.
But what if your cough lasts more than a few weeks and is coupled with breathlessness and fatigue... Is it still just a bout of the common cold? Or is it a sign of something more serious, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Cause for concern
COPD is a term used for a number of conditions; including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Approximately 900,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with COPD, but recent research suggests that COPD may be hugely under-diagnosed – based on reported symptoms, over 3.2 million people may have the condition.
In fact, in a news report earlier this week, Graham Phillips, a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, said: "If you can't seem to shake off symptoms that seem similar to colds and flu, such as a persistent cough or chest infection, or if you keep losing your voice, feel breathless or tired and lacking in energy, then ask your pharmacist for advice instead of buying an over-the-counter medicine or picking something up in the supermarket."
I think I’d bypass the pharmacist alltogether and make a doctor’s appointment asap.
COPD is a serious chronic condition that needs medical attention and in most cases, your doctor will prescribe an inhaler to alleviate the symptoms. Unfortunately, your problems won’t stop there...
A 2008 study from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in the US, found that inhalers like Atrovent and Spriva, usually prescribed to treat COPD, can increase the risk of heart failure by 67 per cent... I don’t think an added risk of heart failure is something most people would opt for...
Signs of lung cancer
To make matters worse, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society added that the symptoms of COPD may be an early sign of lung cancer, which is very difficult to treat because by the time symptoms become obvious the disease is usually well advanced.
Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of The British Lung Foundation said that a persistent cough could be an early sign of lung cancer but it could also be an early symptom of other lung diseases. She added, "We would urge anyone with symptoms such as nasty cough, wheezy chest or breathlessness to ask their GP for a lung function test or to take our online breath test.
"The earlier people are diagnosed with lung cancer or other lung conditions the better their chances of getting treated successfully."
B vitamins cut risk of lung cancer by up to 50 per cent
If you have a persistent cough, don’t panic!
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that a higher daily intake of B vitamins can help decrease the risk of lung cancer.
The study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, followed 400,000 people from 10 European countries for eight years. At the end of the study period, they found that regardless of whether participants were smokers, non- smokers or former smokers, those with the highest blood levels of vitamin B6 and the amino acid methionine were 50 per cent less likely to develop lung cancer than those with the lowest levels.
However, the researchers said that it is possible that both B vitamin levels and lower cancer risk are caused by some third factor, such as a healthy lifestyle. Because the study only examined a correlation, it did not prove that a higher intake of B vitamins was directly responsible for the reduction in cancer risk.
If, through further studies, B vitamins are indeed found to be protective against cancer, they could eventually be used to help lower cancer risk in former smokers and in those trying to quit. Panagiota Mitrou, one of the researchers at the World Cancer Research Fund, added, "It is vital that we get the message across to smokers that increasing intake of B vitamins is not - and never will be - a substitute for stopping smoking."
Natural ways to alleviate the symptoms of COPD
* Build up your natural defences: Start by strengthening your immune system to prevent colds and coughs. Take a good multivitamin supplement... magnesium, vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10, and L-Carnitine supplements are all good choices too.
* The healing power of herbs: Herbal solutions that can help keep your COPD under control are Garlic, Liquorice, Indian Tobacco (Labelia), and Marshmallow.
* Top-up with antioxidants: Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are important features of COPD. Targeting oxidative stress with antioxidants is likely to benefit the treatment of COPD. Antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory agents such as curcumin (a principal component of turmeric), resveratrol (a flavanoid found in red grapes) and green tea can all help.
* Clear your airways by steaming: Add a few drops of the essential oil of Eucalyptus to a humidifier and breathe in the air, especially when you have trouble breathing. ‘Steam’ twice a day with Eucalyptus, once in the morning and once in the afternoon or evening.
* Go Green: Sulforaphane is an antioxidant and stimulator of natural detoxifying enzymes. It is found in vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale. US researchers found that Sulforophane increases the activity of a gene (NRF2) that can protect the lungs against oxidative damage due to COPD. When eating cruciferous vegetables, do so in moderation as you want to avoid gas and bloating when you suffer from COPD.
* Eat more fish: Japanese researchers at Kagoshima University Hospital found that supplements of omega-3 fatty acids appeared to improve COPD patients' breathing difficulties, possibly by countering the airway inflammation. After two years, patients in the omega-3 supplement group showed an overall improvement on tests that measured their breathing during a short bout of exercise. Omega-3 is found largely in oily fish, and to a lesser extent in flaxseed, walnuts, soybeans and canola oil.
COPD Realted Articles:
Keep Your Lungs Youthful With These Nutrients
Take Care of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Naturally
Natural Remedies That Can Ease COPD Symptoms
Hot Topics:
When Getting Your Five-A-Day Isn’t the Healthy Option...
Super Omega-3 Helps Combat ADHD and Depression
Big Pharma... Or Should That Be Big Bully?
Sources:
‘Warning issued over winter coughs’ published online 23.11.10, bbc.co.uk/news/health
‘Inhalers may up heart death risk’ published online 24 September 2008, news.bbc.co.uk
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, published online, bbc.co.uk/health
‘B vitamins cut risk of lung cancer by 50 percent’ by David Gutierrez, published online 09.10.10, naturalnews.com
‘Natural cure for thick mucus in lungs of COPD patient’ published online 19 February 2007, home-remedies-for-you.com
‘Broccoli Compound Protects Against COPD Damage In Lungs’ published online 15 September 2008, medicalnewstoday.com
Back to topAt this time of year millions of people develop chest problems which are often caused by a respiratory infection. In most cases, it will clear up after a few days, although in more severe cases, it may take a couple of weeks.
But what if your cough lasts more than a few weeks and is coupled with breathlessness and fatigue... Is it still just a bout of the common cold? Or is it a sign of something more serious, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Cause for concern
COPD is a term used for a number of conditions; including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Approximately 900,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with COPD, but recent research suggests that COPD may be hugely under-diagnosed – based on reported symptoms, over 3.2 million people may have the condition.
In fact, in a news report earlier this week, Graham Phillips, a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, said: "If you can't seem to shake off symptoms that seem similar to colds and flu, such as a persistent cough or chest infection, or if you keep losing your voice, feel breathless or tired and lacking in energy, then ask your pharmacist for advice instead of buying an over-the-counter medicine or picking something up in the supermarket."
I think I’d bypass the pharmacist alltogether and make a doctor’s appointment asap.
COPD is a serious chronic condition that needs medical attention and in most cases, your doctor will prescribe an inhaler to alleviate the symptoms. Unfortunately, your problems won’t stop there...
A 2008 study from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in the US, found that inhalers like Atrovent and Spriva, usually prescribed to treat COPD, can increase the risk of heart failure by 67 per cent... I don’t think an added risk of heart failure is something most people would opt for...
Signs of lung cancer
To make matters worse, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society added that the symptoms of COPD may be an early sign of lung cancer, which is very difficult to treat because by the time symptoms become obvious the disease is usually well advanced.
Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of The British Lung Foundation said that a persistent cough could be an early sign of lung cancer but it could also be an early symptom of other lung diseases. She added, "We would urge anyone with symptoms such as nasty cough, wheezy chest or breathlessness to ask their GP for a lung function test or to take our online breath test.
"The earlier people are diagnosed with lung cancer or other lung conditions the better their chances of getting treated successfully."
B vitamins cut risk of lung cancer by up to 50 per cent
If you have a persistent cough, don’t panic!
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that a higher daily intake of B vitamins can help decrease the risk of lung cancer.
The study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, followed 400,000 people from 10 European countries for eight years. At the end of the study period, they found that regardless of whether participants were smokers, non- smokers or former smokers, those with the highest blood levels of vitamin B6 and the amino acid methionine were 50 per cent less likely to develop lung cancer than those with the lowest levels.
However, the researchers said that it is possible that both B vitamin levels and lower cancer risk are caused by some third factor, such as a healthy lifestyle. Because the study only examined a correlation, it did not prove that a higher intake of B vitamins was directly responsible for the reduction in cancer risk.
If, through further studies, B vitamins are indeed found to be protective against cancer, they could eventually be used to help lower cancer risk in former smokers and in those trying to quit. Panagiota Mitrou, one of the researchers at the World Cancer Research Fund, added, "It is vital that we get the message across to smokers that increasing intake of B vitamins is not - and never will be - a substitute for stopping smoking."
Natural ways to alleviate the symptoms of COPD
* Build up your natural defences: Start by strengthening your immune system to prevent colds and coughs. Take a good multivitamin supplement... magnesium, vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10, and L-Carnitine supplements are all good choices too.
* The healing power of herbs: Herbal solutions that can help keep your COPD under control are Garlic, Liquorice, Indian Tobacco (Labelia), and Marshmallow.
* Top-up with antioxidants: Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are important features of COPD. Targeting oxidative stress with antioxidants is likely to benefit the treatment of COPD. Antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory agents such as curcumin (a principal component of turmeric), resveratrol (a flavanoid found in red grapes) and green tea can all help.
* Clear your airways by steaming: Add a few drops of the essential oil of Eucalyptus to a humidifier and breathe in the air, especially when you have trouble breathing. ‘Steam’ twice a day with Eucalyptus, once in the morning and once in the afternoon or evening.
* Go Green: Sulforaphane is an antioxidant and stimulator of natural detoxifying enzymes. It is found in vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale. US researchers found that Sulforophane increases the activity of a gene (NRF2) that can protect the lungs against oxidative damage due to COPD. When eating cruciferous vegetables, do so in moderation as you want to avoid gas and bloating when you suffer from COPD.
* Eat more fish: Japanese researchers at Kagoshima University Hospital found that supplements of omega-3 fatty acids appeared to improve COPD patients' breathing difficulties, possibly by countering the airway inflammation. After two years, patients in the omega-3 supplement group showed an overall improvement on tests that measured their breathing during a short bout of exercise. Omega-3 is found largely in oily fish, and to a lesser extent in flaxseed, walnuts, soybeans and canola oil.
COPD Realted Articles:
Keep Your Lungs Youthful With These Nutrients
Take Care of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Naturally
Natural Remedies That Can Ease COPD Symptoms
Hot Topics:
When Getting Your Five-A-Day Isn’t the Healthy Option...
Super Omega-3 Helps Combat ADHD and Depression
Big Pharma... Or Should That Be Big Bully?
Sources:
‘Warning issued over winter coughs’ published online 23.11.10, bbc.co.uk/news/health
‘Inhalers may up heart death risk’ published online 24 September 2008, news.bbc.co.uk
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, published online, bbc.co.uk/health
‘B vitamins cut risk of lung cancer by 50 percent’ by David Gutierrez, published online 09.10.10, naturalnews.com
‘Natural cure for thick mucus in lungs of COPD patient’ published online 19 February 2007, home-remedies-for-you.com
‘Broccoli Compound Protects Against COPD Damage In Lungs’ published online 15 September 2008, medicalnewstoday.com
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