Tools for people with chronic pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic progressive lung disease characterized by shortness of breath, chronic cough and sometimes increased sputum production. The main causes of COPD are smoking cigarettes and exposure to secondhand smoke. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, about 16 million people in the United States have COPD.
There is no cure for COPD, but there are treatments that can help ease symptoms and improve quality of life. In this article, we will discuss some non-pharmacological options for managing COPD.
COPD treatment
There is no cure for COPD, but there are treatments that can help ease symptoms and improve quality of life.
Pharmacological treatments include bronchodilators, which open the airways to make breathing easier; corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation in the lungs; and oxygen therapy, which helps people with COPD breathe better by delivering oxygen to the lungs.
Vaccination is also important for people with COPD and should not be neglected.
Non-pharmacological options to improve symptoms of COPD
There are many non-pharmacological options that can help people with COPD manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
A comprehensive program that helps people with COPD exercise, learn breathing techniques, and make lifestyle changes.Smoking cessation
Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to manage your COPD and prevent it from progressing. There are many resources available to help you quit smoking, including counseling, medication, and support groups.Reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor pollution
Health education and anxiety management
COPD and apps
There are many apps available that can help people with COPD manage their disease. Some apps track symptom severity and lung function, while others provide educational information about COPD. There are even meditation and breathing exercises designed specifically for people with COPD. Other apps can offer weather and smog forecast, help monitor medication use or create reminders, find support from other people with the same condition, or monitor blood oxygen saturation, with the help of a connected device.
You may also consult our article on apps to help you quit smoking, which may well be your first step in your journey if you've been diagnosed with COPD and you are a smoker.
The Hailie app helps patients with COPD manage their condition by providing tools to track medication usage and set reminders. The app also integrates with the Apple Health app to allow users to share their data with other apps that use Apple Health. Clinical evidence shows that using the Hailie app for COPD and asthma management can increase adherence to preventative and maintenance medications and reduce attacks.
AioCare Patient is a personal application for patients who suffer from asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis (CF) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), who want to constantly monitor their lungs. It is intended to use with portable spirometer AioCare. Use the digital diary to record symptoms and accurately measure lung function with the portable AioCare spirometer and share it in real-life with your doctor.
The Vik BPCO app can help you better understand and live with COPD. Vik BPCO is a free app created by health professionals in close collaboration with patients. It can help you 24/7 with questions about symptoms, treatments, diagnosis, and more. Vik BPCO can also help you track your symptoms, remind you to take your medications and keep medical appointments, and connect you with other patients living with COPD.
Conclusion
There are many options available to help people with COPD manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Apps can offer a variety of features that can help with managing COPD, from tracking medication usage to providing educational information about the condition.
Your health care professional can help you choose
Feeling confident is important. Get all the essential information about health apps by talking to your healthcare professional.
AppGuide provides reliable information about mobile health apps that allows patients and healthcare professionals to make informed, shared decisions about using a health app to track health status or act on your priority health goals.