How to avoid acute exacerbation of COPD in autumn and winter?

  In autumn and winter, the temperature decreases, the temperature difference between day and night increases, the resistance of people decreases, the respiratory tract is vulnerable to attack, leading to various respiratory diseases. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the world, and the World Bank/World Health Organization has announced that COPD will be the world’s leading economic burden of disease by 2020. The World Bank/World Health Organization has announced that COPD will be the 5th economic burden of disease in the world by 2020. In a recent survey of 20,245 adults in seven regions of China, the prevalence of COPD reached 8.2%, and the number of deaths and disabilities due to COPD in China reaches 1 million and over 5 million annually, which brings a heavy burden to families and society.  Based on current knowledge, COPD is a chronic airway inflammatory disease that can be prevented and treated. COPD is characterized by incomplete reversibility of airflow limitation and progressive development associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to harmful gases or particles, such as cigarette smoke, etc. The disease can last for decades and often worsens repeatedly. To prevent exacerbation of this disease, COPD patients should take the following measures during the stabilization period.  1. Quit smoking and avoid exposure to harmful substances. Smoking cessation is the single most economical and effective measure to reduce exposure to COPD risk factors. It can stop or slow down the progressive development of airflow limitation and change the disease progression.  2, the application of bronchodilators. Bronchodilators can relax bronchial smooth muscle, dilate bronchi, relieve airflow limitation and increase the patient’s activity tolerance, which is the most important therapeutic measure to control COPD symptoms. The main bronchodilators are β2 agonists, anticholinergics and methylxanthines. Compared with oral drugs, inhalation agents have fewer adverse effects and are mostly preferred for inhalation therapy. Compared with short-acting bronchodilators, regular application of long-acting bronchodilators is not only convenient, but also more effective. For each patient, how to choose drugs, whether to apply alone or in combination with several drugs, how to increase or decrease these drugs, should go to the hospital to find an experienced specialist to prescribe, do not use drugs at home.  3, long-term regular inhalation of glucocorticoids. Because COPD patients are different from bronchial asthma, long-term regular inhalation of glucocorticoids has a more strict indications, only for lung function one second force expiratory volume (FEV115 hours / day. At present, China’s small home type “oxygen machine” has entered the home, which can safely and effectively solve the problem of long-term home oxygen therapy for patients with stable COPD.  4.Pulmonary rehabilitation therapy. According to the patient’s physical condition, a corresponding rehabilitation exercise plan should be formulated, including exercise training, nutritional support and education. Patients should strengthen exercise under their own physical conditions, including whole-body exercise (slow walking, stair climbing, bicycle, bicycle), respiratory muscle exercise, lip reduction breathing, dozens of minutes a day, and persistently. The elderly, due to the weakening of the five organs and weak stomach and intestines, should eat less and eat more, improve the dental condition, apply Chinese medicine to strengthen the spleen and kidney, enhance the immunity of the body, improve the internal environment of the body and strengthen the defense ability. At the same time, systematic education should be provided to COPD patients and their families to understand the long-term nature of COPD disease, its hazards, and the necessity and feasibility of long-term prevention and treatment; to recognize the clinical manifestations of COPD exacerbations and to understand the timing of hospital visits.