Early diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease that seriously endangers human health, with a large number of patients and a high mortality rate. At present, it is considered a preventable and treatable disease. However, because the early stage of COPD is only manifested by chronic bronchitis (chronic bronchitis) such as cough and sputum, it is often not taken seriously, and patients often come to the clinic only after they have difficulty in breathing. At this time, the disease is already serious and some lesions are irreversible. Early detection and early treatment can improve the functional status and quality of life of patients, reduce acute exacerbations, prevent the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the severe stage, and reduce the death rate.  For early detection of slow-onset lung, middle-aged smokers, those with cough and sputum symptoms, those with a history of occupational exposure to dust and industrial fumes, and those with serious pollution in the surrounding environment should visit a hospital and undergo relevant examinations (including chest X-ray and pulmonary function measurements). Pulmonary function measurement is important for the diagnosis, severity assessment, treatment guidance, efficacy evaluation, and the judgment of the consequences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pulmonary function measurement can evaluate the status of ventilation function, diffusion function and respiratory muscle function. Your physician can take the appropriate treatment according to your condition and lung function impairment measurement.  Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should build up confidence and realize that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a treatable disease, and through reasonable treatment, the progression of the disease can be delayed, complications can be reduced, quality of life can be improved, and the prognosis can be improved. The treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease includes the following measures: Quit smoking, which is a proven measure to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its progression. Exercise training: including whole-body exercise training and specialized training of respiratory muscles with respiratory muscle trainers. Exercise training can improve respiratory muscle strength and endurance, improve patients’ symptoms of dyspnea, improve exercise tolerance, and improve quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Application of bronchodilators (anticholinergic drugs, β2-agonists) can improve dyspnea symptoms, reduce emphysema, improve airway obstruction and improve respiratory muscle function. In addition, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should learn some knowledge about the prevention and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and enhance nutrition and physical fitness appropriately.