COPD What really helps against smoker's cough

Immediate smoking cessation is the first therapy step in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Germany alone, up to five million people suffer from the disease, which is also popularly known as smoker's cough. Health experts have now published new treatment recommendations.

Up to five million Germans suffer from COPD

According to the German Respiratory League, three to five million people in Germany alone suffer from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). According to health experts, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also commonly known as smoker's cough or smoker's lung, is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Although non-smokers are partially affected, 90 percent of all cases in this country are quite clearly the main cause: smoking. An immediate cessation of cigarettes is therefore the first therapeutic step for COPD patients.

Smoking is responsible for most of all COPD diseases. An immediate cessation of cigarettes is therefore the first therapy step for the affected patients. (Image: Knut Wiarda / fotolia.com)

Treatment depends on the degree of illness

In addition to smoking as the main cause also genetic factors and air pollution play a role in the onset of the disease.

As the Medical University (Med Uni) Graz (Austria) reports on its website, the treatment depends on the degree of illness and ranges from smoking cessation, to drug therapies and oxygen administration to lung transplantation.

According to the information also pneumological, so thought specifically for the lungs, rehabilitation programs, find more and more importance.

"Caring for patients with COPD requires good cooperation between all care levels and institutions," said Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andrea Siebenhofer-Kroitzsch, Director of the Institute for General Medicine and Evidence-Based Health Services Research (IAMEV) at the University of Graz.

"The primary responsibility for coordination should lie in primary care," says the expert.

Let the fingers of cigarettes

The IAMEV has now developed a structured treatment path for the primary care level for the treatment of COPD in Austria on behalf of the Hauptverband der österreichischen Sozialversicherungsträger.

Based on recommendations from 13 international current and evidence-based guidelines.

In addition to general principles in the treatment of individuals with COPD in primary care, the path also provides recommendations for basic assessment and diagnosis for suspected COPD, acute deterioration, drug and non-drug therapies, smoking cessation, long-term Oxygen therapy, pneumological rehabilitation and palliative care.

Smoke cessation is central to both COPD patients and those who are not yet ill.

A smoke-free environment is also important so that people do not even start to smoke or stop smoking.

So it works with the smoke stop

Unfortunately, giving up smoking is not easy for many.

For the exit from the addiction you need in any case a firm will.

Professionals recommend finding a stress-free time to stop. In case of problems with the partner or in the job, the waiver of cigarettes is more difficult.

It also makes sense to inform friends and relatives and, if necessary, ask them not to smoke in their presence.

In general, it is advised to stop completely, because each additional cigarette stimulates the addictive memory again.

Scientific research has also shown that cold withdrawal is the best way to stop smoking.

Although nicotine patches can facilitate the transition, they are not a permanent solution because they keep the ex-smoker physically dependent.

According to studies, e-cigarettes do not help smokers quit. (Ad)