Smoking main cause of COPD

COPD is not without reason smoker's cough

11/17/2011

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by the interplay of three different respiratory diseases: chronic bronchitis, chronic bronchiolitis and pulmonary emphysema. The main cause of COPD is tobacco smoking, which is why the respiratory disease is colloquially referred to as smoker's cough. However, the massive health risk currently has hardly any effect on the turnover of the tobacco industry, as confirmed by the record result of Reemtsma, the largest tobacco company in this country. For the first time, the group has realized over one billion euros in the past financial year.

The damage to the lungs caused by COPD is irreversible and, as the disease progresses, causes significant harm to those affected. In the initial stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the narrowing of the airways, which manifests itself in a hindrance to the airflow when exhaling, is still relatively unremarkable. For example, sufferers suffer from severe coughing in the morning after getting up or have difficulty breathing when exercising. In the later course of the disease, the cough increases significantly and the respiratory distress occurs even in the smallest physical effort - such as when climbing stairs - on. The long-term health risks of COPD should by no means be underestimated, especially since chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases are the third leading cause of death in Germany today.

Millions of people suffer from COPD
According to health authorities, in Germany currently between three and five million people suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - and the trend is rising. According to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), around 600 million people worldwide are affected by COPD, although here too the number of patients has increased significantly in recent years. Tobacco smoking and secondhand smoke are considered to be a major cause of COPD, but other factors such as high levels of particulate matter pollution, air pollution, massive workplace dust pollution or childhood respiratory tract infections may also contribute to the development of COPD. Overall, however, according to the experts of the Department of Pulmonology at the Hannover Medical School (MHH), nine out of ten COPD patients are smokers. In the case of those affected, the self-cleaning processes of the bronchi are overtaxed in the course of many years of tobacco consumption and a chronic cough develops in which the patients usually cough up a brownish secretion. At the same time, the persistent pollution - tobacco smoke contains around 12,000 harmful substances and toxins - causes creeping inflammatory processes in the lungs, which, together with the severe cough, destroy the alveoli and irreversibly damage lung function. In the end, those affected only have a lung transplant to avoid certain death. However, the risks of a lung transplantation compared to other transplantations such as kidney or liver transplants are significantly higher and also significantly fewer donor organs are available.

Homeopathic treatment for smoker's cough
Recently, the German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians (DZVhÄ) had warned in its consumer journal about the risks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and referred to the possibilities of homeopathic treatment in the early stages of the disease. Dr. Ulf Riker, a doctor of internal medicine, homeopathy and naturopathy from Munich, presented some of these options for the treatment of COPD, but at the same time emphasized that if „The tissue structures in the lungs are first destroyed by uninterrupted damage“ are, „this almost always irreversible“ is. With various homeopathic remedies let the „Creeping reduction of the gas exchange surface in the alveoli as well as the loss of elasticity in the airways“ however, delay significantly. The basic requirement, however, is that the pollution, ie smoking as a rule, be stopped immediately. In addition, the principle applies: „Prevention and therapy are all the more successful the sooner the diagnosis is made.“ (Fp)

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