World COPD awareness day

This year's theme aims to highlight the importance of early lung health, early diagnosis and early interventions.

Keeping lungs healthy is an integral part of future health and it is now more important than ever to act sooner. There is now evidence which states that there are many other factors besides tobacco smoking that can contribute to COPD and that it can start early in life and effect young individuals.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the name given to a group of lung diseases including bronchitis and emphysema. They make it difficult for people to empty air out of their lungs because the airways have been narrowed. COPD affects millions of people across the country, yet unfortunately many people are only diagnosed in the later stages of the disease – or they aren’t diagnosed at all.

One reason for this is that a main symptom for COPD is breathlessness, often people think that gradually becoming breathless is a normal part of aging. Breathlessness affects 10% of the population, and 30% of older people. Occasionally getting out of breath is healthy and normal, but persistent breathlessness doing everyday tasks, such as walking up the stairs or hoovering the house, is a sign that something might not be quite right. Less common symptoms of COPD include: weight loss, tiredness, swollen ankles from a build-up of fluid (oedema), chest pain and coughing up blood – although these are usually signs of another condition, such as a chest infection or possibly lung cancer

Lung disease is the UK’s third biggest killer behind cancer and heart disease, yet it’s lagging behind when it comes to public awareness. Identifying respiratory conditions like COPD in the earliest stages offers the best chance for people to start treatment and potentially add years to their lives.

There's currently no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but treatment can help slow the progression of the condition and control the symptoms.

Treatments can include

stopping smoking – if you have COPD and you smoke, this is the most important thing you can do,

inhalers and tablets – to help make breathing easier,

pulmonary rehabilitation – a specialised programme of exercise and education,

surgery or a lung transplant – although this is only an option for a very small number of people.

A doctor should discuss the various treatment options with you.

How Can Reflexology Help?

Reflexology has several positive effects which can include: improved lung function, enhanced breathing pattern, deeper and more relaxed breathing, decongestion of airway passages and relieved constriction of chest muscles. Reflexology treatment also supports the cardiovascular system and improves lymphatic drainage, thereby helping recovery from respiratory infections and reducing stress on the lungs and chest.

To make an appointment or find out more, contact us at info@reflexologylincolnshire.co.uk